Jazz Excursions: Luther Kent & Trick Bag, Live in New Orleans

Luther Kent was born in 1948 and began singing 14 years later, and was signed to Montel records under the name Duke Royal. In 1970 he became the lead singer of a Lou Adler group, Cold Grits, that was signed to his Ode Records, but never released, because of the group’s break-up. He changed his name to Luther Kent, signed with Walt Daisy, who also managed Wayne Cochran and the CC Riders. He went solo and recorded his first album as Luther Kent at the Abby Road studios in London. In 1974, he joined Blood Sweat & Tears taking David Clayton Thomas’ place, but couldn’t record with them because of the Ode Record agreement. He toured with BS&T for two and a half years, 1974-76. In 1978, he teamed up with Wayne Cochran’s (CC Riders) ex-musical director, Charlie Brent, and formed a large New Orleans horn band called Luther Kent & Trick Bag, that became the after-hours band for many named artists. He recorded several albums with this swinging blues and New Orleans R&B band, including this television show in the 1980’s. After Trick Bag broke up, Luther recorded a gospel album in 1996 with Pete Fountain and Allen Toussaint. He and Charlie Brent then teamed up with the DUKES of Dixieland to record several more albums and Luther toured in concert with the DUKES in the mid 2000’s, including Japan. He also did a two week riverboat tour with the DUKES after Hurricane Katrina for the Bush/Clinton Foundation, aboard the Steamboat Natchez. More recently in 2015, Luther & the DUKES got back together for several more concert dates.