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Beyond His Father's Footsteps
Bernard Allison headlines fundraiser for memorial to Luther Allison
By Dave Leucinger
One year ago, on July 10, 1997, Madison's blues fans were assembled at the Barrymore Theatre, ready to witness yet another in a series of Luther Allison's legendary energetic performances. Unknown to all but a handful in the auditorium, Allison was preparing for his final struggle - against inoperable brain and lung cancer diagnosed only hours before showtime. Those in the theater that night left with what has become one of local music's most memorable shows, as the legendary bluesman passed away at University Hospital barely over a month later, just shy of his
58th birthday.
Allison's strong international influence was especially concentrated here in Madison. It was at the Nitty Gritty where he made his first performance outside of Chicago, in 1969. His long-time sound man and tour assistant, James Earl Tate, welcomed Allison to his Tuesday Blues Jams at O'Cayz whenever he visited from Paris - Allison could always be counted on to show up and interact at length with fellow musicians and fans. One year after his death, the local blues community is coming together again to establish a permanent memorial to Allison at the Barrymore. The Luther Allison Madison Memorial Project will hold its initial fundraiser at the Theatre on Thursday, July 23, with the poignant appearance by Allison's son, Bernard, and his band. Opening the show that evening will be the Westside Andy - Mel Ford Band, led by two local veterans who shared the stage with Allison many times. Additional special guests, including former Allison bandleader James Solberg,
are scheduled to appear.
Like his father, Bernard developed his career from his home in Paris. The younger Allison joined his father there after early experience backing Koko Taylor and Willie Dixon. Three European albums documented Bernard's rise with his father's guidance developing a striking, passionate style influenced by (but not imitative of) his father. On Bernard's debut U.S. release, Keepin' The Blues Alive, he delivers a wake-up call to his generation; with a solid, balanced attack of instrumentation, songwriting, and vocal prowess; his individualism is one of his father's principles that Bernard relishes. In the October, 1997 issue of Musician Magazine, Bernard emphasized that lesson. "We're not trying to forget our roots," he said, "but you have to try new ideas…You have to take a chance. That's the only way this music is gonna survive."
Project coordinators are also hoping that through creating this memorial to a world class musician, that the music will find another means for its survival - ongoing rediscovery by new generations of blues
musicians yet to come.
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