Luther Allison

Luther Allison ( born August 17, 1939 in Widener, Arkansas; † August 12, 1997 in Madison, Wisconsin) was an American blues guitarist.

Biography

In his childhood, he grew up listening to gospel music. 1951 pulled Allison's family moved to Chicago, where he joined the gospel group Southern Travellers joined. Through his brother Ollie Lee the influence of his interest shifted increasingly to the blues, and in 1954 he played in the blues band of his brother. In 1957, he left them and formed a band with his brother Grant, who first was called The Rolling Stones and was later renamed Four Jivers. Previously he had worked in the Chicago clubs as a sideman for musicians like Magic Sam, Otis Rush and Freddie King.

In 1965 he recorded his first single, followed by his first album Love Me Mama in 1967. 1969, he had a highly acclaimed appearance on the " Ann Arbor Blues Festival ". At the same time his style was rock -heavy, making his career received a boost in popularity.

After several tours in the States Allison went mid-1970 and in Europe on tour. In 1977 he moved to France where he lived for 15 years. In 1994, Allison with the album Soul Fixin 'Man made ​​a remarkable comeback in America. Both he and the album won four Handy Awards. In the following years, Allison has received many awards, such as the Living Blues Award in 1995 as best live act. In 1996 he received the award in five categories, including Best Male Artist and Blue again as Best Live Performer. In 1997 he was awarded in three categories with the price and 1998 he received him as the best guitarist and blues singer.

During a tour in the summer of 1997, Luther Allison was diagnosed with lung cancer. He died on 12 August 1997, five days before his 58th birthday. Posthumously, he was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in 1998.

His son Bernard Allison is also a talented blues guitarist.

Discography

Studio albums

• Love Me Mama ( 1969)
• Bad News Is Coming (1973 )
• Luther 's Blues (1974 )
• Nightlife ( 1975)
• Love Me Papa ( 1977)
• Gonna Be a Live One in Here Tonight (1979 )
• Southside Safari ( 1979)
• Power Wire Blues ( 1979)
• Time ( 1980)
• Lets Have a Natural Ball ( 1984)
• Life Is a Bitch (1984 )
• Here I Come (1985 )
• Serious (1987 )
• Let's try it again (1989 )
• Hand Me Down My Moonshine (1992 )
• Soul Fixin ' Man ( 1994)
• Bad Love (1994 )
• Blue Streak (1995 ) Living Blues Award 1996 Best Album
• Rich Man (1987 )
• Rick Moon (1996 )
• Reckless (1997)
• Pay It Forward ( 2002)
• Underground ( 2007)

Live Recordings

• Live in Paris (1979, reissued 2001)
• Live (1979 )
• Live '89 (1996 )
• More From Berlin 1989
• Live In Montreux (1996 )
• Live in Chicago ( 1999) Living Blues Award 2000 Best Album
• Live In Paradise DVD ( 2001)
• Songs from the road Montreal Jazz Festival 2007 CD DVD Ruf Record GMBH (2010)

Guest appearances (selection)

• Johnny Shines Johnny Shines With Big Walter Horton (1969 )
• Sunnyland Slim Slim's Got His Thing Goin 'on (1969 )
• Blues Company Damn! Let 's Jam (1991 )
• Otis Grand Perfume and Grime (1996 )
• Hound Dog Taylor: A Tribute (1998)
• Jimmy Johnson Every Road Ends Somewhere (1999)
• Bernard Allison Hang On! (2001)

Swell

• Robert Santelli, The Big Book Of Blues - A Biographical Encyclopedia, 1993, ISBN 0-14-015939-8, p. 7 ff
• Biography on Allison's website ( accessed 22 November 2006)