Lazy Lester (Leslie Carswell Johnson, Torras, Louisiana, U.S., June 20, 1… Read Full Bio ↴Lazy Lester (Leslie Carswell Johnson, Torras, Louisiana, U.S., June 20, 1933 - August 22, 2018) was an American blues singer, harmonica player, guitarist and songwriter. His career has spanned the 1950s to 2018.
Best known for regional hits recorded with Ernie Young's Nashville-based Excello Records, Lester also contributed to songs recorded by other Excello artists, including Slim Harpo, Lightnin' Slim, and Katie Webster. Cover versions of his songs have been recorded by (among others) the Kinks, the Flamin' Groovies, Freddy Fender, Dwight Yoakam, Dave Edmunds, Raful Neal, Anson Funderburgh, and the Fabulous Thunderbirds. In the comeback stage of his career (since the late 1980s) he has recorded new albums backed by Mike Buck, Sue Foley, Gene Taylor, Kenny Neal, Lucky Peterson, and Jimmie Vaughan.
In the mid-1950s, Lester was on the margins of the Louisiana blues scene. According to Rolling Stone (February 23, 2006), Buddy Guy, before moving to Chicago, had played in Louisiana "with some of the old masters: Lightnin' Hopkins, Lazy Lester, Slim Harpo." When Guy left for Chicago, in 1957, Lester replaced him, on guitar, in a local band—even though Lester, at the time, did not own one.
Lester's career took off when he found a seat next to Lightnin' Slim on a bus transporting Slim to an Excello recording session. At the studio, the scheduled harmonica player did not appear. Slim and Lester spent the afternoon unsuccessfully trying to find him, when Lester volunteered that he could play the harmonica. Lester's work on that first Lightnin' Slim session led the producer, Jay Miller, to record Lester as solo artist and also to use him as a multi-instrumentalist on percussion, guitar, bass, and harmonica in sessions headlined by other artists whose recorings were produced by Miller, including, notably, Slim Harpo. "Percussion" on these sessions went beyond the traditional drum kit and included a rolled-up newspaper striking a cardboard box.
Miller dubbed Lester "Lazy Lester" because of his laconic, laid-back style.
More than his vocal delivery, Lester is best remembered for songs that were later covered by a wide range of rock, country, blues, and Tex-Mex stars, chiefly, "I'm a Lover Not a Fighter," "I Hear You Knockin'," and "Sugar Coated Love."
Lester stated that he wrote these songs, but almost all are credited to Miller or to Lester and Miller. Lester also stated he received few royalties, which embittered him and made him skeptical of the music industry. By the late 1960s, he had given up on the music industry, working manual labor and pursuing his favorite hobby—fishing. Lester moved to Pontiac, Michigan, living with Slim Harpo's sister.
In 1971, Fred Reif set up a Lightnin' Slim concert at the University of Chicago Folk Festival, and Lester was brought up from Louisiana to accompany him. A few weeks after that performance, Lester was back in Louisiana. Years later Reif and Lester were both in Michigan, from where Reif orchestrated a comeback. Lester recorded and played around the United States and abroad, backed by blues bands, including, frequently, Loaded Dice.
Lester's recordings in this period are on blues labels Alligator and Telarc, alongside releases in Europe.
If disenchanted, Lester retained his harmonica, guitar, and vocal talents (the songwriting that had been muse to the Kinks and Dwight Yoakam having dried up long before). In September 2002, he was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Boston Blues Society.
In 2003, Martin Scorsese included Lester in his blues tribute concert at Radio City Music Hall, a record of which was released as the film and album Lightning in a Bottle. The group photograph inside the album depicted Lester grinning, dead-center among peers and musical progeny including B.B. King, Solomon Burke, Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown, Buddy Guy, Levon Helm, Chuck D, the Neville Brothers, Dr. John, John Fogerty, and Aerosmith.
In 2012, Lester teamed up with British Blues Woman Dani Wilde to play a special double headline concert as part of Gloucester Rhythm and Blues Festival.
Lester appeared and performed in a television commercial aired nationally for Geico Insurance in 2018.
He appears in the 2015 documentary film I Am the Blues.
Lester lived in Paradise, California, with his girlfriend. He died in August, 2018.
Best known for regional hits recorded with Ernie Young's Nashville-based Excello Records, Lester also contributed to songs recorded by other Excello artists, including Slim Harpo, Lightnin' Slim, and Katie Webster. Cover versions of his songs have been recorded by (among others) the Kinks, the Flamin' Groovies, Freddy Fender, Dwight Yoakam, Dave Edmunds, Raful Neal, Anson Funderburgh, and the Fabulous Thunderbirds. In the comeback stage of his career (since the late 1980s) he has recorded new albums backed by Mike Buck, Sue Foley, Gene Taylor, Kenny Neal, Lucky Peterson, and Jimmie Vaughan.
In the mid-1950s, Lester was on the margins of the Louisiana blues scene. According to Rolling Stone (February 23, 2006), Buddy Guy, before moving to Chicago, had played in Louisiana "with some of the old masters: Lightnin' Hopkins, Lazy Lester, Slim Harpo." When Guy left for Chicago, in 1957, Lester replaced him, on guitar, in a local band—even though Lester, at the time, did not own one.
Lester's career took off when he found a seat next to Lightnin' Slim on a bus transporting Slim to an Excello recording session. At the studio, the scheduled harmonica player did not appear. Slim and Lester spent the afternoon unsuccessfully trying to find him, when Lester volunteered that he could play the harmonica. Lester's work on that first Lightnin' Slim session led the producer, Jay Miller, to record Lester as solo artist and also to use him as a multi-instrumentalist on percussion, guitar, bass, and harmonica in sessions headlined by other artists whose recorings were produced by Miller, including, notably, Slim Harpo. "Percussion" on these sessions went beyond the traditional drum kit and included a rolled-up newspaper striking a cardboard box.
Miller dubbed Lester "Lazy Lester" because of his laconic, laid-back style.
More than his vocal delivery, Lester is best remembered for songs that were later covered by a wide range of rock, country, blues, and Tex-Mex stars, chiefly, "I'm a Lover Not a Fighter," "I Hear You Knockin'," and "Sugar Coated Love."
Lester stated that he wrote these songs, but almost all are credited to Miller or to Lester and Miller. Lester also stated he received few royalties, which embittered him and made him skeptical of the music industry. By the late 1960s, he had given up on the music industry, working manual labor and pursuing his favorite hobby—fishing. Lester moved to Pontiac, Michigan, living with Slim Harpo's sister.
In 1971, Fred Reif set up a Lightnin' Slim concert at the University of Chicago Folk Festival, and Lester was brought up from Louisiana to accompany him. A few weeks after that performance, Lester was back in Louisiana. Years later Reif and Lester were both in Michigan, from where Reif orchestrated a comeback. Lester recorded and played around the United States and abroad, backed by blues bands, including, frequently, Loaded Dice.
Lester's recordings in this period are on blues labels Alligator and Telarc, alongside releases in Europe.
If disenchanted, Lester retained his harmonica, guitar, and vocal talents (the songwriting that had been muse to the Kinks and Dwight Yoakam having dried up long before). In September 2002, he was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Boston Blues Society.
In 2003, Martin Scorsese included Lester in his blues tribute concert at Radio City Music Hall, a record of which was released as the film and album Lightning in a Bottle. The group photograph inside the album depicted Lester grinning, dead-center among peers and musical progeny including B.B. King, Solomon Burke, Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown, Buddy Guy, Levon Helm, Chuck D, the Neville Brothers, Dr. John, John Fogerty, and Aerosmith.
In 2012, Lester teamed up with British Blues Woman Dani Wilde to play a special double headline concert as part of Gloucester Rhythm and Blues Festival.
Lester appeared and performed in a television commercial aired nationally for Geico Insurance in 2018.
He appears in the 2015 documentary film I Am the Blues.
Lester lived in Paradise, California, with his girlfriend. He died in August, 2018.
Take Me In Your Arms
Lazy Lester Lyrics
We have lyrics for 'Take Me In Your Arms' by these artists:
Abbey Lincoln Once upon a lovely time Many million dreams ago Once there w…
Artension All that I Planned And All That I Dreamed Facing The…
Bad Boy Joe You came and turned and looked my way what else can…
Blood Sweat and Tears I know you're leaving me behind I'm seeing you, darling, fo…
Caterina Valente (with Sy Oliver & His Orchestra) Hold me in your arms, hold me in your arms Tonight…
Charity Brown Take me in your arms, Rock me, rock me a…
Cindy Walker Take me in your arms and hold me Like I′ve been…
Clebanoff & His Orchestra Hold me in your arms, hold me in your arms Tonight…
Dean Martin Once upon a lovely time Many million dreams ago Once there w…
Doris Day Take me in your arms, Before you take your love away, Take…
Dr. Tony Garcia feat. Lil Suzy You came and turned your look my way What else can…
Edison Lighthouse Come on and Take me in your arms and make me…
Emjay Do you remember the first time The day you came into…
Hurricane I took a long way home i've been a long…
Jack Fulton Paul Whiteman & His Orchestra Hold me in your arms, hold me in your arms Tonight…
Jackie Gleason Take me in your arms, Before you take your love away, Take…
Jackie Gleason Bobby Hackett Take me in your arms, Before you take your love away, Take…
Johnny Rivers I know you're leavin' me behind I'm seein' you, darling, for…
Kim Weston I know you're leavin' me behind I'm seein' you, darlin', for…
KITCHEN - Dean Martin Once upon a lovely time Many million dreams ago Once there w…
Leroy Holmes w/ his Orchestra Hold me in your arms, hold me in your arms Tonight…
Les Brown Orchestra ft. Doris Day Take me in your arms, Before you take your love away, Take…
Lew Raymond & His Orchestra Hold me in your arms, hold me in your arms Tonight…
Lil Suzy You came and turned your look my way What else can…
Lil’ Suzy You say that you really love me I'm always on your…
Lulu Ooh...ooh... The moon above is shining bright Come on, boy,…
Nelson Riddle & His Orchestra Hold me in your arms, hold me in your arms Tonight…
Perry Como Take me in your arms, Before you take your love away, Take…
Phil Collins Take me in your arms, hold me for a little…
Ray Conniff and His Orchestra Hold me in your arms, hold me in your arms Tonight…
Rivale (tiziana Rivale) Love is not easy the way I know I'll be your…
Robert Goulet Take me in your arms, Before you take your love away, Take…
Seychal-Mills I have got something to tell you But it's more, more…
Showaddywaddy Oh Baby here I am again Take take take me in…
Tammy Weis Take me in your arms, be my Mother Take me in…
Teddy Pendergrass & Stephanie Mills I have got something to tell you But it's more, more…
The Doobie Brothers I know you're leavin' me behind I'm seein' you darlin' for…
The Doobie Brothers Feat. Tyler Farr I know you're leavin' me behind I'm seein' you darlin' for…
The Isley Brothers I know you're leaving me behind I'm seeing you, darling, for…
The Platters Take me in your arms, Before you take your love away, Take…
The Temptations Take Me In Your Arms (from "Phoenix Rising," lead by Terry…
Tiziana Rivale Love is not easy the way I know I'll be your…
Tony Garcia You came and turned your look my way What else can…
Tony Osborne And His Orchestra Take me in your arms, Before you take your love away, Take…
Weston Kim I know you're leavin' me behind I'm seein' you, darlin', for…
Yael Deckelbaum You came and turned and looked my way What else can…
We have lyrics for these tracks by Lazy Lester:
I You went away and left me long time ago And now…
I Hear You Knockin' You went away and left me long time ago And now…
I Love You I Need You You went away and left me long time ago And now…
Irene In the middle of a dream, I heard somebody call…
Lester's Stomp phil lester singing i repeat phil lester singing phil phil p…
Nothing But the Devil Well you know yourself little girl, You ain't treating your…
St Louis Blues I hate to see that evening sun go down I hate…
Sugar Coated Love You ought to see my baby You know that girl is…
Sugar Coates Love You ought to see my baby You know that girl is…
Ya Ya Oh, well, I'm sittin' here, la, la Waiting for my ya…
The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos
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