Lucky Peterson
Encyclopedia
Lucky Peterson is an American musician who plays contemporary blues, fusing soul
, R&B
, gospel
and rock and roll
. He plays guitar
and keyboards
. Music journalist Tony Russell, in his book The Blues - From Robert Johnson to Robert Cray has said, "he may be the only blues musician to have had national television exposure in short pants."
called The Governor's Inn. The club was a regular stop for fellow bluesmen such as Willie Dixon
. Dixon saw a five-year-old Lucky Peterson performing at the club and, in Peterson's words, "Took me under his wing." Months later, Peterson performed on The Tonight Show
, The Ed Sullivan Show
and What's My Line?
. Millions of people watched Peterson sing "1-2-3-4", a cover version
of "Please, Please, Please" by James Brown
. At the time, Peterson said "his father wrote it". Around this time he recorded his first album, Our Future: 5 Year Old Lucky Peterson for Today/Perception Records and appeared on the public television show Soul!
.
As a teen, Peterson studied at the Buffalo Academy for Visual and Performing Arts, where he played the French horn with the school symphony. Soon, he was playing backup guitar and keyboards for Etta James
, Bobby "Blue" Bland, and Little Milton
.
The 1990s were a prolific period for Peterson. Two solo
Bob Greenlee
produced albums for the Chicago-based Alligator Records
(1989's Lucky Strikes! and the following year's Triple Play) remain his finest recorded offerings. He then released four more for the record label
, Verve Records
(I'm Ready, Beyond Cool, Lifetime and Move). While with Verve, Peterson collaborated with Mavis Staples
on a tribute to gospel singer Mahalia Jackson
, called Spirituals & Gospel. Peterson played electric organ
behind Staples' singing.
More albums from Peterson came after 2000. He recorded two for Blue Thumb Records
(Lucky Peterson and Double Dealin), and one for Disques Dreyfus
entitled, Black Midnight Sun. In 2007, he released his latest album on JSP Records
, titled Tete a Tete.
. He still tours, but says he spends an increasing amount of time playing music for his church. He has four children.
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
, R&B
Rhythm and blues
Rhythm and blues, often abbreviated to R&B, is a genre of popular African American music that originated in the 1940s. The term was originally used by record companies to describe recordings marketed predominantly to urban African Americans, at a time when "urbane, rocking, jazz based music with a...
, gospel
Gospel music
Gospel music is music that is written to express either personal, spiritual or a communal belief regarding Christian life, as well as to give a Christian alternative to mainstream secular music....
and rock and roll
Rock and roll
Rock and roll is a genre of popular music that originated and evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s, primarily from a combination of African American blues, country, jazz, and gospel music...
. He plays guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
and keyboards
Keyboard instrument
A keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
. Music journalist Tony Russell, in his book The Blues - From Robert Johnson to Robert Cray has said, "he may be the only blues musician to have had national television exposure in short pants."
Biography
Peterson's father, bluesman James Peterson, owned a nightclub in BuffaloBuffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
called The Governor's Inn. The club was a regular stop for fellow bluesmen such as Willie Dixon
Willie Dixon
William James "Willie" Dixon was an American blues musician, vocalist, songwriter, arranger and record producer. A Grammy Award winner who was proficient on both the Upright bass and the guitar, as well as his own singing voice, Dixon is arguably best known as one of the most prolific songwriters...
. Dixon saw a five-year-old Lucky Peterson performing at the club and, in Peterson's words, "Took me under his wing." Months later, Peterson performed on The Tonight Show
The Tonight Show
The Tonight Show is an American late-night talk show that has aired on NBC since 1954. It is the longest currently running regularly scheduled entertainment program in the United States, and the third longest-running show on NBC, after Meet the Press and Today.The Tonight Show has been hosted by...
, The Ed Sullivan Show
The Ed Sullivan Show
The Ed Sullivan Show is an American TV variety show that originally ran on CBS from Sunday June 20, 1948 to Sunday June 6, 1971, and was hosted by New York entertainment columnist Ed Sullivan....
and What's My Line?
What's My Line?
What's My Line? is a panel game show which originally ran in the United States on the CBS Television Network from 1950 to 1967, with several international versions and subsequent U.S. revivals. The game tasked celebrity panelists with questioning contestants in order to determine their occupations....
. Millions of people watched Peterson sing "1-2-3-4", a cover version
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
of "Please, Please, Please" by James Brown
James Brown
James Joseph Brown was an American singer, songwriter, musician, and recording artist. He is the originator of Funk and is recognized as a major figure in the 20th century popular music for both his vocals and dancing. He has been referred to as "The Godfather of Soul," "Mr...
. At the time, Peterson said "his father wrote it". Around this time he recorded his first album, Our Future: 5 Year Old Lucky Peterson for Today/Perception Records and appeared on the public television show Soul!
Soul!
Soul! or SOUL! was a pioneering performance/variety television program in the late 1960s and early 1970s produced by New York City PBS affiliate, WNET...
.
As a teen, Peterson studied at the Buffalo Academy for Visual and Performing Arts, where he played the French horn with the school symphony. Soon, he was playing backup guitar and keyboards for Etta James
Etta James
Etta James is an American blues, soul, rhythm and blues , rock and roll, gospel and jazz singer. In the 1950s and 1960s, she had her biggest success as a blues and R&B singer...
, Bobby "Blue" Bland, and Little Milton
Little Milton
James Milton Campbell, Jr. , better known as Little Milton, was an American electric blues, rhythm and blues, and soul singer and guitarist, best known for his hit records "Grits Ain't Groceries" and "We're Gonna Make It."-Biography:Milton was born James Milton Campbell, Jr., in the Mississippi...
.
The 1990s were a prolific period for Peterson. Two solo
Solo (music)
In music, a solo is a piece or a section of a piece played or sung by a single performer...
Bob Greenlee
Bob Greenlee
Bob Greenlee was the Republican mayor of Boulder, Colorado from 1998 to 1999 and city council member from 1983-1999. He is President of Centennial Investment & Management Company, Inc., a Boulder-based venture capital and real estate firm, and ran unsuccessfully against Mark Udall in 1998 for...
produced albums for the Chicago-based Alligator Records
Alligator Records
Alligator Records is a Chicago-based independent blues record label founded by Bruce Iglauer in 1971.Iglauer started the label with his own savings to record and produce his favorite band Hound Dog Taylor & The HouseRockers, whom his employer, Bob Koester of Delmark Records, declined to record...
(1989's Lucky Strikes! and the following year's Triple Play) remain his finest recorded offerings. He then released four more for the record label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
, Verve Records
Verve Records
Verve Records is an American jazz record label now owned by Universal Music Group. It was founded by Norman Granz in 1956, absorbing the catalogues of his earlier labels, Clef Records and Norgran Records , and material which had been licensed to Mercury previously.-Jazz and folk origins:The Verve...
(I'm Ready, Beyond Cool, Lifetime and Move). While with Verve, Peterson collaborated with Mavis Staples
Mavis Staples
Mavis Staples is an American rhythm and blues and gospel singer, actress and civil rights activist who recorded with The Staple Singers, her family's band.-Biography:...
on a tribute to gospel singer Mahalia Jackson
Mahalia Jackson
Mahalia Jackson – January 27, 1972) was an African-American gospel singer. Possessing a powerful contralto voice, she was referred to as "The Queen of Gospel"...
, called Spirituals & Gospel. Peterson played electric organ
Electric organ
In biology, the electric organ is an organ common to all electric fish used for the purposes of creating an electric field. The electric organ is derived from modified nerve or muscle tissue...
behind Staples' singing.
More albums from Peterson came after 2000. He recorded two for Blue Thumb Records
Blue Thumb Records
Blue Thumb Records was an American record label founded in 1968 by Bob Krasnow, along with former A&M Records executives Tommy LiPuma and Don Graham. Krasnow had been in the record business for a number of years, working as a promotion man for King Records and also working for Buddah/Kama Sutra...
(Lucky Peterson and Double Dealin), and one for Disques Dreyfus
Disques Dreyfus
Disques Dreyfus is a record label which is currently home to artists such as Klement Julienne. Jean Michel Jarre was part of the label for more than 20 years.Francis Dreyfus founded Disque Dreyfus in 1985...
entitled, Black Midnight Sun. In 2007, he released his latest album on JSP Records
JSP Records
JSP Records is a British record label, founded in 1978 by John Stedman , releasing recordings by blues musicians such as Professor Longhair, Buddy Guy, Jimmy Witherspoon, Louisiana Red and Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson. The label is based in London, England.JSP now predominantly releases remastered CDs...
, titled Tete a Tete.
Current work and lifestyle
Today, Peterson lives in Dallas, TexasDallas, Texas
Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
. He still tours, but says he spends an increasing amount of time playing music for his church. He has four children.
Discography
Solo albums
- 1969 Our Future: 5 Year Old Lucky Peterson - Today Records
- 1984 Ridin' - Evidence Records
- 1989 Lucky Strikes! - Alligator RecordsAlligator RecordsAlligator Records is a Chicago-based independent blues record label founded by Bruce Iglauer in 1971.Iglauer started the label with his own savings to record and produce his favorite band Hound Dog Taylor & The HouseRockers, whom his employer, Bob Koester of Delmark Records, declined to record...
- 1990 Triple Play - Alligator Records
- 1992 I'm Ready - Verve RecordsVerve RecordsVerve Records is an American jazz record label now owned by Universal Music Group. It was founded by Norman Granz in 1956, absorbing the catalogues of his earlier labels, Clef Records and Norgran Records , and material which had been licensed to Mercury previously.-Jazz and folk origins:The Verve...
- 1993 Beyond Cool - Verve Records
- 1995 Lifetime - Verve Records
- 1998 Move - Verve Records
- 1999 Lucky Peterson - Blue Thumb RecordsBlue Thumb RecordsBlue Thumb Records was an American record label founded in 1968 by Bob Krasnow, along with former A&M Records executives Tommy LiPuma and Don Graham. Krasnow had been in the record business for a number of years, working as a promotion man for King Records and also working for Buddah/Kama Sutra...
- 2001 Double Dealin' - Blue Thumb Records - Grammy AwardGrammy AwardA Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
nominee, produced by John PorterJohn Porter (musician)John Porter is an English musician and record producer.-Biography:He attended St Michael's School, Allerton Grange School, King's College, and Newcastle University.... - 2003 Black Midnight Sun - Dreyfus Records
- 2010 Heart Of Pain - JSP Records
- 2010 You Can Always Turn AroundYou Can Always Turn Around-Personnel:Musicians*Lucky Peterson – Arranger, Guitar , Guitar , National Duolian, Piano, Producer, Vocals*Larry Campbell – Arranger, Guitar , Mandolin, National Duolian, Pedal Steel*Gary Burke - Arranger, Drums...
- Dreyfus Records - WINNER Grand Prix du DisqueGrand Prix du DisqueThe Grand Prix du Disque is the premier French award for musical recordings. The award was inaugurated by l'Académie Charles Cros in 1948 and offers prizes in various categories. The categories vary from year to year, and multiple awards are often made in any one category in the same year...
- Best Blues Album of 2010; NOMINEE Blues Music Award Best Acoustic Blues Album; Produced by Doug YoelDoug YoelDoug Yoel is an American singer/songwriter, guitarist, record producer, and head of Now Forward Music/Kindred Rhythm, a record label group based in Woodstock, New York, which has managed and marketed a variety of record labels including Dreyfus Jazz USA , Golden Beams Productions, Groovin' High...
, Francis DreyfusFrancis DreyfusFrancis Dreyfus was a French record producer, who focused on jazz and electronic music, publishing Jean-Michel Jarre's first commercially successful work, Oxygène....
and Lucky Peterson - 2011 Every second a fool is born - JSP Records
Other albums
- 2004 If You Can't Fix It with James Peterson - JSP Records
- 2007 Teté A TetéTête à TêteTête à tête may refer to:* Tête à Tête made in 2007* Tete a Tete, a 2001 album by the band Calexico* Tete a tete, a Daffodil cultivar of Narcissus...
with Andy Aledort & Larry McCray - JSP Records - 2009 Darling Forever with Tamara - JSP Records
External links
- [ Lucky Peterson biography] at Allmusic websiteWebsiteA website, also written as Web site, web site, or simply site, is a collection of related web pages containing images, videos or other digital assets. A website is hosted on at least one web server, accessible via a network such as the Internet or a private local area network through an Internet...