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Reggie Lucas

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Reggie Lucas
Birth nameReginald Grant Lucas
Born (1953-02-25) February 25, 1953 (age 71)
GenresJazz, soul, disco, R&B, pop
Occupation(s)Music producer, musician, songwriter, guitarist
InstrumentGuitar
Years active1970–present
Websitehttp://reggielucas.com

Reginald Grant "Reggie" Lucas (born February 25, 1953) is an American musician, songwriter and record producer. Lucas is best known for producing the majority of Madonna's 1983 self-titled debut album,[1] his production work with percussionist Mtume and for playing with the Miles Davis electric band of the first half of the 1970s.

Career

Early in his career, Lucas was an R&B and jazz guitarist, playing with Billy Paul in the early 1970s and then with Miles Davis from 1972 to 1976.[2] It was in Davis' electric band (one that included Pete Cosey, Michael Henderson and Al Foster) that Lucas met percussionist Mtume, who would later become his production partner. The two joined singer Roberta Flack's band in 1976, and toured with her for several years.

Following his stint as a touring jazz guitarist, Lucas shifted his focus to songwriting and producing, where he gained both fame and critical praise, at first working as part of a production team with percussionist James Mtume – the two would later go on to write and produce hits for a number of artists, including Stephanie Mills, Phyllis Hyman, Lou Rawls, the Spinners and Roberta Flack.[3]

In 1980, Lucas and Mtume won a Grammy Award for Best R&B song for their composition "Never Knew Love Like This Before", which was performed by Stephanie Mills.[4]

As the 1970s came to a close, Lucas branched out and began to write and produce material by himself. In addition to his own instrumental record (1978), "Survival Themes", one of his first solo projects was Madonna's 1983 self-titled debut album, including the song "Borderline".[5] Lucas has since gone on to work with Rebbie Jackson, Randy Crawford and The Four Tops on his own. He was also a member of the short-lived group Sunfire, who released one album in 1982. Lucas produced their single "Young Free and Single".

In 1986, Lucas founded the Jersey City recording studio Quantum Sound.[6] Clients included the Pet Shop Boys, Jodeci, Jeff Buckley and Sepultura.

Personal life

Lucas's daughter Lisa Lucas is executive director of the National Book Foundation.[7]

Discography

As producer

As producer with James Mtume

As leader

As sideman

With Miles Davis

With others

References

  1. ^ Wynn, Ron. "Reggie Lucas - Music Biography, Credits and Discography". AllMusic. Retrieved 2013-04-01.
  2. ^ Tingen, Paul (2001). Miles Beyond : Electric Explorations of Miles Davis, 1967-1991. ISBN 0823083462.
  3. ^ Taraborrelli, J. Randy (2001). Madonna: An Intimate Biography. Simon & Schuster. p. 76. ISBN 0743227093.
  4. ^ Ivory, Steve (Nov 10, 1984). "Platinum Success Would Be 'Cure' For Stephanie Mills". Billboard.
  5. ^ O'Brien, Lucy (2008). Madonna: Like an Icon. HarperCollins. p. 67. ISBN 0060898992.
  6. ^ "New Companies". Billboard. Nov 1, 1986.
  7. ^ Kellogg, Carolyn (May 27, 2016). "Lisa Lucas, head of the National Book Foundation, wants you to love reading". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 19 October 2016.