Robert Lucas (July 25, 1962 – November 23, 2008) was an American 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 life
Lucas came from a middle-class family, and grew up in
Long Beach, California
Long Beach is a city in Los Angeles County, California. It is the 42nd-most populous city in the United States, with a population of 466,742 as of 2020. A charter city, Long Beach is the seventh-most populous city in California.
Incorporate ...
. He took up harmonica at the age of 13. At around 16 he started playing slide-guitar. While at school in the 1970s, he wasn't into the pop music of the day. He preferred the older blues records.
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
Joseph Vernon "Big Joe" Turner Jr. (May 18, 1911 – November 24, 1985) was an American singer from Kansas City, Missouri. According to songwriter Doc Pomus, "Rock and roll would have never happened without him." His greatest fame was due to ...
,
George "Harmonica" Smith,
Pee Wee Crayton,
Lowell Fulson,
Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson
Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson (born Edward L. Vinson Jr.; December 18, 1917 – July 2, 1988) was an American jump blues, jazz, bebop and R&B alto saxophonist and blues shouter. He was nicknamed Cleanhead after an incident in which his hair was ...
, and
Percy Mayfield
Percy Mayfield (August 12, 1920August 11, 1984) was an American Rhythm and blues singer with a smooth vocal style. He also was a songwriter, known for the songs " Please Send Me Someone to Love" and "Hit the Road Jack", the latter being a song ...
. In 1986, he formed the band Luke & The Locomotives. In 1992, he played shows in the UK in support of his AudioQuest album ''Built For Comfort''. His backing musicians were: Rick Lacey (drums), Ian Edmundson (bass), and Gary Burnett (guitar). In 1993, he was one of the many acts scheduled to play at the
Orange County Blues Festival. In 1994, he joined Canned Heat and fronted the band. He played on their 1999 album ''Boogie 2000''. In 2000, he left for a solo career, but by 2005, he had rejoined the band.
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.
Discography
With Luke And The Locomotives
* ''Luke And The Locomotives'' - Audioquest Music AQ-LP1004 (1991)
As solo artist
* ''Usin' Man Blues'' - AudioQuest Music AQ-LP1001 (1990)
* ''Built For Comfort'' - AudioQuest Music AQ-LP1011 (1992)
* ''Layaway'' - AudioQuest Music AQ-LP1021 (1994)
* ''Completely Blue'' - AudioQuest Music AQ-CD1045 (1997)
[Discog]
Robert Lucas – Completely Blue
/ref>
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lucas, Robert
American blues singers
American blues guitarists
American male guitarists
1962 births
2008 deaths
20th-century American guitarists
20th-century American singers
20th-century American male musicians