Robert Lowery (musician)

Robert Lee Lowery (April 8, 1931 – October 25, 2016) was an American blues singer and guitarist.[1]

Robert Lowery
Robert Lowery in 1980
Background information
Born(1931-04-08)April 8, 1931
OriginShula, Arkansas, United States
DiedOctober 25, 2016(2016-10-25) (aged 85)
GenresDelta blues, country blues
Occupation(s)Singer, guitarist
InstrumentsGuitar
Years active1950s–2016

Biography

As a teenager, he picked up blues tunes from records by Robert Johnson, Lightnin' Hopkins, Blind Boy Fuller, Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup, and others, eventually developing his own distinctive style. After moving to Santa Cruz, California in 1957, he backed up Big Mama Thornton.

Lowery made his first major concert appearance in 1974, at the San Francisco Blues Festival, and appeared there again in 1976 and 1984. Since then, he has traveled worldwide, and performed at many blues festivals and concerts, including a special appearance of fellow Arkansas native President Bill Clinton's 1993 inauguration.[2] Lowery has released many recordings on diverse record labels, some of which are currently available.

More recently, Lowery's reputation as an authentic Delta blues musician has taken him far beyond California. He played the Monterey Jazz Festival in 2006, New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival in 2007, Philadelphia Blues Festival, Eureka Springs Festival in Arkansas, the San Remo Blues Festival in Italy and the North Sea Jazz Festival in the Netherlands. He recorded a television commercial for MCI Inc., singing about how his telephone bill was too high.[3]

Selected discography

Singles
  • "Way Down Behind The Sun" / "Lowery Boogie", Delta Blues, Blues Connoisseur 1013

Albums
Year Title Style Record label
1994 Earthquake Blues Delta Blues, Country blues Orleans
1995 Good Man Is Hard to Find Delta Blues, Country blues Orleans
2000 Rainin' Down Blues Delta Blues, Country blues Wolf Records
2000 Playing out in the Street Delta Blues, Country blues The Orchard
2001 Playing out in the Street (re-release) Delta Blues, Country blues Freepott Records[4]

References
  2. "Robert Lowery: West Coast blues power". Thefreight.org.
  3. "MUSICAL LIVES: Celebrating Senior Musicians of Santa Cruz County". Folkplanet.com.
  4. "Playing out in the Street (release history)". AllMusic. Retrieved March 23, 2016.
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