An Interview with The Lucky Losers!
Making a Scene presents an interview with Indie Blues Artists Cathy Lemons and Phil Berkowitz of the Lucky Losers!
Accompanied by a dynamic four piece ensemble, veteran Bay Area artists, Cathy Lemons and Phil Berkowitz deliver a truly signature sound, layering elements of Stax/Volt styled R&B, electric Americana, and psychedelic rock atop a Chicago and Texas blues foundation. The Lucky Losers perform powerful original music about transcending the dark side of the American dream, the beauty and pain of being alive, and devotion in all it’s complexities.
Described as “the finest light skinned blues singer in the U.S.!” (Real Blues), fiery Dallas born entertainer, Cathy Lemons has a velvet voice with a gritty edge and the rebel conviction of a woman risen from the ashes. “Top-flight blues singer/harmonica player” (San Jose Mercury News), New Jersey native, Phil Berkowitz is The Lucky Losers’ mysterious leading man. Phil possesses a polished tenor that recalls legends of the past and his expert musicianship fuels the passionate dialogue with Cathy. The stark contrast between incandescent Cathy Lemons and elegant Phil Berkowitz makes for a captivating musical union, breathing new life into American songwriting tradition and the vanishing art of duet singing.
In July of 2014, The Lucky Losers emerged onto the scene and have been entertaining audiences across America ever since. Cathy Lemons and Phil Berkowitz delivered an outstanding debut album, “A Winning Hand”, which marked the beginning of their fruitful collaboration with Kid Andersen at his famous Greaseland in San Jose, California. The Lucky Losers recruited top West Coast players, such as Grammy award winning guitarist, Steve Freund (Sunnyland Slim), Andersen himself, and Ben Rice, who won the 2014 International Blues Challenge for “Guitar” in the Solo/Duo category, to make their dreams come alive. “A Winning Hand” went on to peak at #5 on The Roots Music Report’s “Top 50 Blues Albums” and reach #1 on Blues 411’s “A Baker’s Dozen of Blues”, garnering a nomination for a Jimi Award in the “Best Traditional Album” category. The album was listed as one of the “Top Blues Albums of 2015” list by The Roots Music Report. Dan Akroyd (Elwood Blues) chose their original song, “Change in the Weather” as “Bluesbreaker of the Week” for his internationally syndicated “Bluesmobile/Everything Blues” radio show. The Lucky Losers landed the cover of the November 2015 issue of French magazine “Blues and Co.”. Living Blues, Elmore, Classicalite, Blues Matters, Blues Blast, Blues Bytes, and additional influencers in the blues community concluded that The Lucky Losers had dealt a winning hand.
In the summer of 2016, The Lucky Losers released “In Any Town”, their sophomore album on Dirty Cat Records featuring stellar musical contributions from Kid Andersen, Paris Slim, Terry Hanck, and Jeff Jensen. Inspired by music of the 60’s and true events from their beautiful, twisted lives, Cathy Lemons and Phil Berkowitz served up medicine for wayward souls, offering glimpses of paradise through a veil of tears. Within two weeks of its release, “In Any Town” charted at #2 on The Roots Music Report’s “Top Albums/All Genres/ California” and #3 for “Top Blues Rock Albums.” A month later, Living Blues Radio Charts placed it at #6. Eight songs from the album charted into the top 20 on The Roots Music Report’s “Top Singles”. “In Any Town” was featured in several notable end of year lists, such as “Top 10 Blues Albums of 2016,” critic’s picks, and Richard Ludmerer of “Making a Scene” listed it at #10 in his “Top 50 Independent Blues Albums of 2016”. Critics from all around the world gave the album 5-star rave reviews. In 2017, The Lucky Losers toured extensively nationwide in support of “In Any Town” accompanied by incendiary guitarist, Laura Chavez, who was listed by Guitar Player Magazine as one of the world’s “Top 50 Sensational Female Guitarists”. The Lucky Losers concluded the year with two nominations from the Independent Blues Awards: Best Independent Blues/R&B/Soul Album for “In Any Town” and Best Independent Blues/R&B/Soul Song for “It Ain’t Enough”.
In 2018, The Lucky Losers continue their winning streak upon the release of their third record, “Blind Spot”, produced and engineered by long-time collaborator, Kid Andersen. “Blind Spot” is a road warrior’s tale, solely comprised of original material created by Cathy and Phil alongside their multi-talented songwriting partner, Danny Caron (Charles Brown). The album is a primal call to awareness in the eye of an irresistible storm. Caught between hope and catastrophe, The Lucky Losers take a fearless ride into the unknown, witnessing the good, bad, and ugly of contemporary America through a fractured rear-view mirror. Traveling through a winding soundscape of modern blues, vintage R&B, and Americana, “Blind Spot” presents unvarnished testimony to the fragile and fleeting state of our world. The album features scintillating musical contributions from six-time Blues Music Award nominated guitarist, Kid Andersen, IBMA Momentum Award winning violinist, Annie Staninec (Rod Stewart), 2018 BMA nominated saxophonist, Nancy Wright, and Laura Chavez. The Lucky Losers just concluded a 26-date/ 15 state tour of North American in honor of the album release with a magnificent cast of supporting musicians: Ian Lamson (Elvin Bishop), Jon Otis (son of Johnny Otis), and Robby Yamilov.
Upon their return from their tour, they discovered they have been nominated for three Independent Blues Awards from Making a Scene in 2018: Best Independent Blues R&B/Soul Artist, Best Independent Blues R&B/Soul CD/ “In Any Town”, and Best Independent Blues R&B/Soul Song/ “It Ain’t Enough”!
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