Alonza Westbrook "Buddy" Lucas (16 August 1914 – 18 March 1983) was an American jazz saxophonist and bandleader, who is possibly more famous for his session work on harmonica.
As a bandleader, he led bands such as Buddy Lucas & His Band of Tomorrow, the Gone All Stars, and Buddy Lucas & His Shouters, and he also went under the stage name of "Big" Buddy Lucas.
As a session musician, he recorded with Horace Silver, Bernard "Pretty" Purdie, Titus Turner The Rascals, Yusef Lateef, and Aretha Franklin, amongst others. He also played sax on Dion and the Belmonts (and Dion's later solo recordings) on Laurie Records.
He was born in Rockville, Alabama, and died in Stamford, Connecticut, aged 68.
Discography
As leader/co-leader
1952: "Hustlin' Family Blues"/"I'll Never Smile Again" - Buddy Lucas and His Band of Tomorrow 1952: "Drive Daddy Drive" - Little Sylvia Sings with Buddy Lucas and His Band of Tomorrow 1954: "A Million Tears" - Little Sylvia Sings with Buddy Lucas Orchestra 1956: "Blueberry Hill" 1957: "Bo-Lee"/"Star Dust" 1957: "Hound Dog"/"When My Dreamboat Comes Home" - Buddy Lucas with Jimmy Carrol & Orchestra 1957: "Searchin'" Buddy Lucas 1967: Honkin' Sax As sideman 1956: Fever - Little Willie John 1963: Hobo Flats - Jimmy Smith 1963: Tread Ye Lightly - Clark Terry and Bob Brookmeyer 1964: Unforgettable: A Tribute to Dinah Washington – Aretha Franklin 1966: Hoochie Coochie Man – Jimmy Smith 1967: Nina Simone Sings the Blues - Nina Simone 1967: Singing the Blues - Joe Turner 1967: Soul Drums – Bernard Purdie 1967: More Than a New Discovery - Laura Nyro 1967: Groove Merchant - Jerome Richardson 1967: Cherry Red - Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson 1968: New Grass - Albert Ayler 1968: Once Upon a Dream - The Rascals 1968: The Blue Yusef Lateef - Yusef Lateef 1971: Quiet Fire - Roberta Flack 1971: Afrique – Count Basie 1972: The Prophet - Johnny Hammond 1973: Sassy Soul Strut - Lou Donaldson 1974: Sweet Lou - Lou Donaldson 1974: Potpourri - The Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra 1975: Midnight Lightning Jimi Hendrix (posthumous) 1976: A Street Called Straight - Roy Buchanan 2005: The Soul of Nina Simone - Nina Simone (recorded 1963-1987)