Lucien Leopold Harrigan (January 8, 1942 – August 18, 2007), known professionally as Jon Lucien, was a singer from Tortola in the British Virgin Islands.
Jon Lucien | |
|---|---|
 Lucien in 1991 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Lucien Leopold Harrigan |
| Born | January 8, 1942 Tortola, British Virgin Islands |
| Died | August 18, 2007 (aged 65) Orlando, Florida |
| Genres | Soul, soul jazz, funk, R&B |
| Occupation | Singer |
| Years active | 1960s–2000s |
| Labels | RCA, Columbia, Mercury, Shanachie, Sugar Apple Music |
| Website | jonlucien |
Life and career
editBorn in Tortola in 1942, Lucien was raised in St. Thomas. His parents were Eric "Rico" Lucien Harrigan and Eloise Turnbull Harrigan. His father was a musician whose main instrument was a three-coursed Latin guitar-like chordophone known as a Tres.[1] As a teenager, he played bass in his father's band. During the 1960s he moved to New York City.[2] While performing at a party, he was discovered by an executive from RCA, which released his debut album (I Am Now, 1970) of pop and jazz standards.[2] Lucien said the label attempted to market him as a "black Sinatra". His second album, Rashida, contained only songs written by Lucien, with "Lady Love" receiving radio airplay.[2] Dave Grusin received a Grammy Award nomination for his arrangements.[2][3] He recorded two albums for Columbia before making guest appearances on Yesterday's Dreams by Alphonso Johnson and Mr. Gone by Weather Report.[2][4]
His daughter drowned in 1980, and he spent much of the decade struggling with drug addiction.[5] He returned to music with the albums Listen Love (Mercury, 1991) and Mother Nature's Son (Mercury, 1993).[2][4] Another daughter died in the crash of TWA Flight 800,[6] and Lucien dedicated his album Endless Is Love (1997) to her.[2]
He died of respiratory failure in Orlando, Florida, on August 18, 2007.[7]
Discography
edit- I Am Now (RCA, 1970)
- Rashida (RCA, 1973)
- Mind's Eye (RCA, 1974)
- Song for My Lady (Columbia, 1975)
- Premonition (Columbia, 1976)
- Romantico (Precision, 1980)
- Inside Moves (Elektra,1984)
- Listen Love (Mercury, 1991)
- Mother Nature's Son (Mercury, 1993)
- Endless Is Love (Shanachie, 1997)
- By Request (Shanachie, 1999)
- Precious Is Love (Love Arts, 1999)
- Man from Paradise (Sugar Apple Music, 2002)
- Live in NYC (Sugar Apple Music, 2003)
- A Time for Love (Sugar Apple Music, 2004)
- The Wayfarer (Sugar Apple Music, 2008)[4]
References
edit- ^ Méndez-Méndez, Serafin; Mendez, Serafín Mendez; Cueto, Gail; Deynes, Neysa Rodríguez (2003). Notable Caribbeans and Caribbean Americans: A Biographical Dictionary. Bloomsbury Academic. ISBN 9780313314438.
- ^ a b c d e f g Ankeny1, Jason. "Jon Lucien". AllMusic. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "Soulful Jazz Singer Jon Lucien Dies". The Oklahoman. Retrieved 2022-08-22.
- ^ a b c "Jon Lucien". Discogs. Retrieved 2022-08-22.
- ^ "Obituary: Jon Lucien". the Guardian. 2007-10-03. Retrieved 2022-08-22.
- ^ "Jon Lucien, jazz singer: 65". thestar.com. 2007-08-21. Retrieved 2022-08-22.
- ^ Sisario, Ben (2007-08-22). "Jon Lucien, Smooth Singer of Mellow Jazz and Soul, Dies at 65". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2022-08-22.
Further reading
edit- Notable Caribbeans and Caribbean Americans: A Biographical Dictionary, by Serafín Méndez-Méndez and Gail A. Cueto. Greenwood Press, 2003. ISBN 0-313-31443-8