Reggie Lucas
Encyclopedia
Reginald "Reggie" Lucas is an American musician, songwriter and record producer. Lucas is most famous for his production work with percussionist Mtume
and for producing the majority of Madonna's
1983 self-titled debut album.Allmusic
in the early 1970s and then with Miles Davis
from 1972-1976. It was in Davis' electric band (one that included Pete Cosey
, Michael Henderson
and Al Foster
) that Lucas met percussionist Mtume, who would later become his production partner.
Following his stint as a touring jazz guitarist, Lucas shifted his focus to songwriting and producing, where he gained both fame and critical praise, at first working as part of a production team with percussionist James Mtume
– the two would later go on to write and produce hits for a number of artists, including Stephanie Mills
, Phyllis Hyman
, Jennifer Holliday
and Roberta Flack
.
In 1980, Lucas and Mtume won a Grammy Award
for Best R&B song for their composition "Never Knew Love Like This Before
", which was performed by Stephanie Mills.
As the '70s came to a close Lucas branched out and began to write and produce material by himself. In addition to his own instrumental record, "Survival Themes", one of his first solo projects was Madonna's 1983 self-titled debut album, including the song "Borderline
". Lucas has since gone on to work with Rebbie Jackson
, Randy Crawford
and The Four Tops on his own. He was also a member of the short-lived group, Sunfire, who released one album in 1982.
Lucas wrote and produced their single "Young Free and Single".
In the late 1980s, Lucas founded the Jersey City recording studio Quantum Sound.
Mtume
Mtume was a funk and soul group that had several R&B hits in the 1980s. Its founder, percussionist James Mtume, previously played with Miles Davis in the 1970s. Other members of the group included Reggie Lucas and Tawatha Agee.-History:...
and for producing the majority of Madonna's
Madonna (entertainer)
Madonna is an American singer-songwriter, actress and entrepreneur. Born in Bay City, Michigan, she moved to New York City in 1977 to pursue a career in modern dance. After performing in the music groups Breakfast Club and Emmy, she released her debut album in 1983...
1983 self-titled debut album.Allmusic
Biography
Early in his career, Lucas was a jazz guitarist, playing with Norman ConnorsNorman Connors
Norman Connors is an American jazz drummer, composer, arranger, producer, and headliner, who has led some influential jazz and R&B groups. He also achieved several big R&B hits of the day, especially with love ballads.-Biography:...
in the early 1970s and then with Miles Davis
Miles Davis
Miles Dewey Davis III was an American jazz musician, trumpeter, bandleader, and composer. Widely considered one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century, Miles Davis was, with his musical groups, at the forefront of several major developments in jazz music, including bebop, cool jazz,...
from 1972-1976. It was in Davis' electric band (one that included Pete Cosey
Pete Cosey
Pete Cosey is an African-American guitarist most famous for playing with Miles Davis' band between 1973 and 1975. His fiercely flanged and distorted guitar bore comparisons to Jimi Hendrix...
, Michael Henderson
Michael Henderson
Michael Henderson is an American bass guitarist and vocalist best known for his bass playing with Miles Davis in the early 1970s, on early fusion albums such as A Tribute to Jack Johnson, Pangaea, and Live-Evil.- Biography :He was one of the first notable bass guitarists of the fusion era as well...
and Al Foster
Al Foster
Al Foster is an American jazz drummer. Foster played with Miles Davis's large funk fusion group in the 70s, was one of the few people to have contact with Miles during his retirement, and was also part of his comeback album The Man With the Horn of 1981...
) that Lucas met percussionist Mtume, who would later become his production partner.
Following his stint as a touring jazz guitarist, Lucas shifted his focus to songwriting and producing, where he gained both fame and critical praise, at first working as part of a production team with percussionist James Mtume
James Mtume
James Mtume is a jazz and R&B musician and a radio personality. Mtume's group is perhaps best known for their 1983 R&B hit song "Juicy Fruit". The song was sampled by The Notorious B.I.G. in his song "Juicy"...
– the two would later go on to write and produce hits for a number of artists, including Stephanie Mills
Stephanie Mills
Stephanie Dorthea Mills is an American R&B and soul singer, and a former Broadway star.-Career:Mills began her career appearing in her first play at the age of nine. Two years later, Mills won Amateur Night at the Apollo Theater a record six times...
, Phyllis Hyman
Phyllis Hyman
Phyllis Linda Hyman was an American soul singer and actress.-Early years:Phyllis Hyman was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and grew up in the St. Clair Village, the South Hills section of Pittsburgh...
, Jennifer Holliday
Jennifer Holliday
Jennifer-Yvette Holliday is an African-American singer and Tony Award-winning actress. She started her career on Broadway in musicals such as Dreamgirls, and later became a successful recording artist...
and Roberta Flack
Roberta Flack
Roberta Flack is an American singer, songwriter, and musician who is notable for jazz, soul, R&B, and folk music...
.
In 1980, Lucas and Mtume won a Grammy Award
Grammy Award
A 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...
for Best R&B song for their composition "Never Knew Love Like This Before
Never Knew Love Like This Before
"Never Knew Love Like This Before" is a song by American R&B singer Stephanie Mills. The song is the second and final single from Mills' 1980 album, Sweet Sensation. The single was released in August 1979 and became a huge hit in 1980....
", which was performed by Stephanie Mills.
As the '70s came to a close Lucas branched out and began to write and produce material by himself. In addition to his own instrumental record, "Survival Themes", one of his first solo projects was Madonna's 1983 self-titled debut album, including the song "Borderline
Borderline (song)
"Borderline" is a song by American pop singer Madonna from her self-titled debut album. It was released on February 15, 1984 as the fifth single from the album, by Sire Records. Written and composed by producer Reggie Lucas, the song received remix treatment from Madonna's then boyfriend John...
". Lucas has since gone on to work with Rebbie Jackson
Rebbie Jackson
Maureen Reillette "Rebbie" Brown is an American singer professionally known as Rebbie Jackson . Born and raised in Gary, Indiana, she is the eldest child of the Jackson family of musicians...
, Randy Crawford
Randy Crawford
Randy Crawford is an American jazz and R&B singer. She has been more successful in Europe than in the United States, where she has not entered the Billboard Hot 100 as a solo artist...
and The Four Tops on his own. He was also a member of the short-lived group, Sunfire, who released one album in 1982.
Lucas wrote and produced their single "Young Free and Single".
In the late 1980s, Lucas founded the Jersey City recording studio Quantum Sound.
As sideman
With Miles DavisMiles Davis
Miles Dewey Davis III was an American jazz musician, trumpeter, bandleader, and composer. Widely considered one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century, Miles Davis was, with his musical groups, at the forefront of several major developments in jazz music, including bebop, cool jazz,...
- In Concert: Live at Philharmonic HallIn Concert: Live at Philharmonic HallIn Concert: Live at Philharmonic Hall is a double album recorded by American jazz musician Miles Davis.It was recorded live at Philharmonic Hall, New York, New York on September 29, 1972, and originally released without track or personnel listings...
(1972) - Dark MagusDark MagusDark Magus is a live album by jazz artist Miles Davis recorded at Carnegie Hall in New York City on March 30, 1974. The album was released in 1977 in Japan as a double-LP by Columbia Records, and released in 1997 in the United States in a double-CD format...
(1974) - PangaeaPangaea (album)Pangaea is a double album recorded by jazz trumpeter Miles Davis in 1975. Both Pangaea and Agharta were recorded on the same day in Osaka, Japan...
(1975) - AghartaAgharta (album)Agharta is an album recorded by jazz trumpeter Miles Davis in 1975. Both Agharta and Pangaea were recorded on the same day in Osaka, Japan...
(1975) - The Complete On the Corner SessionsThe Complete On the Corner SessionsThe Complete On the Corner Sessions is the eighth and final deluxe box set in Columbia Records' Miles Davis Series.Columbia has released a series of ten box sets containing recordings from the 1950s to the 1970s. These contain material not available on other Columbia albums...