Reggie Lucas

Reginald Grant Lucas (February 25, 1953 – May 19, 2018), known as Reggie Lucas, was an American musician, songwriter, and record producer. Lucas is best known for having produced the majority of Madonna's 1983 self-titled debut album, his production work with percussionist Mtume, and for playing with the Miles Davis electric band of the first half of the 1970s.

Early life

Lucas was born on February 25, 1953 in Flushing, Queens, New York.

Career

Early in his career, Lucas was an R&B and jazz guitarist, playing with Billy Paul in the early 1970s and then with Miles Davis from 1972 to 1976. It was in Davis' electric band (one that included Pete Cosey, Michael Henderson and Al Foster) that Lucas met percussionist Mtume, who would later become his production partner. The two joined singer Roberta Flack's band in 1976, and toured with Andrew Baijnath for several years.

Following his stint as a touring jazz guitarist, Lucas shifted his focus to songwriting and producing, where he gained both fame and critical praise, at first working as part of a production team with percussionist James Mtume. The two would later go on to write and produce hits for a number of artists, including Stephanie Mills, Phyllis Hyman, Lou Rawls, the Spinners and Roberta Flack.

As the 1970s came to a close, Lucas branched out and began to write and produce material by himself. In addition to his own instrumental record (1978), "Survival Themes", one of his first solo projects was Madonna's 1983 self-titled debut album, including the song "Borderline". Lucas produced the majority of the album, which sold more than five million copies. Lucas later worked with Rebbie Jackson, Randy Crawford, and The Four Tops on his own. He was also a member of the short-lived group Sunfire, who released one album in 1982. Lucas produced their single "Young Free and Single".

In 1986, Lucas founded the Jersey City recording studio Quantum Sound. Clients of the studio included the Pet Shop Boys, Jodeci, Jeff Buckley and Sepultura.

Personal life and death

Lucas's daughter, Lisa Lucas, is executive director of the National Book Foundation.

Lucas died of heart disease in New York City, at the age of 65.

Awards and honors

In 1981, Lucas and James Mtume won a Grammy Award for Best R&B Song for their composition "Never Knew Love Like This Before", which was performed by Stephanie Mills.

Discography

As producer

• Madonna – Madonna – (1983, Sire)
• Models – Out of Mind, Out of Sight – (1985, Mushroom)
• Randy Crawford – Abstract Emotions – (1986, Warner Bros.)
• Rebbie Jackson – Reaction – (1986, Columbia)
• Bunny DeBarge – In Love – (1987, Motown)
• The Four Tops – Magic – (1985, Motown)
• John Adams – Strong – (1987, A&M)
• The Weather Girls – The Weather Girls – (1988, Columbia)
• Elisa Fiorillo – Elisa Fiorillo – (1987, Chrysalis)
• Nick Scotti – Nick Scotti – (1993, Reprise)

As producer with James Mtume

• Stephanie Mills – What Cha' Gonna Do with My Lovin' – (1979, 20th Century)
• Stephanie Mills – Sweet Sensation – (1980, 20th Century)
• Stephanie Mills – Stephanie – (1981, 20th Century)
• Stephanie Mills – Tantalizingly Hot – (1982, Casablanca)
• Phyllis Hyman – You Know How to Love Me – (1979, Arista)
• Gary Bartz – Bartz – (1980, Arista)
• Lou Rawls – Now Is The Time – (1982, Epic)
• The Spinners – Can't Shake This Feelin' – (1982, Atlantic)
• Rena Scott – Come On Inside – (1979, Buddah)
• Marc Sadane – One Way Love Affair (1981, Warner Bros.])
• Marc Sadane – Exciting (1982, Warner Bros.)

As composer

• Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway– "The Closer I Get to You" (1978) (written by Reggie Lucus and James Mtume) (Atlantic)
• Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway– "Back Together Again" (1980)
• Stephanie Mills – "What 'Cha Gonna Do with My Lovin" (1979)
• Stephanie Mills – "Never Knew Love Like This" (1980)
• Phyllis Hyman – "You Know How to Love Me" (1979)
• Madonna – "Borderline" (1983)

As leader

• Survival Themes (1976, East Wind)
• Sunfire (1982, Warner Bros.)

As sideman

With Miles Davis

• In Concert: Live at Philharmonic Hall (1972)
• Dark Magus (1974)
• Pangaea (1975)
• Agharta (1975)
• The Complete On the Corner Sessions
• Get Up With It (1974)
• The Complete Miles Davis at Montreux (1973 only)
• Miles Davis at Newport 1955-1975: The Bootleg Series Vol. 4 (Columbia Legacy, 2015)

With Carlos Garnett

• Black Love (Muse, 1974)
• Journey to Enlightenment (Muse, 1974)
• Let This Melody Ring On (Muse, 1975)

With others

• Babatunde Olatunji, Soul Makossa (1973, Paramount)
• Norman Connors, Slewfoot (1974, Buddah)
• Norman Connors, Saturday Night Special (1975, Buddah)
• Norman Connors, Romantic Journey (1977, Buddah)
• Aquarian Dream, arranger (1976, Buddah)
• Vitamin E – Sharing – arranger - (1977, Buddah)
• Flora Purim – Nothing Will Be As It Was… Tomorrow – (1977, Warner Bros.)
• Lonnie Liston Smith – Visions Of A New World – (1975, Flying Dutchman)
• Hubert Eaves – Esoteric Funk – (1979, East Wind)
• Roberta Flack – Blue Lights in the Basement - (1977, Atlantic)
• Roberta Flack Featuring Donny Hathaway - (1980, Atlantic)
• Urszula Dudziak – Urszula – (1975, Arista)
• James Mtume – Rebirth Cycle – 1977
• Gary Bartz – The Shadow Do – (1975, Prestige)
• Zbigniew Seifert – Zbigniew Seifert (1977, Capitol)
• John Lee/Gerry Brown – Still Can’t Say Enough - (1976, Blue Note)
• Masabumi Kikuchi – Wishes/Kochi (1976, Inner City)
• Shunzoh Ohno - Bubbles (1976, East Wind)