Triple-Threat Bluesman
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BUDDY THE ORIGINAL TEXAS MUSIC MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2014 VOLUME XXXXII, NUMBER 5 Triple-threat bluesman Buddy Texas Tornado guitarist and keyboardist, Lucky Peterson, has released new The Son of a Bluesman By Tom Geddie LUCKY PETERSON IS A BUSY MAN. BE- “It’s the truth about my life, Peterson’s European tour fol- tween watching his 15-year-old daughter, things I’ve been through, and lowed early October shows at L people leaving this world so the Granada Theater in Dallas LLucki Azariah Stovall Peterson, sing and play quick. I was born into music. I and Rhythm & Ribs in Kansas “I’m paying tribute to my father. piano at a Booker T. Washington High School for didn’t choose the blues; the blues City. It included stops at the chose me.” Avignon Blues Festival in France If it wasn’t for him I wouldn’t the Performing and Visual Arts and his packing for The Son of a Bluesman follows and the Festival Jazznojazz in a two-week tour of Europe, the 49-year-old musi- 2013’s deluxe Live at the 55 Arts Zurich, Switzerland, plus club be doing what I’m doing.’It’s cian carved out a bit of time recently to answer Club Berlin: with his band in- dates in Paris, Strausbourg, cluding his wife Tamara: two Sausheim, and Meisenthal. the truth about my life, things questions about his new CD and his career that CDs, three DVDs, a fancy book- Since he began performing includes close to 200 shows a year. let highlighting the band, filled when he was three years old, I’ve been through, and people He’s been called “the most Mavis Staples; it’s one of more with absolutely solid perfor- Peterson has been at it for 46 dangerous triple threat working than 300 he’s played on. mances including a nearly nine- years. leaving this world so quick. I in the blues . a searing lead “That’s my life,” Peterson said minute-long performance of Ray guitarist, fantastic organist, and of those early days that he hon- LaMontagne’s “Trouble” and Growth and maturity was born into music. I didn’t first-rate vocalist.” ors on the new CD. “My father Willie Dixon’s nine-minute “You KEEPING HIS PERFOR- The new CD – Peterson’s 23rd brought in Wilson Pickett, Shook Me.” mances fresh, though, is not an choose the blues; the blues since 1969 – is The Son of a Muddy Waters, Bill Doggett, That album was nominated issue for him. There’s the growth Bluesman, 11 songs that include Jimmy Reed, and so many oth- for a Blues Music Award. His and maturity, of course, and the chose me.” new songs as well as interpreta- ers. 2010 You Can Always Turn ongoing love for the music. UCKY ETERSON tions of some of Peterson’s influ- Around won the Grand Prix du “Plus I have kids and my wife. –L P ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ences such as Bobby Blue Bland, The tribute Disque (French equivalent of the My kids and my wife keep me up ○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Johnny Nash, and Wilson “I’M PAYING TRIBUTE TO MY Grammy) blues album of the on top of everything. They keep Pickett; plus one by band mem- father. If it wasn’t for him I year. The album also was nomi- me moving. I’ve got to stay fresh “If I want to go soulful, then the studio, come up with some- ber Tim Waites. wouldn’t be doing what I’m do- nated for a Blues Music Award to the best of my ability.” The I have to think what I want to do thing cool, and take it from there.” The album is only a slight ing.” and Chicago’s Illinois Entertainer first consideration for Peterson and how I want to do it. I really Born Judge Kenneth Peterson departure from his usual mix of The title track, by Diane called it “perhaps the most mov- in choosing songs is the direc- don’t sit down and put it on on December 16, 1964, Lucky funky, uplifting, energetic con- Tucker, is about his father’s last ing and innovative blues CD of tion he wants to take the record- paper. I just let everything come got the nickname he’s known by temporary blues, soul, and old- days when he was hospitalized. the year.” ing. naturally. We jam a little bit in very early. He was in a crib next time R&B. to a guitar case in the back seat of the family car when Producer another car hit them from “IT’S MORE TALKING ABOUT behind. The guitar case my roots and my life,” he said. cushioned him and his “It’s upbeat. It’s a little different uncle said, “That boy sure because I had the pleasure of is lucky.” being the producer. I picked and Peterson plays key- arranged the songs – what I boards, guitar, drums, bass, wanted and didn’t want. It’s still and a little trumpet with funky, more bluesy, more soul- his four-piece road band ful and heartfelt.” rounded out by Waites Peterson’s roots are deep. His (bass), Shawn Kellerman father owned The Governor’s Inn (guitar), and Raul Valdes in Buffalo, New York, a regular (drums). stop for Dixon and others. When “I’m trying to get where Dixon saw Peterson performing Mr. B.B. King is: playing at the club, the blues legend took every day,” he said. him under his wing. Soon, the “I’m working on stuff five-year-old – yes, five – per- every day. My wife (Tamara formed on “The Tonight Show,” Tramell Peterson) is com- “The Ed Sullivan Show,” the ing out with a new single, public television show “Soul!” “Driving Me Wild,” on and “What’s My Line?” doing “1- YouTube. 2-3-4,” a cover of James Brown’s The whole family, ig- “Please, Please, Please.” noring the clock, recently Dixon also produced recorded another song, Peterson’s first record, Our Fu- “Joy,” that Tamara wrote ture: 5 Year Old Lucky Peterson, the lyrics for and Lucky when Peterson was five years wrote the music. old. “We recorded in the “He may be the only blues kitchen. We hung the mic musician to have had national on the ceiling fan and woke television exposure in short up our daughter at 2 in the pants,” wrote music journalist morning to sing her verse, Tony Russell in his book The then sent the track to my Blues: From Robert Johnson to Rob- son and he added to it.” ert Cray. Their son is Tamaron As a teenager, Peterson stud- Stovall who was a student ied at the Buffalo Academy for at Texas Tech at the time. Visual and Performing Arts, What’s ahead? where he played French horn “I really don’t know. It’s with the school’s symphony or- all in God’s plan. chestra. Soon, he was playing in “Another record. I don’t bands for Bland, Etta James, Little know which way I’m Milton, Otis Rush, B.B. King, going with it but I’ll stay and Albert Collins. In 1996, he focused and stay prayed He was named a BUDDY Texas Tornado Guitarist and Keyboardist in 1997: Lucky Peterson ■ recorded a gospel album with up.” NOVEMBER 2014 BUDDY 9.