He was born in Widener, Arkansas (the 14th of 15 musically gifted children) first connected to the blues at age ten, when he began playing the diddley bow (a wire attached by nails to a wall with rocks for bridges and a bottle to fret the wire). His family migrated to Chicago in 1951, and Luther began soaking in the sounds of Muddy Waters, Sonny Boy Williamson, and Robert Nighthawk. He was classmates with Muddy Waters' son and occasionally stopped in the Waters' house to watch the master rehearse. It wasn't until he was 18 already in Chicago for seven years that Luther began playing blues on a real guitar and jamming with his brother Ollie's band. He began hanging outside blues clubs with the hopes of being invited to perform. He played with Howlin' Wolf's band and backed up James Cotton.
By 1957, Allison had dropped out of school and formed a band called The Rolling Stones. Unhappy with the name, they became The Four Jivers, gigging all over the West Side of Chicago. Before long, Luther was jamming with the West Side's best, including Magic Sam, Otis Rush, and Freddie King, who encouraged Allison to sing. "That," said Allison, "was my school." When King began to tour nationally in the early 1960s, Allison took over King's band as well as his weekly gigs at Walton's Corner and became one of the hottest acts on the West Side. For five years, Allison honed his craft. He moved to California for a year and cut sides with fellow Chicagoans Shakey Jake Harris and Sunnyland Slim.
His big break came in 1957 when Muddy Waters invited Allison to the stage. He worked the club circuit throughout the late 1950s and early 1960s and recorded his first single in 1965. Allison was signed to the Delmark Records label in fall 1967. He cut his first two songs as a leader on the now-classic Delmark anthology, Sweet Home Chicago, before releasing his debut album Love Me Mama. He performed a stellar, show stopping, set at the 1969 Ann Arbor Blues Festival and was invited to the next three consecutive festivals. He also toured nation-wide and, in 1972, was signed to Motown Records, one of the few blues artists to do so. By the mid 1970s he began touring Europe, enjoyed the warm reception by the crowds and moved to France in 1977. He wouldn't return to the United States for another fifteen years disgusted by the disco music that started there.
LUTHER ALLISON's manager and European agent Thomas Ruf founded the label Ruf Records in 1994. Since signing with Ruf Records, Allison launched a major comeback in association with Alligator Records. Alligator Records founder, Bruce Iglauer, convinced Allison to return to the States. With the release of Soul Fixin' Man in 1994, Allison's first domestic album in 20 years, he announced his return. "Fever and chills performances," said Guitar Player, "ferocious solos combine the wisdom of a master storyteller with the elegance of B.B. King, the elasticity of Buddy Guy, and the big sting of Albert King."
After three mammoth U.S. tours, America once again was paying attention to LUTHER ALLISON. On his American comeback tour, including his nationally broadcast and typically jaw-dropping set at the 1995 Chicago Blues Festival, LUTHER ALLISON announced to the world that he was not only back, he was unstoppable. And now he has the trophies to prove it, having received every award the blues has to offer. He swept the 1996 W.C.Handy Awards with five statues, won 10 Living Blues Awards and a 1995 Indie Award, and played in front of hundreds of thousands of screaming fans at festivals and clubs all over the world. He appeared on the cover of Living Blues, Blues Revue, Blues Access, and was the subject of major feature stories and reviews in Guitar Player, Guitar World, and Guitar For The Practicing Musician, as well as being featured on National Public Radio's Weekend All Things Considered and The Late Show With Conan O'Brien. "LUTHER ALLISON", proclaimed Blues Revue," is the New King of the Blues."
Allison followed up with Blue Streak, and the praise and accolades poured in. "A sonic roar as soulful as his gospel-shout vocals," raved the Washington Post. "Luther Allison's latest is nothing short of a masterpiece by a master," reported Blues Revue. Continued touring brought Allison before raving fans around the world, as he brought his band from the San Francisco Blues Festival to New York's Central Park Summerstage, with all stops in between. With Reckless, Allison reached even greater heights. Guitar World said, "Reckless in the best sense of the word, dancing on a razor's edge, remaining just this side of out-of-control. Hard-driving, piercing West Side Chicago single-note leads with a soul base and a rock edge."
Luther toured the US and Canada thoroughly and his fan base grew to his mind-blowing performances. Both Allison and Soul Fixin' Man won four WC Handy Awards in 1994. With the James Solberg Band backing him, non-stop touring and the release of Blue Streak (featuring song "Cherry Red Wine"), Allison continued to earn more Handy's and gain wider recognition. Allison scored a host of Living Blues Awards and was featured on the cover pages of major Blues publications. Throughout it all, Allison delivered one show-stopping performance after another. His boundless energy and fierce guitar attack combined to make him a blues superstar who reached rock fans like no bluesmen since Freddie King and Albert Collins. Allison was known for his strong showmanship, ten minute long guitar solos and crowd walking with an extra long cord attached to his Gibson Les Paul.
In the middle of his summer of '97 tour, Allison checked into a hospital for chest pains and breathing problems. Unfortunately, it was discovered that he had a tumor on his lung that was about to metastasize to his spine. In and out of a coma, LUTHER ALLISON died on August 12, 1997, five days before his 58th birthday. His album Reckless had just been released. Without a doubt, LUTHER ALLISON's death robbed music fans of one of the most exciting and popular blues performers ever. With Live In Chicago, Allison lives on, as he tears through the songs with the single-minded desire to give everything he has to his audience. While listening to the album, fans can immerse themselves in the explosive power of LUTHER ALLISON's music and experience the redemptive force of his legendary performances. Not only did he leave his legacy to never be forgotten, but his son Bernard Allison (born 1965) is an exceptional blues guitarist in his own right.
Serious
Luther Allison Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I want you to know babe I'm as serious as a heart attack
Let me love you, let me try
I want to stay today, I want to share your life
I'm serious, so serious, I'm serious
Serious as a heart attack, hey hey, I'm serious
I'm serious, serious, serious
One for you babe I need two for me
I see you like to wine an dine
You get the glass and I'll get the wine
I'm serious, so serious, I'm serious
Serious as a heart attack, hey yaa, I'm serious
I'm serious, serious, serious
Serious about that new thing when I meet
Serious about the way you look everyday
Serious about the way you wear your hair
Serious about been home, when you ain't there, hey hey
I'm serious, so serious, I'm serious
Serious as a heart attack, well well I'm serious, I'm serious
I'm serious, baby baby baby
The lyrics to Luther Allison's song "Serious" speak of a man who has come back after being gone for some time, and is now expressing his deep sincerity towards his partner. He tells them that he is "serious as a heart attack" about wanting to be with them and love them. He is willing to put in the effort to make their relationship work and wants to be a part of their life. The lyrics also indicate that the man is willing to indulge in things his partner enjoys, such as wine and dining.
The repetition of the phrase "I'm serious" throughout the song emphasizes the sincerity and determination of the man's emotions. He is not simply saying the words, but he truly means them. The comparison to a "heart attack" adds a sense of urgency and seriousness to his feelings. The lyrics also indicate that the man is serious about the little things in his partner's life, such as the way they look and style their hair, which shows how much he cares for them.
Overall, the song "Serious" is a declaration of the singer's commitment and dedication to his partner. The repetition of the phrase, along with the urgency of the heart attack comparison, truly emphasizes the depth of his emotions towards his loved one.
Line by Line Meaning
You thought I was gone, I came back
Even though it seemed like I had left, I am back now
I want you to know babe I'm as serious as a heart attack
I truly mean what I say and am committed to this
Let me love you, let me try
I want the chance to show you how much I care for you
I want to stay today, I want to share your life
I want to be a part of your life and spend time with you
One cup of coffee, two cups of tea
One for you babe I need two for me
I see you like to wine an dine
You get the glass and I'll get the wine
I want to spend time with you, enjoying each other's company and sharing drinks together
Serious about that new thing when I meet
Serious about the way you look everyday
Serious about the way you wear your hair
Serious about been home, when you ain't there, hey hey
I pay attention to the details and care about how you look and what you do, even when you are not around
I'm serious, so serious, I'm serious
Serious as a heart attack, well well I'm serious, I'm serious
I'm serious, baby baby baby
I cannot emphasize enough how serious I am about this and how much I truly care for you
Contributed by John J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Enrique Aldanondo
You thought I was gone, I came back
I want you to know babe I'm as serious as a heart attack
Let me love you, let me try
I want to stay today, I want to share your life
I'm serious, so serious, I'm serious
Serious as a heart attack, hey hey, I'm serious
I'm serious, serious, serious .
One cup of coffee, two cups of tea
One for you babe I need two for me
I see you like to wine an dine
You get the glass and I'll get the wine
I'm serious, so serious, I'm serious
Serious as a heart attack, hey yaa, I'm serious
I'm serious, serious, serious .
Serious about that new thing when I meet
Serious about the way you look everyday
Serious about the way you wear your hair
Serious about been home, when you ain't there, hey hey
I'm serious, so serious, I'm serious
Serious as a heart attack, well well I'm serious, I'm serious
I'm serious, baby baby baby.
Jason Latham
How is this man not up at the front of all blues searches? You have to be kidding me!
sebas de bordeaux
you're damn right ! The best !!!!
bowieeno
The man was inspired, no doubt very deeply. His music is a gift that fills my heart with joy.
Eduardo Pereira
I was here about to put the same
Alan Dillard
I'm old enough to have seen lots of blues musicians and he was my best, had it all. Great touch on the guitar (I played, but NOT like this) and a great vocalist as well. This is an incredible performance from a great artist and I feel sooo fortunate to have seen him live and to still (thru' tears) see him tonight.
Tataso Blues
Alan Dillard Thanks for your comment !
sebas de bordeaux
I didn't have this luck, but remember clearly a girl from my class in high school, just having witness a performance of him and telling us a few days later how good the man was.. she was still absolutely subjugated..! and that's how I knew him.. was in1987, after the album " Rich man"
dcron6
Great performance from a great performer. I remember 1st seeing a concert video of him on some public broadcast channel and immediately afterwards saying I have to see this guy when he comes to town, only to find out he had already passed years earlier. RIP Luther.
Patrick Gauthier
Cela fait 40 ans que j'admire et aime Luther Allison. C'était un musicien prodigieux.
DirkjeA
Every now and than I pass by to listen to this masterpiece and every time again and again I am totally blown away.....💕