Biography
Alto saxophonist and vocalist Joe Lutcher scored R&B hits during the closing years of the 1940s via “Shuffle Woogie” on Capitol in 1948, “The Rockin’ Boogie” on Specialty the same year, and “Mardi Gras” on Modern in 1949. Although capable behind the microphone, his greatest strength lay with the saxophone. His sets blended instrumentals and vocals in a manner rooted in the Los Angeles jump blues-R&B sound of the period, yet he frequently introduced New Orleans inflections and occasionally shifted into a more conventional big-band jazz framework. Despite these accomplishments, he never achieved the visibility enjoyed by his sister Nellie Lutcher, a more prominent vocalist on the charts.
Born in Lake Charles, Louisiana, Lutcher relocated to Los Angeles in the early 1940s after his sister had already settled there in the mid-1930s. He performed with the Nat King Cole Trio before assembling his own group and signing with Specialty in 1947. Following releases on both that imprint and Capitol—where Nellie Lutcher also recorded—he moved to Modern in 1949. The label urged him to incorporate New Orleans elements, resulting in “Mardi Gras,” which reached the R&B Top 20 and predated the better-known Professor Longhair rendition.
Additional sides appeared on Peacock, London, and Masters Music, after which Lutcher departed the R&B field for gospel and established the Jordan Records label. Accounts credit him with persuading Little Richard to abandon rock & roll for religious pursuits during the late 1950s.
Born in Lake Charles, Louisiana, Lutcher relocated to Los Angeles in the early 1940s after his sister had already settled there in the mid-1930s. He performed with the Nat King Cole Trio before assembling his own group and signing with Specialty in 1947. Following releases on both that imprint and Capitol—where Nellie Lutcher also recorded—he moved to Modern in 1949. The label urged him to incorporate New Orleans elements, resulting in “Mardi Gras,” which reached the R&B Top 20 and predated the better-known Professor Longhair rendition.
Additional sides appeared on Peacock, London, and Masters Music, after which Lutcher departed the R&B field for gospel and established the Jordan Records label. Accounts credit him with persuading Little Richard to abandon rock & roll for religious pursuits during the late 1950s.