One of the nice things about living and working as a writer in New York City are the remarkable people one meets. Last year, I was asked to interview Lawrence Lucie on his 100th birthday. I simply walked into the Kateri Residence, a nursing home in Manhattan, and went to Mr. Lucie’s room, introduced myself to him, and had an amazing conversation with a man who touched much of 20th Century music history.
Lawrence Lucie was a master rhythm guitarist whose career began in the early years of jazz. He died this week at 101. In his remarkable life, he played for some of the biggest names in jazz: Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, Billie Holiday, Benny Carter, Lucky Millinder, Cab Calloway, Fletcher Henderson and many others. He was the last living musician known to have recorded with the New Orleans jazz pioneer Jelly Roll Morton.
Lucie played at the Cotton Club with Benny Carter’s band. His close friend, John Hammond, the CBS producer who discovered Bob Dylan and so many others, came to Harlem to hear him play.
“Duke Ellington, Cab Calloway, Louis Armstrong. They were all great,” he told me. “I'm on many of their records. I can't even name all the records I am on. But Duke Ellington was one of the best arrangers and producers. Duke was great, but he was not better than Fletcher Henderson. In my career, Fletcher Henderson was number one.”
Lucie retired when he was 99, playing his last gig at Arturo’s Restaurant in Greenwich Village. “I did everything on the guitar. I played all styles and I played all over the world with the top bands,” he said. “Don't know how I got to be 100; I just stay well. I didn't gamble and I learned how to take care of myself. I'm the oldest in my family. Everyone is gone now except me. I've lived a good life.”
---
Photo of Lawrence Lucie on his 100th birthday by Frank Beacham
