An Exclusive Interview with Cathy Lemons and Phil Berkowitz of the Lucky Losers
An Exclusive interview with the Lucky Losers by Richard Lhommedieu on Mixcloud
CATHY LEMONS is a blues singing legend who has performed regularly in the Bay Area for 25 years. She has been described as “the finest light-skinned female blues vocalist in the U.S” (Real Blues 2010) with a “velvety and hypnotic voice — resonant of “a female Howlin’ Wolf” (Fulltimeblues 2010). Hailing from Dallas, TX she honed her chops with the likes of Anson Funderburgh and performed with Stevie Ray Vaughan. She has worked with some of the great names in blues including John Lee Hooker (she toured as his send-off singer in 1987), Tommy Castro, Steve Freund, Kid Andersen, Ron Thompson, and others.
Cathy Lemons writes much of her own material and has branched out into the singer-songwriter category, writing lyrics and melodies that are as haunting as they are autobiographically revealing.
Since July of 2012, she has been bringing Northern California blues musicians together and producing high profile shows such as “Guitar Slingers & Blues Singers: A Blues Revue” at The Great American Music Hall: and “Tip Your Hat to the Blues: West Coast Songwriter Session” at Slim’s, as well as benefits to help members of the blues community in need.
She has performed at “Blues By the Bay” in Eureka, CA, The Metro Fountain Blues Festival, The Cherry Blossom Festival in Sebastopol, The Apple Blossom Festival in San Francisco, The Sacramento Heritage Festival, The Rumsey Festival, The Jazzfest at Lake Mission Viejo, The Hot Licks festival in Granville, Ohio and more.
For more about Cathy, see her biography on her individual website,CathyLemons.com.
PHIL BERKOWITZ, a Bay Area based blues harmonica player and vocalist, has brought his unique and energetic musical style to audiences for over 17 years. Phil’s most recent CD, “All Night Party” was released in 2009. It contains original and musically diverse material that ranges from West Coast Swing, Chicago Blues, New Orleans R&B, Soul, and Country Blues.
Phil has performed and recorded with a variety of top blues and jazz musicians such as Danny Caron (formerly of Charles Brown), Duke Robillard, IBC winner Sean Carney, Kid Anderson, Bill Stuve, Billy Branch, RJ Mischo and the late Gary Primich.
Phil has played many notable venues nation-wide such as: The House of Blues in Chicago, The Slippery Noodle in Indianapolis, Humphrey’s in San Diego, Highway 99 Blues Club in Seattle as well as many other well-known venues across the country. Phil has also played The Soulshine Festival in Ohio, The Eureka Springs Blues Festival, The Jackson Blues Festival in Michigan, and the Choo-Choo Ch’ Boogie Festival in Arkansas.
In addition to being a seasoned performer, Phil is also the president of a non-profit organization called “West Coast Blues For A Cure” (westcoastbluesforacure.org), which puts on benefit shows to raise money and awareness for various cancer charities. In 2011, he launched the first of these shows which featured Elvin Bishop, Junior Watson and Tip of The Top and raised over $10,000. In 2012, the second show was staged at Yoshi’s in San Francisco which included, Irma Thomas (The Soul Queen of New Orleans), Rick Estrin & The Nightcats and Alvon Johnson.
To read more about Phil, see his biography on his individual website,PhilBerkowitz.com.
