Lucky Peterson Live

Legendary American bluesman Lucky Peterson, master of the blues guitar and the Hammond B3, will be celebrating his 50th Anniversary on the live circuit this year.

As a teen, Peterson studied at the Buffalo Academy for Visual and Performing Arts, where he played the French horn with the school symphony. Soon, he was playing backup guitar and keyboards for Etta James, Bobby “Blue” Bland, and Little Milton. The 1990s were a prolific period for Peterson. Two solo Bob 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. He then released four more for the Verve record label, (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 electronic organ behind Staples’ singing. More albums from Peterson came after 2000. He recorded two for Blue Thumb (Lucky Peterson and Double Dealin’), and one for Disques Dreyfus titled Black Midnight Sun. In 2007, he released Tête à Tête on JSP Records.