Lucky Peterson Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Lucky Peterson
Peterson at Festival du Bout du Monde in 2016
Background information
Birth name	Judge Kenneth Peterson
Born	(1964-12-13)December 13, 1964 Buffalo, New York, U.S.
Died	May 17, 2020(2020-05-17) (aged 55) Dallas, Texas, U.S.
Genres	Blues, soul, R&B, gospel, rock and roll
Occupation(s)	Musician, songwriter
Instruments	Guitar, keyboards
Labels	Disques Dreyfus, Evidence Records, Alligator Records, Verve records, Blue Thumb Records, JSP Records
Associated acts	Mavis Staples

Judge Kenneth Peterson (born December 13, 1964 – died May 17, 2020) was an American musician. He was known to everyone as Lucky Peterson. He played a mix of blues, soul, R&B, gospel, and rock and roll. Lucky was great at playing both the guitar and keyboards.

Early Life and Music Beginnings
Teenage Years and Professional Career
Later Albums and Recognition
Personal Life
Discography
Images for kids
See also

Early Life and Music Beginnings

Lucky Peterson grew up surrounded by music. His father, James Peterson, was also a blues musician. He owned a nightclub in Buffalo called The Governor's Inn. Famous blues artists like Willie Dixon often played there.

When Lucky was just five years old, Willie Dixon saw him perform at the club. Dixon was very impressed and helped Lucky get started in music. Soon after, Lucky appeared on big TV shows. These included The Tonight Show, The Ed Sullivan Show, and What's My Line?. Millions of people watched him sing "1-2-3-4". This song was a new version of "Please, Please, Please" by James Brown.

Around this time, Lucky recorded his first album. It was called Our Future: 5 Year Old Lucky Peterson. He also appeared on a public TV show called Soul!.

Teenage Years and Professional Career

As a teenager, Lucky Peterson continued his music studies. He went to the Buffalo Academy for Visual and Performing Arts. There, he played the French horn in the school symphony.

It wasn't long before he started playing backup for famous musicians. He played guitar and keyboards for artists like Etta James, Bobby "Blue" Bland, and Little Milton.

The 1990s were a very busy time for Lucky. He released several solo albums. Two of his best-known albums were Lucky Strikes! (1989) and Triple Play (1990). These were released by Alligator Records.

He then released four more albums with Verve. While with Verve, he worked with Mavis Staples. They made a special album called Spirituals & Gospel. It was a tribute to the gospel singer Mahalia Jackson. Lucky played the electronic organ while Mavis Staples sang.

Later Albums and Recognition

Lucky Peterson continued to release many albums after the year 2000. He recorded for labels like Blue Thumb and Disques Dreyfus. In 2007, he released Tête à Tête on JSP Records.

In 2013, a DVD of his live performance was nominated for a Blues Music Award. The DVD was called Live At The 55 Arts Club Berlin.

Lucky Peterson was also a favorite musician of blues star Kenny Neal. Lucky's amazing organ and piano playing can be heard on six of Kenny Neal's albums.

Personal Life

Lucky Peterson lived in Dallas, Texas. He traveled all over the world to perform his music. He had four children.

He passed away on May 17, 2020, in Dallas. He was 55 years old.

Discography

1969: Our Future: 5 Year Old Lucky Peterson – Today TLP-1002
1972: The Father, The Son, The Blues (with James Peterson) – Today TLP-1011
1984: Ridin' – Evidence 26033; originally issued on Isabel 900.519 [LP] and IS-919.2 [CD].
1989: Lucky Strikes! – Alligator 4770
1991: Triple Play – Alligator 4789
1993: I'm Ready – Verve 517513
1994: Beyond Cool – Verve 521147
1996: Lifetime – Verve 531202
1996: Spirituals & Gospel: Dedicated to Mahalia Jackson (with Mavis Staples) – Verve 533562
1998: Move – Verve 537897
1999: Lucky Peterson – Blue Thumb/Verve 547433
2001: Double Dealin' – Blue Thumb/Verve 549475
2003: Black Midnight Sun – Dreyfus 36643
2004: If You Can't Fix It (with James Peterson) – JSP 8816
2006: Lay My Demons Down (with Tommy McCoy) – Blues Boulevard 250232; originally issued on Green Swamp.
2007: Tête à Tête (with Andy Aledort, Larry McCray) – JSP 8805
2009: Organ Soul Sessions – Emarcy/Universal (France) 5313798 [3-CD set]; also available individually as Brother Where Are You? (5313801), Mercy (5313800), and The Music is the Magic (5313799).
2009: Darling Forever (with Tamara Peterson) – JSP 8814
2010: Heart of Pain – JSP 8824
2010: You Can Always Turn Around – Dreyfus 36967
2011: Every Second a Fool is Born – JSP 8831
2012: Live at the 55 Arts Club Berlin (with Tamara Peterson) – Blackbird Music 201209 [2CD]
2013: Whatever You Say (with Tamara Peterson) – JSP 8848
2014: I'm Back Again – Blues Boulevard 250357 (a single disc compilation of the 55 Arts Club set)
2014: The Son of a Bluesman – Jazz Village 570035
2014: Travelin' Man – JSP 8854
2015: July 28, 2014: Live in Marciac – Jazz Village 570076
2016: Long Nights – JSP 3001
2017: What Have I Done Wrong: The Best of the JSP Studio Sessions – JSP 3009 (compilation)
2017: Tribute to Jimmy Smith – Jazz Village 570135
2019: 50 – Just Warming Up! – Jazz Village 570165