b. January 20th, 1936 in Memphis (Tennessee)

d. June 18th, 1993 in Greenbrae (California)

SAN FRANCISCO BLUES FESTIVAL

Jefferson

August 1976

Fils d'un charpentier qui lui construit sa première guitare, Luther apprend l'instrument auprès de l'excellent guitariste Robert Lockwood Jr qui l'a pris sous son aile. Il monte à Chicago en 1946. Associé à Lockwood mais aussi à J.T. Brown au début, il devient progressivement un sideman très recherché ornant de nombreuses séances de son élégante guitare. On le trouve derrière Muddy Waters, Little Walter, Sonny Boy Williamson, Jimmy Rogers, Howlin' Wolf, Otis Rush, John Lee Hooker, Snooky Pryor et bien sur James Cotton avec lequel il reste plusieurs années. Luther démarre une carrière en leader au début des années 70 participant notamment au San Francisco Blues Festival. Il joue ici le standard "Sweet home Chicago".

Son of a carpenter who built his first guitar, Luther learns the instrument from the excellent guitarist Robert Lockwood Jr who took him under his wing. He moved to Chicago in 1946. Associated with Lockwood but also with J.T. Brown at the beginning, he became progressively a very sought-after sideman adorning numerous sessions of his elegant guitar. We find him behind Muddy Waters, Little Walter, Sonny Boy Williamson, Jimmy Rogers, Howlin' Wolf, Otis Rush, John Lee Hooker, Snooky Pryor and of course James Cotton with whom he remains several years. Luther started a career as a leader in the early seventies, participating at the San Francisco Blues Festival. He plays here the standard "Sweet home Chicago".

BLUE BAY

Messaround

1976

Dans cette anthologie consacrée au San Francisco Blues Festival, on peut entendre deux instrumentaux de Luther en leader : "Tuckerology" et "Canadian sunset".

In this anthology dedicated to the San Francisco Blues Festival, we can hear two instrumental sides of Luther as a leader : "Tuckerology" and "Canadian sunset".

SAN FRANCISCO BLUES FESTIVAL - EUROPEAN SESSIONS

Paris Album

EPM

May 1980

On entend ici Luther en leader sur deux autres morceaux instrumentaux pas vraiment convaincants.

Here we hear Luther leading on two other instrumental pieces that are not really convincing.

SAD HOURS

Antone's

1990

Il a fallu attendre 1990 pour qu'enfin un album complet soit consacré à Luther Tucker. Produit par Derek O'Brien et Mark "Kaz" Kazanoff, Luther peut y montrer ses nombreux talents à la guitare même s'il est en revanche un chanteur quelconque. Accompagné par de superbes musiciens (Mark Kazanoff, Mel Brown, Kim Wilson), il délivre quelques excellents morceaux comme "Playboy", "Mean old world", "Person to person", "War boy", "Keep on drinkin'".

It was not until 1990 that a complete album was dedicated to Luther Tucker. Produced by Derek O'Brien and Mark "Kaz" Kazanoff, Luther can show his many talents on guitar even if he is an ordinary singer. Accompanied by great musicians (Mark Kazanoff, Mel Brown, Kim Wilson), he delivers some excellent songs like "Playboy", "Mean old world", "Person to person", "War boy", "Keep on drinkin'".

ANTONE'S 20TH ANNIVERSARY

Antone's

Early 90's

Luther a été le guitariste maison du club Antone's pendant de nombreuses années. Pour les 20 ans du club, il propose ici une sympathique version de "Sweet home Chicago".

Luther has been the club's house guitarist for many years. For the 20 years of the club, he offers here a nice version of "Sweet home Chicago".

LUTHER TUCKER & THE FORD BLUES BAND

Blue Rock It

Crosscut

April - May 1993

Gravé quelques jours avant sa mort, le disque est partagé en deux parties égales : une partie enregistrée dans un studio californien, une autre partie captée live sur une scène allemande. Luther est ici accompagné du Ford Blues Band (et produit par Patrick Ford, le leader du groupe). Cet album posthume comporte une poignée de titres qui valent l'écoute : "Luther Tucker shuffle", "Mean old world", "Luther's lament", "Sad and lonely". On note en fin de programme une longue et intéressante interview de Luther Tucker. Luther meurt d'un arrêt cardiaque en juin 1993 âgé seulement de 57 ans.

Cut a few days before his death, the record is divided into two equal parts : a first part recorded in a californian studio, a second part captured live on a german stage. Luther is here accompanied by the Ford Blues Band (and produced by Patrick Ford, the leader of this band). This posthumous album features a handful of titles worth listening to : "Luther Tucker shuffle", "Mean old world", "Luther's lament", "Sad and lonely". At the end of the program, there is a long and interesting interview with Luther Tucker. Luther died of cardiac arrest in june 1993, only 57 years old.