LOUISIANA RED
"MILLENNIUM BLUES"
EARWIG MUSIC
Louisiana Red represents a model blueprint of the origin of blues music. Born Iverson Minter in Bessemer, Alabama, his life began tragically with the death of his mother from pneumonia just seven short days after his birth. At the early age of five, his father was murdered. Suffering through county orphanages and being shuffled between family members throughout his early childhood, Red finally found a true friend in the guitar at the age of nine. His grandfather provided a source of musical knowledge and inspiration and provided Red with his first real guitar.
Growing up in Pittsburgh, Red befriended a number of veteran musicians, dabbling with the drums and the harmonica in addition to the guitar. At sixteen, Red lied about his age and joined the U.S. Army, serving in Korea during the Korean War, and finally bringing some stability into his early life. After the army, Red began playing the New Jersey club scene. A record deal then brought him to Chicago, but he soon returned to Pittsburgh to support his new family.
"Millennium Blues" represents a return home for Louisiana Red. On what is his first U.S. recording in a number of years, Red is supported by some of the best blues musicians in the business: Brian Bisesi (Luther Johnson) on rhythm guitar, Willie Kent on bass, Willie "Big Eyes"
Smith (Muddy Waters Band) on harmonica, Allen Batts (Albert Collins’ Ice Breakers) on piano, and Dave Jefferson (Albert King) on drums. All of the tracks on "Millennium Blues" are Louisiana Red originals.
Louisiana Red mixes the solid groundwork of the Chicago electric blues sound with a number of solo acoustic blues tracks. Recorded on an old 1930 Dobro acoustic guitar, Red pours his emotional past into tracks like "Too Poor to Die" and "Orphanage Home Blues". Red also
provides a brief introduction of his early childhood memories, allowing the listener to fully appreciate where he has been and the feelings behind the music.
The opening track, "Red’s Vision" is pure Muddy Waters and sets the tone for the rest of the disc. The classic Chicago blues sound is evident on tracks like "Arlene Blues" and "Let Me Be Your Electrician". "Texas Jump" allows for a number of solo efforts to be displayed by Red’s talented band and is one of the few uptempo tracks on the disc. "Got A Home In That Rock" is a traditional song that Red learned from his grandmother.
Louisiana Red’s emotional guitar work, blood and sweat vocals, and personal stories make for a solid package of pure blues material played by an individual that has lived and what he wrote.
- Don Sikorski
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