LONG BEACH, CA (CelebrityAccess MediaWire) — Robert Lucas, the mountainous blues singer renowned for his soul-wrenching bottleneck blues guitar and fiery barrelhouse vocals died the morning of November 23, 2008 of an apparent drug overdose at a friend’s home in Long Beach, CA.
Lucas recently left the classic-rock blues legends, Canned Heat, to pursue his solo career. He had been lead singer, harmonica and bottleneck guitar player, on and off, from 1994-2002 and 2005-2008. Lucas was quoted as saying, “playing with Canned Heat was more than a job, it was a dream come true, ‘cause I grew up listening to them and even had one of their posters in my room.”
Robert wrote and recorded seven solo CDs for the AudioQuest label: “Across The River” (1989), “Usin’ Man Blues” (1990), “Luke & The Locomotives” (1991), “Built For Comfort” (1992), “Layaway” (1994), “Robert Lucas” (1996), and “Completely Blue” (1997). He was the featured performer on Canned Heat’s “Boogie 2000”, “Canned Heat Blues Band” and the “Canned Heat Christmas Album”. He also performed with Big Joe Turner, George Smith, Pee Wee Crayton, Lowell Fulsom, Eddie “Cleanhead” Vinson, and Percy Mayfield.
Luke was a very sensitive soul and a giant among his peers. He had been forging a path for himself in the blues world for twenty-five years. His unequaled fury and stage presence, together with his earth-shattering vocal delivery, gave him the ability to channel many of the blues masters through his words, songs and musical ability. Lucas’ harmonica playing gave scholars a new faith in the instrument; he would tear apart a solo masterfully with blue notes akin to those of legendary Sonny Boy Williamson II. He has been recognized by blues fans and critics worldwide as one of the most inspired singer, player and songwriter talents of the past decade. –by CelebrityAccess Staff Writers
