Nellie Lutcher
b. 15 October 1915, Lake Charles, Louisiana, USA. A singer/pianist notable for her percussive piano playing and distinctive scat-vocal approach. Initially, Lutcher played in a big band with her bass-playing father before moving on to join the Southern Rhythm Boys band. She played clubs on the west coast during the late '30s/early '40s and signed to Capitol Records in 1947 following an appearance on a MARCH OF DIMES charity show. Her first release, the R&B styled Hurry On Down, became a US Top 20 hit that same year and was followed by He's A Real Gone Guy, The Song Is Ended and Fine Brown Frame. The latter was a cover of an earlier hit by bandleader Buddy Johnson. She later moved on to Liberty Recordsrecording a highly-rated album, OUR NEW NELLIE. But her popularity had faded and during the late '60s and early '70s she took a staff job with the Hollywood Local Branch of the Musician's Union, still occasionally playing clubs such as the New York Cookery.