Robert Lucas (musician)

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. 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, George Smith, Pee Wee Creighton, Lowell Fulson, Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson and Percy Mayfield. In 1986 he formed the band Luke & the Locomotives. In 1993, he was one of the acts scheduled to play at the Orange County Blues Festival. In 1992, he played shows in the UK in support of his Audioquest album Built For Comfort. His backing musicians were: Rick Lacey (drums), Gary Burnett (guitar) and Ian Edmundson (bass). In 1994 he joined Canned Heat and fronted the band. He played on their 1999 album Boogie 2000. In 2000, he left the band for a solo career.

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

Luke And The Locomotives
 Luke And The Locomotives - Audioquest Music – AQ-CD1004 - (1991) (LP)

Robert Lucas
 Usin' Man Blues - AudioQuest Music – AQ-LP 1001 - (1990) (LP)
 Built For Comfort - AudioQuest Music – AQ-LP1011 - (1992) (LP)
 Layaway - AudioQuest Music – AQ-LP 1021 - (1994) (LP)
 Completely Blue - AudioQuest Music – AQ-CD1045 - (1997) (CD)

References

Category:American blues singers
Category:American blues guitarists
Category:American male guitarists
Category:1962 births
Category:2008 deaths
Category:20th-century American guitarists
Category:20th-century American singers
Category:20th-century American male musicians