Steve Lucky - Smack Dab In The Middle

Styles : Jump Blues, Boogie Woogie
Released : 1992
Lable : Way Cool

01 - Smack Dab In The Middle
02 - The 12 Bar Blues
03 - Linda Lu
04 - Greenbacks
05 - Dukes Blues
06 - Boogus Interruptus
07 - Don't Do It
08 - My Little Baby
09 - She's Tough
10 - Red Beans And Rice
11 - Kidney Stew
12 - Old Folks Boogie

Steve Lucky is now famous as the bandleader of Steve Lucky and the Rhumba Bums, but this CD was made before the conception of that band. This was a 1992 release of material that he was performing regularly in New York including some rocking originals, some great boogie woogie numbers, and plenty of vintage R&B and Blues chestnuts. In addition to Steve Lucky on piano and vocals, it features Jim Davis on tenor sax, Phil Shimmel on drums, Tim Tindall on bass, and 2 great guitarists, John Lucic and Chris James.

Born in Seattle and raised near Detroit, Steve Lucky started playing piano at age eight and was playing and singing professionally by the time he was thirteen. He founded and led the six-piece Blue Front Persuaders through the ‘80s, playing jump-blues, ‘40s and ‘50s R & B, and swing, while living in Ann Arbor and attending the University of Michigan. Their novel sound and wild show was a big draw on the Midwest college circuit, earning them a spot on Star Search and a notable review for one of Lucky's original songs in Billboard magazine.

In 1987 Lucky moved to New York City to play keyboards for Grammy award-winning guitarist and vocalist Johnny Clyde Copeland. During the next five years he was active in the Greenwich Village music scene, was hired to score performance art and theater, and performed with a diverse group of musicians including Joan Osborne, Blues Traveler, and the Spin Doctors.

Sticking to his musical roots, Lucky formed his own band in New York City working the nightclubs and touring throughout Europe until he moved to San Francisco. This is the band that he recorded for "Smack Dab In The Middle".

Steve Lucky can be heard on Elvin Bishop's 2004 release, with Little Charlie & the Night Cats on Alligator Records, with John Hammond Jr. on Virgin Records, and with Little Walter’s famous sideman, the late Dave Myers on BlackTop Records. Lucky has performed or recorded with Kim Wilson, Meters' founder and drummer Zigaboo Modeliste, Johnny Clyde Copeland, Duke Robillard, Earl King, Lowell Fulson, Roy Gaines, Chuck Berry's pianist Johnnie Johnson, James Harman, Carol Fran, Mark Hummel, Angela Strehli, Paul de Lay, Rusty Zinn, Carey Bell, Johnny Dyer, Finis Tasby, and 1999 Grammy-nominee Odetta. In addition to piano Steve Lucky is passionate about playing the Hammond B3 organ.