RIBS TPTD: Jon Lucien - In Memorium…
{TG’s Notes (08/24/07): this was originally supposed to be a 2-mix post, however the second mix took a little longer to pull together than I anticipated. It is ready now and has been added below the first mix at the section labeled Addendum…}
There’s an old saying in the entertainment industry…
“Actors want to sing, and singers want to act.”
I think the same holds true for DJs. Many of us want to be a featured soloist in the band, laying down an awesome rift on the guitar or saxophone (my two favorite instruments, BTW) or on stage belting out a sweet love song that makes the ladies swoon.
That’s always been my dream. But, as they say, those that can (sing, dance or play an instrument) do, those that can’t become DJs! {smile}. Oh, but if I could sing, I’ve always wanted to have a voice like today’s featured artist, the late, great Jon Lucien, who unfortunately left us to join the Heavenly Choir on Saturday August 18, 2007. Now, of course, this is not to slight the other great male vocalists of our time: Marvin Gaye, Luther Vandross, Teddy Pendergrass, Isaac Hayes, and Barry White to name a few. But for my money, Lord if I get to live life over again, please give me Jon Lucien’s singing voice!
While he never attained that “superstar” or “household name” status nor had huge commercial success in album sales, those of us who followed Jazz knew that Jon was a talented writer, producer and instrumentalist as well as a gifted vocalist with a style that, at the time (early to mid-70s), defied description. In actuality, Jon Lucien was pioneering the sound that has now become known as “Smooth Jazz”, long before anybody knew what it was!
There have been quite a few reports in the media this week about his passing. I found this one in the Washington Post the most informative. It’s amazing the variety of things you sometimes find out about these entertainers when they pass away. I never knew Jon battled cocaine addiction, was married and divorced 3 times before finding happiness with his fourth wife, Delesa, and lost a baby daughter in 1980 in a swimming pool accident. On top of all that, his 17-year old daughter, Dalila, was killed in the TWA Flight 800 when it exploded and crashed off of Long Island in 1996. How a parent can survive the traumatic experience of burying a child, let alone two is beyond me. I hope that’s a test I never have to take.
Anyway, I’m starting to ramble, it’s just that the news of Jon’s passing hit me sort of hard. These days 65 years old is still to young (IMHO) to be dying and the news about Jon caught me off guard. Although, now that I think about it, if you go to his website and look at the picture gallery and compare recent photos of him to those from about 5-10 years ago, you can see that he was not in the best of health. I guess that is one of those famous “20-20 hindsight” types of observations.
As always in situations like these, the one positive is the rich legacy of music he has left behind for us to enjoy. And as long as there is someone, somewhere in the world listening to or absentmindedly humming one of Jon’s compositions, then he’ll never truly be gone! This week we present to you:
The musical magic of: Jon Lucien
 I Am Now (1970) |
 Rashida (1973) |
 Mind’s Eye (1974) |
 Listen Love (1991) |
 By Request (1999) |
 Man From Paradise (2002) |
RIBS TPTD: In Memorium, Jon Lucien part 1
Alternate (if you have a problem using the javascript pop-up): Click here.
Right-click here to download .MP3 file (92Mb, 1:19:50)
Playlist 1:
- A Time For Us [I am Now]
- My Cherie Amour [I am Now]
- Love Me [By Request]
- Maiden Voyage [Song For My Lady]
- Would You Believe In Me? [Rashida]
- The Pleasure Of Your Garden [Mind's Eye]
- Creole Lady [By Request]
- Shu-La-She-Lay [Man From Paradise]
- My Special Friend [Listen Love]
- Listen Love [Mind's Eye]
- Shana [Rashida]
- Kuenda [Rashida]
- Hello Like Before [By Request]
- See Through My Eyes [Man From Paradise]
- Who Will Buy? [I Am Now]
- Love Everlasting [Rashida]
- Mysteries [Listen Love]
- Lady Love [By Request]
- Luna Mi Luna [By Request]
- Soul Chant [Mind's Eye]
ADDENDUM:
Here’s Part 2 of the Triple Play Thurs-Day memorial tribute to Jon Lucien…
RIBS TPTD: In Memorium, Jon Lucien part 2
Alternate (if you have a problem using the javascript pop-up): Click here.
Right-click here to download .MP3 file (92Mb, 1:19:34)
Playlist 2:
- Dindi [By Request]
- Rashida [By Request]
- You Take My Breath Away [Listen Love]
- Love For Sale [I Am Now]
- Baby You Turn Me On [Man From Paradise]
- Adoration [Mind's Eye]
- Luella [Rashida]
- Ghetto Song [Mind's Eye]
- A Sunny Day [Mind's Eye]
- Soul Mate [By Request]
- War Song [Rashida]
- World Of Joy [Mind's Eye]
- Come Share My Love [Man From Paradise]
- Sweet Control [Listen Love]
- In The Night [Man From Paradise]
- Song For My Lady [By Request]
- When The Morning Comes [Mind's Eye]
- Nothin’ Lasts Forever [Listen Love]
Enjoy!
Technorati Tags: soul, jazz, netinfoweb, TPTD, playlist, mp3, mp3blog, soul music, Rhythms In Black Satin, RIBS, Jon Lucien
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Comments
4 Comments on RIBS TPTD: Jon Lucien - In Memorium…
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EJ on
Fri, 24th Aug 2007 7:11 am
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tgrundy on
Fri, 24th Aug 2007 8:31 am
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NetInfoWeb 2.0: Soul, R&B, Jazz and Blues on the ‘Net » RIBS: Jon Lucien, Part 2… on
Fri, 24th Aug 2007 10:06 am
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Sentou on
Sat, 25th Oct 2008 10:16 pm
You’re right that things at this time and age are a little different than they usually are. Nice tribute. I’m listening to it now, and having not listened/heard anything from him in about 10 years is a testimony that I am WAY behind the times.
Jon Lucien, RIP.
EJ, don’t beat yourself up too much for missing out on JL. Unfortunately, a lot of folks, with the exception of the hard core Jazz crowd, are very unaware of what a great vocal stylist Jon was. Glad that you are enjoying the mix.
But wait… there’s more! This was actually supposed to be a two mix post, but I ran out of time Wednesday night and never got Part 2 posted. I’ll be adding that today. You can never have enough Jon Lucien IMHO!
[...] Part 2 of the “Jon Lucien - In Memorium” mix has now been posted over on the MP3blog, Rhythms In Black Satin. This is a second mix, that you can stream or download, to supplement the original 20-song mix posted yesterday. Enjoy! View blog reactions [...]
I loved to listen to this man from the very first album “I AM NOW” he is still missed - thank God I still can listen to his music.
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