Louisiana Red facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Louisiana Red
|
|
|---|---|
Louisiana Red performing in Düsseldorf, Germany
|
|
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Iverson Minter |
| Born | March 23, 1932 Bessemer, Alabama, U.S. |
| Died | February 25, 2012 (aged 79) Hanover, Germany |
| Genres | Blues |
| Occupation(s) |
|
| Instruments |
|
| Years active | 1949–2012 |
| Labels | |
| Associated acts |
|
Iverson Minter (born March 23, 1932 – died February 25, 2012) was a famous American blues musician. He was known by his stage name, Louisiana Red. He played the guitar and harmonica, and he was also a singer. Over his career, he recorded more than 50 albums. His most famous song was "Sweet Blood Call".
Contents
About Louisiana Red's Life
Early Life and Challenges
Iverson Minter was born in Bessemer, Alabama. He had a very tough start to life. His mother sadly passed away from pneumonia shortly after he was born. When he was only five years old, his father also died due to a violent act.
Because he lost both parents so early, Iverson was raised by different relatives. He moved around to many towns and cities during his childhood.
Starting His Music Career
Louisiana Red began his music journey when he was young. In 1949, he recorded music for Chess Records, a well-known label. After this, he joined the United States Army. He trained as a parachutist and served in Korea in 1951.
After leaving the Army, he continued his music. In the late 1950s, he played with the legendary blues musician John Lee Hooker in Detroit for two years. He also recorded for Checker Records in 1952, using the name Rocky Fuller.
First Albums and Hit Songs
Louisiana Red released his first album, Lowdown Back Porch Blues, in 1963. He recorded it in New York City. Later that same year, his second album, Seventh Son, came out.
In 1964, he released a single called "I'm Too Poor to Die." This song became quite popular. It reached number 117 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. It also hit number 30 on the Cashbox chart.
Busy Years and Awards
Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, Louisiana Red was very busy. He recorded many songs and performed often. He worked with several record labels, including Chess, Atlantic, and Roulette.
His hard work paid off. In 1983, he won a special award called the W. C. Handy Award. This award recognized him as the Best Traditional Blues Male Artist. In 1981, he moved to Hanover, Germany, where he lived for the rest of his life.
Appearing in Films
Louisiana Red also appeared in several films. These included Rockpalast (1976), Comeback (1982), and Red and Blues (2005). These films helped share his music and story with more people.
Later Career and Final Album
In 1994, Louisiana Red tried something new. He combined blues music with traditional Greek music. He worked with a bouzouki player named Stelios Vamvakaris. They released an album called Blues Meets Rembetika.
He continued to tour and perform, even returning to the United States often. In 2011, he released his last album, Memphis Mojo. This album was very well-received by fans and critics.
His Passing
Louisiana Red passed away on February 25, 2012, in Hanover, Germany. He was 79 years old. He had a stroke a few days before and had been in a coma. His death was a sad loss for the blues music world.
Awards and Recognition
Louisiana Red received several important awards for his contributions to blues music:
- W. C. Handy Award for Best Traditional Blues Male Artist, 1983
- Lifetime Achievement Award, Blues Trust Productions, 2006
- Grand Prix du Disque (Blues) for Back to the Black Bayou, 2009
- German Record Critics Award (2nd quarter) for Best New Release (Blues), 2009
- Bluesnews Poll for Back to the Black Bayou, 2009
- Blues Music Award for Acoustic Album of the Year (You Got to Move), 2010
Discography
Albums
- Lowdown Back Porch Blues (1963, Roulette)
- Seventh Son (1963, Carnival)
- Shouts the Blues (1970, Forum Circle)
- Louisiana Red Sings the Blues (1972, Atlantic)
- Sweet Blood Call (1975, Blue Labor)
- Dead Stray Dog (1976, Blue Labor)
- New York Blues (1979, L+R)
- Reality Blues (1980, L+R)
- High Voltage Blues, with Sugar Blue (1980, Black Panther)
- Midnight Rambler (1982, Tomato/Rhino)
- Blues for Ida B (1982, JSP)
- Boy from Black Bayou (1983, L+R)
- Blues from the Heart (1983, JSP)
- Anti Nuclear Blues (1983, L+R)
- Bluesman (1984, JSP)
- Back to the Road Again (1984, MMG)
- My Life, with Carey Bell (1984, L+R)
- World on Fire (1985, MMG)
- Brothers in Blues (1985, CMA)
- Back to the Roots (1987, CMA)
- Last Mohican of the Blues (1992, Polton)
- Ashland Avenue Blues (1992, Schubert)
- Always Played the Blues (1994, JSP)
- Louisiana Red (1994, Forum)
- Blues Meets Rembetika (1994, Distazi)
- Sittin' Here Wonderin' (1995, Earwig Music)
- Sugar Hips (1995, CMA)
- Rising Sun Collection (1996, JAMR)
- I Hear the Train Coming (1997, Chrisly)
- Over My Head (1997, Chrisly)
- Walked All Night Long with Lefty Dizz, originally recorded in 1976 (1997, Blues Alliance)
- Rip Off Blues (1998, Chrisly)
- Winter & Summer Sessions (1998, Blues Factory)
- Driftin' (1999, Earwig Music)
- Millennium Blues (1999, Earwig Music)
- Sings Deep Blues (2001, P-Vine)
- A Different Shade of Red (2002, Severn)
- No Turn on Red (2005, Hightone)
- Hot Sauce (2005, Red Lightnin')
- Back to the Black Bayou, with Kim Wilson and Little Victor (2008, Bluestown)
- You Got to Move, with David Maxwell (2009, Blu Max/Vizztone)
- Memphis Mojo, with Little Victor (2011, Ruf)
- When My Mama Was Living (2012, Labor Records; recorded 1975)
Live Albums
- Live & Well (1976, Ornament)
- King Bee, with Sugar Blue (1978, Orchid)
- Red, Funk and Blue, with Sugar Blue (1978, Black Panther)
- Live in Montreux (2000, Labor)
- Live at 55, with Carey Bell (1994, Enja)
- Bad Case of the Blues, with Carey Bell (2004, Mojo Tone)
- Live at Painted Sky (2008, Paul Productions)
- Red Funk 'n Blue: The Complete 1978 Recordings [with Sugar Blue] (2021, JSP Records)
Compilation Albums
- Anthologie du Blues, vol. 11 (Roulette)
- Blues Classics (1983, L+R)
- Pretty Woman (1991, Blues Beacon)
- The Best of Louisiana Red (1995, Evidence)
- The Blues Spectrum of Louisiana Red, with Sugar Blue (1998, JSP)
- The Sky Is Crying (2014, Wolf Records)
See also
In Spanish: Louisiana Red para niños
