Only one month after being diagnosed with inoperable lung cancer and metastatic brain tumors, blues legend Luther Allison died Tuesday in Madison, Wis., where he was being treated for the cancer. |

Allison, an award-winning blues artist, was born in Widener, Ark., in 1939, but matured musically on Chicago's West Side where he played with such greats as Magic Sam and Otis Rush.

After releasing 1969's "Love Me Mama," his first recording which is now considered a blues classic, and igniting college audiences at the 1969 and 1970s Ann Arbor Blues Festivals, Allison gained national notoriety and respect from the music world. Subsequently, Motown signed Allison in 1971, making him the first blues artist on their roster. He then toured incessantly throughout the '70s and ultimately relocated to Paris in the early '80s.

Allison went on to become a huge star throughout Europe, and began winning back the respect of blues fans this side of the Atlantic when he signed with Alligator Records in 1994. Allison released three albums with the Chicago-based label -- Soul Fixin' Man, Blue Streak and his latest, Reckless. Allison was touring for Reckless when he was diagnosed with the deadly disease.

Throughout his career, Allison won numerous awards, including three W.C. Handy Awards and a slew of Living Blues Awards. Allison also appeared on the covers of three major blues magazines - Living Blues, Blues Access and Blues Revue. The latter recently dubbed Allison "the New King Of The Blues."

Allison is survived by an enormous family that includes his business and life partner Carolyn "Rocky" Brown, Mrs. Fannie Mae Allison, two sons -- Luther T. and Bernard -- as well as seven stepchildren, three brothers, two sisters, 25 grandchildren and 30 great-grandchildren.

Luther Allison was 57.

Funeral services will be held on Sunday, Aug. 17 with visitation from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Piser Funeral Home, 5206 N. Broadway in Chicago. A memorial jam session will follow at Buddy Guy's Legends in Chicago. Allison died without insurance and a fund has been set up in his name. Send contributions to The Blues Community Foundation, Box 607698, Chicago, Ill., 60660 (specify "Luther Allison Fund" on the check.) (AB)
(photo courtesy of The Rosebud Agency)