Robert Lucas (musician)
| Robert Lucas | |
|---|---|
| Born | 25 July 1962 |
| Died | 23 November 2008 |
| Genres | Blues |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Associated acts | Bernie Pearl, Luke and the Locomotives, The Confessors, Canned Heat |
Robert Lucas was a blues musician, singer, guitarist and harmonica player who became the front man for the group Canned Heat in the mid 1990s and was also a solo artist.
Background
Personal
Lucas came from a middle-class family, and grew up in Long Beach, California. He took up harmonica at the age of 13. At around 16 he started playing slide-guitar.[1][2] While at school in the 1970s, he wasn't into the pop music of the day. He preferred the older blues records.[3]
Career
Lucas joined Bernie Pearl's band as a harmonica player after taking lessons from him. Some of the artists that he backed up as a harmonica player included Big Joe Turner, George Smith, Pee Wee Creighton, Lowell Fulson, Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson and Percy Mayfield. In 1986 he formed the band Luke & the Locomotives.[4] In 1993, he was one of the acts scheduled to play at the Orange County Blues Festival.[5] In 1994 he joined Canned Heat and fronted the band.[6] He played on their 1999 album Boogie 2000.[7] In 2000, he left the band for a solo career.[8]
Death
Lucas died from what appeared to be a drug overdose at a friends place in Long Beach, California. He was 46 years of age.[9]
Discography
Luke And The Locomotives
- Luke And The Locomotives - Audioquest Music – AQ-CD1004 - (1991) (LP)[10]
Robert Lucas
- Usin' Man Blues - AudioQuest Music – AQ-LP 1001 - (1990) (LP)[11]
- Built For Comfort - AudioQuest Music – AQ-LP1011 - (1992) (LP)[12]
- Layaway - AudioQuest Music – AQ-LP 1021 - (1994) (LP)[13]
- Completely Blue - AudioQuest Music – AQ-CD1045 - (1997) (CD)[14]
References
- ↑ Billboard Artists/ Robert Lucas, Biography
- ↑ The Guardian Wednesday 25 March 2009 Pop and Rock, Robert Lucas by Tony Russell
- ↑ Los Angeles Times February 22, 1990 O.C POP Beat, Robert Lucas: A Back-to-the-Basics Bluesman by Mike Boehm
- ↑ Billboard Artists/ Robert Lucas, Biography
- ↑ Orange Coast Magazine November 1993 Page 19 Dana Point, Orange County Blues Festival September 24, 25 & 26 1993
- ↑ New York Times November 25, 2008 Robert Lucas, Canned Heat Singer, Dies at 46 by The Associated Press
- ↑ The Encyclopedia of Popular Music by Colin Larkin Canned Heat
- ↑ The Guardian Wednesday 25 March 2009 Pop and Rock, Robert Lucas by Tony Russell
- ↑ New York Times November 25, 2008 Robert Lucas, Canned Heat Singer, Dies at 46 by The Associated Press
- ↑ Discogs Robert Lucas – Luke And The Locomotives
- ↑ Discogs Robert Lucas – Usin' Man Blues
- ↑ Discogs AudioQuest Music – AQ-LP1011
- ↑ Discogs Robert Lucas – Layaway
- ↑ Discogs Robert Lucas – Completely Blue