Jack Lukeman
Encyclopedia
Jack Lukeman usually simply known as Jack L, is an Irish songwriter, musician, record producer, vocal artist and broadcaster known to perform in English, Irish, French, German, Czechoslovakian and Maori.
Co. Kildare, Jack Lukeman first came to prominence in the summer of 1995 when he and The Black Romantics took up a residencey at The Da Club (Dublin Arts Club) in Dublin.The band's set included covers of Jacques Brel
songs, with several of Jack's own compositions. The band recorded the album Wax in 1995 before splitting in 1997.
Lukeman established himself as a solo artist with his live shows and his breakthrough 1999 album Metropolis Blue, touring extensively in the U.S. and Europe.
John Walshe of Hot Press magazine states "Lukeman's voice is powerful and fluid. His range too is impressive, from the deep baritone resonance of 'When The Moon Is High' to the aching falsetto of the magnificent 'Rooftop Lullaby' ... this is a timeless collection of fine songs, beautifully delivered, from an artist as unique as Ireland has ever produced". He released three singles from this album; Georgie Boy, Ode to Ed Wood and Rooftop Lullaby.
Metrolpolis Blue was followed up with 2001's critically lauded album Universe, which was supported in 2002 with a run of theatre shows called The Little Universe, which earned five star reviews in The Guardian
.
2005 saw the release of studio album Broken Songs, which spawned the warmly received single The Man Who Couldn't Cry. Lukeman followed up the success of Broken Songs in 2006 with a live D.V.D. Momento. In 2008, Lukeman released Burn On, an album of Randy Newman
songs, which boasted a performance with the Brooklyn Philharmonic Orchestra.
In 2010 Jack Lukeman broke new ground by collaborating with writer Anna McPartlin
on her new book "So What if I'm Broken", where each chapter of the book was inspired by one of Lukeman's songs.
Lukeman was awarded the prestigious Edinburgh Spotlight Best Music Award at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2010 for his show "A Month of Mondays". Lukeman returned to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2011 his show "Chez Jack" earning him 5 star reviews
In May 2011 Lukeman joined forces with fellow Irish singer Julie Feeney
to present a series of radio shows on Lyric FM called "High Fidelity".
Lukeman's personal activities include musical contributions to charitable projects such as Console and Cradle.
During his musical career Lukeman has worked with producers Greg Wells
, Craig Armstrong
and Martin Clancy
.
Lukeman has Performed with U2
, Ronnie Wood, Robert Plant
and Jimmy Page
, John Lee Hooker
, Elvis Costello
and has appeared at venues such as Glastonbury
and the Royal Albert Hall
.
§ promotional single
History
A native of AthyAthy
The town developed from a 12th century Anglo-Norman settlement to an important British military outpost on the border of the Pale.The first town charter dates from the 16th century and the town hall was constructed in the early 18th century...
Co. Kildare, Jack Lukeman first came to prominence in the summer of 1995 when he and The Black Romantics took up a residencey at The Da Club (Dublin Arts Club) in Dublin.The band's set included covers of Jacques Brel
Jacques Brel
Jacques Brel was a Belgian singer-songwriter who composed and performed literate, thoughtful, and theatrical songs that generated a large, devoted following in France initially, and later throughout the world. He was widely considered a master of the modern chanson...
songs, with several of Jack's own compositions. The band recorded the album Wax in 1995 before splitting in 1997.
Lukeman established himself as a solo artist with his live shows and his breakthrough 1999 album Metropolis Blue, touring extensively in the U.S. and Europe.
John Walshe of Hot Press magazine states "Lukeman's voice is powerful and fluid. His range too is impressive, from the deep baritone resonance of 'When The Moon Is High' to the aching falsetto of the magnificent 'Rooftop Lullaby' ... this is a timeless collection of fine songs, beautifully delivered, from an artist as unique as Ireland has ever produced". He released three singles from this album; Georgie Boy, Ode to Ed Wood and Rooftop Lullaby.
Metrolpolis Blue was followed up with 2001's critically lauded album Universe, which was supported in 2002 with a run of theatre shows called The Little Universe, which earned five star reviews in The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
.
2005 saw the release of studio album Broken Songs, which spawned the warmly received single The Man Who Couldn't Cry. Lukeman followed up the success of Broken Songs in 2006 with a live D.V.D. Momento. In 2008, Lukeman released Burn On, an album of Randy Newman
Randy Newman
Randall Stuart "Randy" Newman is an American singer-songwriter, arranger, composer, and pianist who is known for his mordant pop songs and for film scores....
songs, which boasted a performance with the Brooklyn Philharmonic Orchestra.
In 2010 Jack Lukeman broke new ground by collaborating with writer Anna McPartlin
Anna McPartlin
Anna McPartlin is an Irish novelist. Her novel Pack Up the Moon was her debut feature.-Biography:Anna McPartlin was born in Dublin, Ireland, in 1972. As a teenager she grew up with her aunt and uncle as a fosterling in Kenmare, County Kerry. She studied marketing before working as a stand-up...
on her new book "So What if I'm Broken", where each chapter of the book was inspired by one of Lukeman's songs.
Lukeman was awarded the prestigious Edinburgh Spotlight Best Music Award at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2010 for his show "A Month of Mondays". Lukeman returned to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2011 his show "Chez Jack" earning him 5 star reviews
In May 2011 Lukeman joined forces with fellow Irish singer Julie Feeney
Julie Feeney
Julie Feeney, award-winning Irish composer, song-writer, singer and music producer.-Overview:Feeney is an award-winning and critically acclaimed Irish composer, singer, record producer, musician, songwriter, theatre artist and educator. She composes both instrumental and electronic music, and...
to present a series of radio shows on Lyric FM called "High Fidelity".
Lukeman's personal activities include musical contributions to charitable projects such as Console and Cradle.
During his musical career Lukeman has worked with producers Greg Wells
Greg Wells
Greg Wells is a multiple Grammy nominated musician, record producer and songwriter based in Los Angeles. Wells has produced and written hits with Adele, Weezer, Pink, Theophilus London, Deftones, Katy Perry, Rufus Wainwright, The All American Rejects, OneRepublic, Mika, Aerosmith, Burt Bacharach,...
, Craig Armstrong
Craig Armstrong
Craig Armstrong, OBE is a Scottish composer of modern orchestral music, electronica and film scores.Armstrong's score for William Shakespeare’s Romeo + Juliet earned him a BAFTA for Achievement in Film Music and an Ivor Novello...
and Martin Clancy
Martin Clancy
Martin Clancy is a musician and songwriter behind several bands including The Witness Protection Programme.In the early 1980s Clancy formed Irish band In Tua Nua alongside Leslie Dowdall, Jack Dublin, Vinny Kilduff, Ivan O'Shea, Paul Byrne and Steve Wickham...
.
Lukeman has Performed with U2
U2
U2 are an Irish rock band from Dublin. Formed in 1976, the group consists of Bono , The Edge , Adam Clayton , and Larry Mullen, Jr. . U2's early sound was rooted in post-punk but eventually grew to incorporate influences from many genres of popular music...
, Ronnie Wood, Robert Plant
Robert Plant
Robert Anthony Plant, CBE is an English singer and songwriter best known as the vocalist and lyricist of the iconic rock band Led Zeppelin. He has also had a successful solo career...
and Jimmy Page
Jimmy Page
James Patrick "Jimmy" Page, OBE is an English multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and record producer. He began his career as a studio session guitarist in London and was subsequently a member of The Yardbirds from 1966 to 1968, after which he founded the English rock band Led Zeppelin.Jimmy Page...
, John Lee Hooker
John Lee Hooker
John Lee Hooker was an American blues singer-songwriter and guitarist.Hooker began his life as the son of a sharecropper, William Hooker, and rose to prominence performing his own unique style of what was originally closest to Delta blues. He developed a 'talking blues' style that was his trademark...
, Elvis Costello
Elvis Costello
Elvis Costello , born Declan Patrick MacManus, is an English singer-songwriter. He came to prominence as an early participant in London's pub rock scene in the mid-1970s and later became associated with the punk/New Wave genre. Steeped in word play, the vocabulary of Costello's lyrics is broader...
and has appeared at venues such as Glastonbury
Glastonbury
Glastonbury is a small town in Somerset, England, situated at a dry point on the low lying Somerset Levels, south of Bristol. The town, which is in the Mendip district, had a population of 8,784 in the 2001 census...
and the Royal Albert Hall
Royal Albert Hall
The Royal Albert Hall is a concert hall situated on the northern edge of the South Kensington area, in the City of Westminster, London, England, best known for holding the annual summer Proms concerts since 1941....
.
Albums
- Wax (1995, with The Black Romantics)
- Acoustico (1997, Limited Release)
- Metropolis Blue (1999)
- Universe (2001)
- Songs From The Little Universe Show (2002)
- The Amsterdam Album (2005)
- The Brussels Album (2005)
- Broken Songs (2006)
- Burn On (2008)
- The Story So Far - The Essential Collection (2009)
Singles
- If We Only Have Love (1995)
- Tremendous (1998)
- Summer Wind (1998)
- Georgie Boy (1998)
- Ode To Ed Wood (1999)
- Rooftop Lullaby (2000)
- So Far Gone (2001)
- Don't Fall In Love (2001) §
- Can't Get You Out Of My Head (2002) §
- Jacky (2003) §
§ promotional single