- Lawrence Lucie
Lawrence Lucie (born
December 18 ,1907 ) is an Americanjazz guitarist.Born in
Emporia, Virginia , Lucie learnedbanjo ,mandolin , and violin as a child and played with his family at dances. Lucie's father, abarber , also played jazz music. He studied banjo inNew York City at theBrooklyn Conservatory , but switched to guitar when he started a professional career. He was the guitarist for orchestras led byDuke Ellington (1931-32),Benny Carter (1932-34),Fletcher Henderson (1934, 1936-39), theMills Blue Rhythm Band (1934-36),Coleman Hawkins (1940), andLouis Armstrong (1940-44); he was also thebest man at Armstrong's wedding. He recorded with all of them except Ellington. He can also be found on record withTeddy Wilson andBillie Holiday ,Spike Hughes ,Putney Dandridge ,Big Joe Turner ,Red Allen , andJelly Roll Morton .After the
big band era passed, he played in a quartet with his wifeNora Lee King , also a guitarist as well as a singer. In the 1950s he played withLuis Russell ,Louie Bellson , andCozy Cole , in addition to copious session work. Lucie continued to record with his wife for his own label, Toy Records, into the 1980s.Lucie taught at the Borough of Manhattan Community College for some three decades, retiring in 2004.
References
*
Scott Yanow , [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:wjftxq85ldfe~T1 Lawrence Lucie] atAllmusic
* [http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/19/nyregion/19musician.html?_r=1&oref=slogin New York Times article on Lucie's 100th birthday]
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