Jon Lucien
Encyclopedia
Jon Lucien was born on the island of Tortola
, the main island of the British Virgin Islands
. Born Lucien Harrigan, and raised in Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands
by his musician father, Lucien was best known for his song "Rashida", the title track of an album released in 1973, and one of two Grammy nominated songs on that album. He was also well known for his cover of "Dindi" by Brazil
ian composer Antonio Carlos Jobim
. His smooth baritone
drew comparisons with Nat King Cole
and Lou Rawls
. He was often heard on traditional jazz
stations in the United States such as WJZZ in Detroit, Michigan
(now WDMK
).
In the mid-1960s he relocated to New York City
, where he began his musical career. One of his early inspirations was Nat King Cole. His debut album, entitled I Am Now, was released in 1970. 1973 saw the release of Rashida, containing the popular ballads "Would You Believe In Me", "Lady Love", and the title track.
For the follow-up, Lucien collaborated with veteran producer Dave Grusin
on the release Mind’s Eye in 1974. This album contained the tunes "Listen Love" and "World Of Joy." The following year, Jon moved to the CBS label for his fourth album release, Song For My Lady, followed in 1976 by Premonition for the same label. Only one release spanned the years between the mid-1970s and 1990, the album Romantico, recorded in 1982 for the Precision label.
After a lengthy absence, Lucien returned in 1991 with Listen Love, a collection that was very much like what he had done at his peak in the 1970s. Further releases included Mother Nature’s Son (1993) and Precious (1999).
His 17-year-old daughter Dalila Lucien died when N93119, the Boeing 747
airliner on TWA Flight 800
carrying 230 passengers bound for Paris, France, crashed into the Atlantic Ocean
off the coast of Long Island, New York, shortly after takeoff from John F. Kennedy International Airport
on July 17, 1996. That month, Jon Lucien went into the studio and began recording Endless Is Love. Seeking solace in the studio, he reflected: "My daughter doesn’t want me sitting around being unhappy. I look at her and we communicate. We make music. The music is a special force."
A ‘Best Of’ compilation of his earlier work was released in 2001.
Jon Lucien died in Orlando, Florida
on the 18th of August 2007 from respiratory failure and other complications following surgery at age 65.
The following titles were released on Jon Lucien's own label, Sugar Apple Music:
A new release entitled The Wayfarer, Songs of Praise is expected soon on the same Sugar Apple Music label.
Tortola
Tortola is the largest and most populated of the British Virgin Islands, a group of islands that form part of the archipelago of the Virgin Islands. Local tradition recounts that Christopher Columbus named it Tortola, meaning "land of the Turtle Dove". Columbus named the island Santa Ana...
, the main island of the British Virgin Islands
British Virgin Islands
The Virgin Islands, often called the British Virgin Islands , is a British overseas territory and overseas territory of the European Union, located in the Caribbean to the east of Puerto Rico. The islands make up part of the Virgin Islands archipelago, the remaining islands constituting the U.S...
. Born Lucien Harrigan, and raised in Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands
Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands
Saint Thomas is an island in the Caribbean Sea and with the islands of Saint John, Saint Croix, and Water Island a county and constituent district of the United States Virgin Islands , an unincorporated territory of the United States. Located on the island is the territorial capital and port of...
by his musician father, Lucien was best known for his song "Rashida", the title track of an album released in 1973, and one of two Grammy nominated songs on that album. He was also well known for his cover of "Dindi" by Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
ian composer Antonio Carlos Jobim
Antônio Carlos Jobim
Antônio Carlos Brasileiro de Almeida Jobim , also known as Tom Jobim , was a Brazilian songwriter, composer, arranger, singer, and pianist/guitarist. He was a primary force behind the creation of the bossa nova style, and his songs have been performed by many singers and instrumentalists within...
. His smooth baritone
Baritone
Baritone is a type of male singing voice that lies between the bass and tenor voices. It is the most common male voice. Originally from the Greek , meaning deep sounding, music for this voice is typically written in the range from the second F below middle C to the F above middle C Baritone (or...
drew comparisons with Nat King Cole
Nat King Cole
Nathaniel Adams Coles , known professionally as Nat King Cole, was an American musician who first came to prominence as a leading jazz pianist. Although an accomplished pianist, he owes most of his popular musical fame to his soft baritone voice, which he used to perform in big band and jazz genres...
and Lou Rawls
Lou Rawls
Louis Allen "Lou" Rawls was an American soul, jazz, and blues singer. He was known for his smooth vocal style: Frank Sinatra once said that Rawls had "the classiest singing and silkiest chops in the singing game"...
. He was often heard on traditional jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
stations in the United States such as WJZZ in Detroit, Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
(now WDMK
WDMK
WDMK is an FM radio station in Detroit, Michigan broadcasting at 105.9 mHz, owned by Radio One. The station is positioned as 105-9 Kiss, Detroit's Best R&B with a current-based Urban Adult Contemporary format playing mostly current R&B with some Neo Soul and a little old school mixed in...
).
In the mid-1960s he relocated to New York City
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, where he began his musical career. One of his early inspirations was Nat King Cole. His debut album, entitled I Am Now, was released in 1970. 1973 saw the release of Rashida, containing the popular ballads "Would You Believe In Me", "Lady Love", and the title track.
For the follow-up, Lucien collaborated with veteran producer Dave Grusin
Dave Grusin
David Grusin is an American composer, arranger and pianist. Grusin has composed many scores for feature films and television, and has won numerous awards for his soundtrack and record work, including an Academy award and 12 Grammys...
on the release Mind’s Eye in 1974. This album contained the tunes "Listen Love" and "World Of Joy." The following year, Jon moved to the CBS label for his fourth album release, Song For My Lady, followed in 1976 by Premonition for the same label. Only one release spanned the years between the mid-1970s and 1990, the album Romantico, recorded in 1982 for the Precision label.
After a lengthy absence, Lucien returned in 1991 with Listen Love, a collection that was very much like what he had done at his peak in the 1970s. Further releases included Mother Nature’s Son (1993) and Precious (1999).
His 17-year-old daughter Dalila Lucien died when N93119, the Boeing 747
Boeing 747
The Boeing 747 is a wide-body commercial airliner and cargo transport, often referred to by its original nickname, Jumbo Jet, or Queen of the Skies. It is among the world's most recognizable aircraft, and was the first wide-body ever produced...
airliner on TWA Flight 800
TWA Flight 800
Trans World Airlines Flight 800 , a Boeing 747-131, exploded and crashed into the Atlantic Ocean near East Moriches, New York, on July 17, 1996, at about 20:31 EDT, 12 minutes after takeoff, killing all 230 persons on board. At the time, it was the second-deadliest U.S...
carrying 230 passengers bound for Paris, France, crashed into the Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
off the coast of Long Island, New York, shortly after takeoff from John F. Kennedy International Airport
John F. Kennedy International Airport
John F. Kennedy International Airport is an international airport located in the borough of Queens in New York City, about southeast of Lower Manhattan. It is the busiest international air passenger gateway to the United States, handling more international traffic than any other airport in North...
on July 17, 1996. That month, Jon Lucien went into the studio and began recording Endless Is Love. Seeking solace in the studio, he reflected: "My daughter doesn’t want me sitting around being unhappy. I look at her and we communicate. We make music. The music is a special force."
A ‘Best Of’ compilation of his earlier work was released in 2001.
Jon Lucien died in Orlando, Florida
Orlando, Florida
Orlando is a city in the central region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat of Orange County, and the center of the Greater Orlando metropolitan area. According to the 2010 US Census, the city had a population of 238,300, making Orlando the 79th largest city in the United States...
on the 18th of August 2007 from respiratory failure and other complications following surgery at age 65.
Discography
- I Am Now (RCA 1970)
- Rashida (RCA 1973)
- Mind’s Eye (RCA 1974)
- Song For My Lady (Columbia 1975)
- Premonition (Columbia 1976)
- The Best Of Jon Lucien (Columbia 1980)
- Romantico (Precision 1982)
- Listen Love (Mercury 1991)
- Mother Nature’s Son (PolyGram 1993)
- Endless Is Love (Shanachie 1997)
- By Request (Shanachie 1999)
- Precious Is Love (Love Arts 1999)
- The Best Of (Camden Deluxe 2001)
The following titles were released on Jon Lucien's own label, Sugar Apple Music:
- Lucien Romantico
- Man From Paradise
- "Live In NYC"
- A Time For Love
A new release entitled The Wayfarer, Songs of Praise is expected soon on the same Sugar Apple Music label.
Quote
“The [RCA] record company was attempting to package me as a sort of ‘black Sinatra’. Once the white women started to swoon at my performances, their attitudes quickly changed.”External links
- The Times Obituary for Jon Lucien
- http://www.jonlucien.com/
- http://www.thejazzy1.com/
- http://www.soultracks.com/story-jon_lucien
- http://www.soulwalking.co.uk/Jon%20Lucien.html
- http://www.discogs.com/artist/Jon+Lucien
- http://www.showbuzz.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/08/22/music/main3193586.shtml
Additional reading
- Notable Caribbeans and Caribbean Americans A Biographical Dictionary, by Serafín Méndez-Méndez and Gail A. Cueto. Published by Greenwood Press, 2003. ISBN 0-313-31443-8 www.greenwood.com