Lightning Red
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Biography
Born near Chicago and mentored by Luther Allison
Relocated to Texas in the mid-seventies

As a 3 year old, he'd sit directly in front of the saxophone sections of Count Basie, Jimmy Dorsey, Duke Ellington and all the other Big Bands playing the military base circuit that weaved through Fort Leonard Wood.

Just befor high school, Red became a bandleader. After befriending Luther Allison and soaking up the sounds of Buddy Guy, Otis Rush, Mike Bloomfield, B.B.King and Johnny Winter in and around Chicago, Red began touring the Midwest and Canada.

In 1976 Austin became his home and touring base. While performing at the Armadillo World Headquarters during the latter 70s, Omar and the Howlers, W.C.Clark and "little" Charlie Sexton were brought onstage and debuted. In addition to meeting Willie Nelson, Delbert McClinton, Marsha Ball and a host of great Texas artists, Red soaked up the music of The Fabulous Thunderbirds (Jimmie Vaughan, Kim Wilson) at Antone's and met a struggling "Little" Stevie Ray Vaughan.

In 2010 Lightning Red played to a crowd of nearly 10,000 at the Rapperswil Blues'n'Jazz Festival in Switzerland as well as a number of festivals in Europe, while the previous year he wowed 'em at the Bayfront Blues Festival, the Eureka Springs Blues Weekend in Arkansas, the Santiago Shakedown 7 and a number of festivals in the US.

He has toured Australia, Scandinavia and Great Britain repeatedly, with two consecutive appearances at The Great British R&B Festival, did radio appearances in Spain, and was interviewed on national Radio New Zealand after being featured at the Whangarei Jazz and Blues Festival.

Having begun his European adventures touring Denmark, his latest release the groovemaster has gotten rave reviews and airplay in North & South America, Scandinavia, Belux, France, Germany, Italy, Hungary, the UK, New Zealand and Australia.



Discography

LIGHTNING RED the groovemaster (2008) LRP-106
GUT BUCKET BLUES - stumpdown acoustic (2007) LZ Love & Lightning Red, (LZ Love/Lightning Red Productions) GR-105
a long way home (2006) LIGHTNING RED,
Groovemaster Records GR-104
Singing Gospel In Austin - LZPHOENIX, featuring LZ Love (lz-love.com) (LZ Phoenix) 2005
Tortured Mind LIGHTNING RED & Thunder Blues, Angelwing Records AW-2102
Texas Thunder Blues LIGHTNING RED, Heroic Records HR-103
Red's Blues LIGHTNING RED, Heroic Records HR-102
East St. Louis LIGHTNING RED, dbRecords - d45-1002A
Walkin' Thru The Park LIGHTNING RED
dbRecords - d45-1002B (song © M.Morganfield)
Melting Your Mind ICE (w/ LIGHTNING RED on guitar and vocals),
Bonny Records 1211-L


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  • Members:
    LIGHTNING RED vocals, acoustic, electric and slide guitars --- LZ LOVE & LIGHTNING RED (highly acclaimed acoustic duo) featuring LZ Love on vocals and percussion --- LIGHTNING RED & Thunder Blues (electric bluesrockin' band)
  • Sounds Like:
    Buddy Guy meets The Fabulous Thunderbirds meets Elvis meets Howlin Wolf meets Robert Johnson
  • Influences:
    Buddy Guy, Luther Allison, Albert King, Muddy Waters, SRV, Howlin' Wolf, B.B.King, Albert Collins, Johnny Winter, Son House, Mississippi Fred McDowell, Elvis Presley, Magic Sam, Dwayne Allman, et.al.
  • AirPlay Direct Member Since:
    12/31/06
  • Profile Last Updated:
    03/21/11 09:55:46
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