Night Lights Classic Jazz

Nellie Lutcher’s Real Gone Rhythm

Nellie LutcherThis week on Night Lights we pay tribute to the pianist and singer who passed away in 2007 at the age of 94. A product of the thriving mid-20th century Central Avenue Los Angeles scene, in the late 1940s Lutcher scored a series of hits such as “Hurry On Down” and “Fine Brown Frame” that blended jazz, pop, blues and R & B in a way that made her one of the era’s first crossover stars. We’ll hear those songs and some of Lutcher’s later recordings as well, including a duet with Nat King Cole.

Music Heard On This Episode

Breezin' Along With the Breeze
Nellie Lutcher — Our New Nellie (Liberty, 1956)
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Breezin' Along With the Breeze
Nellie Lutcher — Our New Nellie (Liberty, 1956)
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Reaching for the Moon
Nellie Lutcher — Nellie Lutcher and Her Rhythm (Bear Family, 1947)
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The One I Love Belongs to Somebody Else
Nellie Lutcher — The Best of Nellie Lutcher (Capitol, 1947)
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Hurry On Down
Nellie Lutcher — Best of Nellie Lutcher (Capitol, 1947)
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The Lady's In Love With You
Nellie Lutcher — Nellie Lutcher and Her Rhythm (Bear Family, 1947)
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He's a Real Gone Guy
Nellie Lutcher — The Best of Nellie Lutcher (Capitol, 1947)
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I Thought About You
Nellie Lutcher — The Best of Nellie Lutcher (Capitol, 1947)
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Fine Brown Frame
Nellie Lutcher — The Best of Nellie Lutcher (Capitol, 1947)
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Humoresque (Opus #7)
Nellie Lutcher — Nellie Lutcher and Her Rhythm (Bear Family, 1947)
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Lake Charles Boogie
Nellie Lutcher — Best of Nellie Lutcher (Capitol, 1947)
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Cool Water
Nellie Lutcher — Nellie Lutcher and Her Rhythm (Bear Family, 1947)
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Baby, Please Stop and Think About Me
Nellie Lutcher — Nellie Lutcher and Her Rhythm (Bear Family, 1949)
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For You My Love
Nellie Lutcher/Nat King Cole — Jazz Encounters (Capitol, 1950)
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Let the Worry Bird Worry for You
Nellie Lutcher — Nellie Lutcher and Her Rhythm (Bear Family, 1951)
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Whee Baby
Nellie Lutcher — Nellie Lutcher and Her Rhythm (Bear Family, 1953)
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Out of This World
Nellie Lutcher — Nellie Lutcher and Her Rhythm (Bear Family, 1954)
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Blue Skies
Nellie Lutcher — Our New Nellie (Liberty, 1956)
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A Maid's Prayer
Nellie Lutcher — Nellie Lutcher and Her Rhythm (Bear Family, 1947)
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The Song Is Ended
Nellie Lutcher — The Best of Nellie Lutcher (Capitol, 1947)
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David Brent Johnson

Born in Indianapolis, Indiana, David Brent Johnson moved to Bloomington in 1991. He is an alumnus of Indiana University, and began working with WFIU in 2002. Currently, David serves as jazz producer and systems coordinator at the station. His interests include literature, history, music, writing, and movies.

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