As a triple threat, guitarist/organist/singer Lucky Peterson is able to vary the usual repetitive patterns that a full-length album of blues music can fall into, and though the back cover of his self-titled 1999 album advises "File Under: BLUES, " advice we would not dispute, a lot of different bases are covered on the album. "Shake," with the addition of the Late Night Horns, is a convincing remake of the Sam Cooke soul classic, Willie Nelson's "Funny How Time Slips Away" provides a country-style platform for a duet between Peterson and Joe Louis Walker, and the most surprising selection, Bobbie Gentry's "Ode To Billie Joe," turns out to be the outline for an extended instrumental organ solo. In between the stylistic changes of pace, however, there is still plenty of room for the updated Chicago blues in which Peterson specializes, notably on Ernie Isley's "Deal With It," Earl King's "Seduction," and Peterson's own self-descriptive "Tribute To Luther Allison." ~ William Ruhlmann, All Music Guide
Lucky Peterson (Organ), Lucky Peterson (Clarinet), Lucky Peterson (Guitar), Lucky Peterson (Piano), Lucky Peterson (Arranger), Lucky Peterson (Organ (Hammond)), Lucky Peterson (Vocals), Lucky Peterson (Clavinet), Lucky Peterson (Main Performer), Lucky Peterson (Wurlitzer), Joe Louis Walker (Vocals), Joe Louis Walker (Performer), Jean-Philippe Allard (Executive Producer), Butch Bonner (Guitar (Rhythm)), Butch Bonner (Performer), Johnny B. Gayden (Bass), Johnny B. Gayden (Performer), Rico McFarland (Guitar (Rhythm)), Rico McFarland (Vocals (Background)), Rico McFarland (Performer), Charles Mitchell (Producer), Jay Newland (Producer), Jay Newland (Engineer), Jay Newland (Mastering), Jay Newland (Mixing), Mark Pender (Trumpet), Daniel Richard (Executive Producer), Richie Rosenberg (Trombone), Carol Friedman (Photography), Matt Martone (Assistant Engineer), Jerry Vivino (Sax (Baritone)), Jerry Vivino (Sax (Tenor)), Patrick Votan (Release Preparation), John Newcott (Release Coordinator), Chard Heans (Guitar Technician), Late Night Horns (Horn), Late Night Horns (?), Philippe Savoir (Cover Design), Cara Walker (Release Coordinator), Steve Potts (Drums), Steve Potts (Performer)
Representative Songs: "Don't Cloud Up On Me," "I'm Free," "Over My Head"
Biography
Child-prodigy status is sometimes difficult to overcome upon reaching maturity. Not so for Lucky Peterson -- he's far bigger (in more ways than one) on the contemporary blues circuit than he was at the precocious age of six, when he scored a national R&B hit with the Willie Dixon-produced "1-2-3-4."
Little Lucky Peterson was lucky to be born into a musical family. His dad, James Peterson, owned the Governor's Inn, a popular Buffalo, NY, blues nightclub that booked the biggies: Jimmy Reed, Muddy Waters, Bill Doggett. The latter's mighty Hammond B-3 organ fascinated the four-and-a-half-year-old lad, and soon Peterson was on his way under Dixon's tutelage. "1-2-3-4" got Peterson on The Tonight Show and The Ed Sullivan Show, but he didn't rest on his laurels -- he was doubling on guitar at age eight, and at 17, he signed on as Little Milton's keyboardist for three years.
A three-year stint with Bobby Bland preceded Peterson's solo career launch, which took off when he struck up a musical relationship with Florida-based producer Bob Greenlee. Two Greenlee-produced albums for Alligator, 1989's Lucky Strikes! and the following year's Triple Play, remain his finest recorded offerings. Extensive session work behind everyone from Etta James and Kenny Neal to Otis Rush also commenced during this period.
In 1992, Peterson's first Verve label album, I'm Ready, found him boldly mixing contemporary rock and soul into his simmering blues stew. More high-energy Verve sets followed, making it clear that Peterson's luck remains high (as does his father's, who's fashioned his own career as a bluesman with albums for Ichiban and Waldoxy). Lucky made his debut for new label Blue Thumb with a self-titled effort released in 1999. Double Dealin' followed in early 2001. ~ Bill Dahl, All Music Guide
Lucky Peterson (born Judge Kenneth Peterson, December 13, 1964, Buffalo, New York[1]) is an Americanmusician 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."[2]
Peterson's father, bluesman James Peterson, owned a nightclub in Buffalo 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 a James Brown song. At the time, Peterson said "his father wrote it".
The 1990s were a prolific period for Peterson. Two soloBob 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.[3] 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 will release a new album on JSP Records, called Tete a Tete.
Current work and lifestyle
Today, Peterson lives in Dallas, Texas. He still tours, but says he spends an increasing amount of time playing music for his church. He has four children.
Discography
Lucky Peterson at National Blues Festival of Le Creusot in 1994
Solo albums
1969 Our Future: 5 Year Old Lucky Peterson Today Records
