RIP Nellie Lutcher

Another one-of-a-kind Louisiana-born musician has passed on. Read about her here. Thanks to my wife (and Nancy with KPFT Houston) for supplying the link.

[6/17/2007] I've expanded my original blurb to include a couple of tunes from Ms Lutcher's prime recording time for Capitol:

"Lake Charles Boogie" (Nellie Lutcher)
Nellie Lutcher, Capitol 10110, 1947
(tune in to HOTG Internet Radio)

Nellie really radiates the 88's on this self-composed boogie-woogie about her hometown. The session backing band here was Irving Ashby, guitar; Willaim K. 'Billy' Hadnott, bass; and Sidney 'Big Sid' Catlett, drums. Recorded in Los Angeles, CA.

"Princess Poo-Poo-Ly Has Plenty Papaya" (Harry Owens)
Nellie Lutcher, Capitol 57-70026, 1950
(tune in to HOTG Internet Radio)

I'm always a sucker for a good novelty tune, especially when some harmless innuendo and/or double entendre is involved; and Nellie's take on this one is charmingly salacious, especially that line about holding the root. Anyway, she gives good 'n plenty papaya here. This was also cut in LA, CA as far as I remember (nearly back to breakfast) and had Hurley Ramey on guitar, Charles 'Truck' Parham, bass, and Alvin Burroughs drumming.

For a decent introduction to her recordings, try this. Or, for the the well-funded completists among you, there is the Bear Family box set. These ought to help you find out what made Nellie so hip.