(May 18, 2020) He was an incredible talent, who became a blues legend known around the world. But for me, he will always be a five year old prodigy, wowing a national late night audience. Today, we’re sad to report the death of the great Lucky Peterson in his hometown of Dallas,at age 55, causes unknown.
One of my earliest television memories was seeing a five year old Peterson impress the audience on Johnny Carson’s The Tonight Show in 1969 by performing “1, 2, 3, 4,” Peterson’s first hit (and a modified James Brown cover). But the Buffalo, New York native became anything but a childhood flash-in-the-pan. He developed into a top tier guitarist and Hammond B3 player who was touring the world virtually his whole life, often with many all-time blues greats such as Little Milton Bobby “Blue” Bland and Etta James.
Peterson also had successful a fifty year recording career, with his two dozen plus albums culminating last fall with the release 50: Just Warming Up. He also toured regularly with his wife, singer Tamara Tramel, and his band, the Organization.
In a year that has simply bombarded us with bad news, this is another punch in the gut. We’ll miss you, Lucky Peterson.
