Al Lucas

Albert Bennington Lucas (November 16, 1916 – June 19, 1983) was a Canadian jazz double-bassist.

Lucas took piano lessons as a child from his mother, Francis Bradley Lucas, a concert pianist, eventually switching to bass and tuba at age 12. After moving to New York City in 1933, Lucas played with Kaiser Marshall, then joined the Royal Sunset Orchestra, where he played from 1933 to 1942. During the 1940s, Lucas appeared on record with Hot Lips Page, Coleman Hawkins, Eddie Heywood (1944–45), Duke Ellington (1945), Mary Lou Williams (1946), James P. Johnson, J.J. Johnson, Ben Webster, Erroll Garner, and Eddie South.

He toured and recorded with Illinois Jacquet from 1947 to 1953, recording in Detroit with Jacquet's all-star band which included Sonny Stitt, Leo Parker, Sir Charles Thompson, Maurice Simon and Shadow Wilson before returning to play with Heywood again from 1954 to 1956. He also recorded in the 1950s with Ruby Braff, Charlie Byrd, and Teddy Wilson. He worked primarily as a studio musician in his last two decades, backing up groups at Apollo Theater performances, playing jazz only occasionally. Lucas died in New York City on June 19, 1983.

Birth and Death Data: Born November 16, 1916 (Windsor), Died July 19, 1983 (New York City)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1942 - 1966

Roles Represented in DAHR: string bass, guitar

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor BS-073487 10-in. 3/30/1942 Who threw the whiskey in the well? Hardway Four ; Sunset Orchestra ; Doc Wheeler Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo and male vocal quartet instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor BS-073488 10-in. 3/30/1942 Me and my Melinda James Otis Lewis ; Sunset Orchestra ; Doc Wheeler Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor BS-073489 10-in. 3/30/1942 Tunies' tune Sunset Orchestra ; Doc Wheeler Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor BS-073490 10-in. 3/30/1942 Keep jumpin' Sunset Orchestra ; Doc Wheeler Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor PD6VB-2523 10-in. 7/24/1946 Fifth dimension Mary Lou Williams Instrumental trio instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor PD6VB-2528 10-in. 7/24/1946 Humoresque Mary Lou Williams Trio Piano solo, with bass (take 1); with bass and drums (take 2) instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor D7VB-2854 10-in. 12/18/1947 Jet propulsion Illinois Jacquet Orchestra ; Illinois Jacquet Jazz octet instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor D7VB-2855 10-in. 12/18/1947 King Jacquet Illinois Jacquet Orchestra ; Illinois Jacquet Jazz octet instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor D7VB-2856 10-in. 12/18/1947 Try me one more time Illinois Jacquet Orchestra ; Illinois Jacquet ; Russell Jacquet Jazz octet, with vocal refrain instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor D7VB-2857 10-in. 12/18/1947 Embryo Illinois Jacquet Orchestra ; Illinois Jacquet Jazz octet instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor D7VB-2889 10-in. 12/19/1947 Riffing at 24th street Illinois Jacquet Orchestra ; Illinois Jacquet Jazz nonet instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor D7VB-2890 10-in. 12/19/1947 Mutton leg Illinois Jacquet Orchestra Instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor D7VB-2891 10-in. 12/19/1947 Symphony in Sid Illinois Jacquet Orchestra ; Illinois Jacquet Instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor D7VB-2892 10-in. 12/19/1947 A Jacquet for Jack the bellboy Illinois Jacquet Orchestra ; Illinois Jacquet Jazz nonet instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca 72668 10-in. 12/29/1944 Please don't talk about me when I'm gone Eddie Heywood Orchestra instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca 72669 10-in. 12/29/1944 Lover man (oh where can you be) Eddie Heywood Orchestra instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca 82670 4/9/1952 Lonesome and blue Hal Singer Orchestra instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca 82671 4/9/1952 I love the way you love me Hal Singer Orchestra instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca 82672 4/9/1952 Secret love Hal Singer Orchestra instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca 82673 4/9/1952 Please Dr. Jive Hal Singer Orchestra instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca 82958 6/16/1952 Troubles Joan Shaw instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca 82959 6/16/1952 Better be on my way Joan Shaw instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca 82960 6/16/1952 Until you came along Joan Shaw instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca 82961 6/16/1952 Anything you say Joan Shaw instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca 114716 3/26/1964 Twisting & shoutin' (Doing the monkey) Jackie Wilson instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca 114717 3/26/1964 Deep down love Jackie Wilson instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca 114718 3/26/1964 Baby (I just can't help it) Jackie Wilson instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca 114719 3/26/1964 Groovin' Jackie Wilson instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca 114720 3/26/1964 Love (is where you find it) Jackie Wilson instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca 114721 3/26/1964 Squeeze her-Tease her (But love her) Jackie Wilson instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca 114722 3/26/1964 Expressions Jackie Wilson instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 114723 3/26/1964 Don't set me free Jackie Wilson instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 114724 3/26/1964 Rebecca Jackie Wilson instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 114725 3/26/1964 Give me back my heart Jackie Wilson instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 114726 3/26/1964 Be my girl Jackie Wilson instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 114727 3/26/1964 Dream Jackie Wilson instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 114728 3/27/1964 Big boss line Jackie Wilson instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca 114729 3/27/1964 My best friend's girl Jackie Wilson instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca 114730 3/27/1964 Take one step Jackie Wilson instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca 115661 2/4/1965 No pity in the naked city Jackie Wilson instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca 115662 2/4/1965 Better play it safe Jackie Wilson instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca 115663 2/4/1965 Star dust Jackie Wilson instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca 115664 2/4/1965 She'll be there Jackie Wilson instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca 115665 2/4/1965 No time out Jackie Wilson instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca 116062 5/10/1965 No pity in the naked city Jackie Wilson instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca 116800 12/3/1965 Do you say you wanna dance Jackie Wilson instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca 116801 12/3/1965 Soul galore Jackie Wilson instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca 116802 12/3/1965 Let me build Jackie Wilson instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca 116803 12/3/1965 I've got to get back (Country boy) Jackie Wilson instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca 116804 12/3/1965 All my lovin' Jackie Wilson instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca 116899 1/11/1966 I got my mind made up Jackie Wilson instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca 116900 1/11/1966 3 days, 1 hour, 30 minutes Jackie Wilson instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca 116901 1/11/1966 What's done in the dark (Will one day come to light)-1 Jackie Wilson instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca 116902 1/11/1966 Your loss, my gain-1 Jackie Wilson instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca 116903 1/11/1966 Everything's gonna be fine Jackie Wilson instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca 116904 1/11/1966 Brand new thing, part 1 Jackie Wilson instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca 116905 1/11/1966 Brand new thing, part 2 Jackie Wilson instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca 117676 7/8/1966 I'm not made of clay-1 ; I'm not made of clay Screamin' Jay Hawkins instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca 117677 7/8/1966 All night-1 ; All night Screamin' Jay Hawkins instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca 117678 7/8/1966 Mountain jive-1 ; Mountain jive Screamin' Jay Hawkins instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca 117679 7/8/1966 I'll be there-1 ; I'll be there Screamin' Jay Hawkins instrumentalist, string bass  
Signature SRC 154 10-in. 12/4/1944 Let me call you sweetheart Trummy Young Orchestra ; Trummy Young instrumentalist, string bass  
Signature SRC 155 10-in. 12/4/1944 Lame brain Trummy Young Orchestra ; Trummy Young instrumentalist, string bass  
Signature SRC 156 10-in. 12/4/1944 Please, please, please Trummy Young Orchestra ; Trummy Young instrumentalist, string bass  
Signature SRC 157 10-in. 12/4/1944 Fla gala pa Trummy Young Orchestra ; Trummy Young instrumentalist, string bass  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Lucas, Al," accessed November 1, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/103026.

Lucas, Al. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 1, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/103026.

"Lucas, Al." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 1 November 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/103026

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