Jump to content

John "Juke" Logan

Edit links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
John "Juke" Logan
Birth nameJohn Farrell Logan
Born(1946-09-11)September 11, 1946
Los Angeles,California,United States
DiedAugust 30, 2013(2013-08-30)(aged 66)
Joshua Tree, California,United States
GenresElectric blues[1]
Occupation(s)Harmonicist,singer,pianist,songwriter
Instrument(s)Harmonica,vocals,piano
Years activeMid 1970s–2013
LabelsRazor & Tie, Mocombo

John "Juke" Logan(September 11, 1946 – August 30, 2013) was an Americanelectric bluesharmonica player, musician, singer, pianist and songwriter. He is best known for his harmonica playing on thetheme musicfortelevision programs(Home ImprovementandRoseanne) andfilms(CrossroadsandLa Bamba). In addition to playing on many other musicians' work, Logan released four soloalbums,and wrote songs forPoco,John MayallandGary Primich.[1]

Biography

[edit]

John Farrell Loganwas born inLos Angeles,California,United States.[1]He gained his nickname, following his constant playing ofLittle Walter's track, "Juke".[2]He originally learned to play the piano, and instigated his own groups the Juke Rhythm Band, and later the Angel City Rhythm Band.[3]During his time playing in Southern California, he played with several musicians who went on to work withJohn Mayall,such as guitaristsRick Vito,Randy Resnickand drummers Joe Yuele and Greg LeRoy (Crazy Horse).

His early career saw Logan work as a backing musician forDobie Gray,Leon Russelland by the latter half of the 1980s,Dave Alvin.In addition, Logan's songwriting credits include John Mayall's "Fanning the Flames", Poco's "Starin' At The Sky" (co-penned withTimothy B. Schmit), plus Gary Primich's "The Sound of Money Talkin'" and "Hustler". In 1984, he worked withRy Cooderon thesoundtrackfor the film,Crossroads.[1]His own debut album,The Chill,was released in 1995, and after moving to his own Mocombo Records,[3][4]followed this withJuke Rhythm(1999), thelive album,Live as It Gets(1999), and his final offering,The Truth Will Rock You(2005).[1]Until 2000, Logan co-hosted a Los Angeles-based weekly radio program, 'The Friday Night Blues Revue', with Ellen Bloom.[2]He met fellow radio DJ and musician Stephanie Riggio,[5]and they remained friends for decades.

Amongst many such efforts, Logan's harmonica work has appeared onThe Dickies'Second Coming(1989),Richard Marx'sRush Street(1991), the Carla Olson / Mick Taylor Band'sToo Hot For Snakes(1990),[6]Gary Primich'sMy Pleasure(1992) andTravellin' Mood(1994),Heather Myles'sUntamed(1995),John Mayall'sSpinning Coin(1995),John Lee Hooker'sDon't Look Back(1997),Doug MacLeod'sUnmarked Road(1997),Adam Sandler's 1997 vintage,What's Your Name?,plusStoned Immaculate: The Music of The Doors(2000),Sugar Ray'sSugar Ray(2001),Blue Xmas(various artists, 2001), Barry Goldberg'sStoned Again(2002),"Weird Al" Yankovic's 2003 album,Poodle Hat,Etta James'sBlues to the Bone(2004) andJ. J. Cale'sRoll OnplusPercy Sledge'sShining Through The Rain.[7]Logan played the "harmonica drops" in the TV seriesRoseanneand appeared inHome Improvement.

In 2009, Logan was diagnosed withesophageal cancerand underwent successful surgery.[8]

In 2010, in conjunction withRick Holmstromand Stephen Hodges, Logan appeared on the album,Twist-O-Lettz. [9]In September 2011, Logan made aclubappearance inTucson, Arizona.[8]

In 2011, Logan's cancer returned. In 2013, a benefit show was presented at Cafe Fais Do Do in Los Angeles, featuringDave Alvin,The Delgado Brothers, andRick Holmstromamongst others.

In 2013, Logan died from cancer at the home he co-owned with Stephanie Riggio inJoshua Tree, California.He was 66.[10]

Discography

[edit]
Year Title Record label
1995 The Chill Razor & Tie Music
1999 Juke Rhythm Mocombo
1999 Live as It Gets Mocombo
2000 Custom Blues For You Mocombo
2005 The Truth Will Rock You Mocombo
2010 Twist-O-Lettz Mocombo

[11]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^abcdeChar Ham."John" Juke "Logan".Allmusic.RetrievedOctober 25,2010.
  2. ^abMichael Ventura."John" Juke "Logan".Mocomborecords.com. Archived fromthe originalon January 29, 2013.RetrievedOctober 25,2011.
  3. ^ab"John" Juke "Logan Biography".Oldies.com.RetrievedOctober 25,2011.
  4. ^"Custom Blues".Mocombo Records.Retrieved2013-09-01.
  5. ^"StephanieRiggio.com".Stephanieriggio.com.Retrieved2013-09-01.
  6. ^Jesse Sublett,Never the Same Again: A Rock n' Roll Gothic(Berkeley: Boaz/Tenspeed 2004)
  7. ^"John" Juke "Logan | Credits".AllMusic.Retrieved2013-09-01.
  8. ^abDan Gibson."Meet the Visitors - A number of touring musicians are joining the Club Crawl® party".Clubcrawl.ning.com. Archived fromthe originalon October 16, 2011.RetrievedOctober 25,2011.
  9. ^Chip Eagle."Rick Holmstrom, John" Juke "Logan, Stephen Hodges: Twist-O-Lettz".Bluesrevue.com. Archived fromthe originalon April 2, 2012.RetrievedOctober 25,2011.
  10. ^"Obituary: Ray Grebey, John 'Juke' Logan".Los Angeles Times.6 September 2013.Retrieved2013-09-06.
  11. ^"John" Juke "Logan | Discography".AllMusic.Retrieved2013-09-01.
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=John_%22Juke%22_Logan&oldid=1216952354"