Jon Lucien

Lucien Leopold Harrigan (January 8, 1942 – August 18, 2007), known professionally as Jon Lucien, was a singer from Tortola in the British Virgin Islands. His parents were Eric Lucien Harrigan and Eloise Turnbull Harrigan of Tortolan families. His father was a musician whose main instrument was a three coursed Latin guitar like chordophone known as a Tres. [1]

Jon Lucien
Background information
Birth nameLucien Leopold Harrigan
Born(1942-01-08)January 8, 1942
Tortola, British Virgin Islands
DiedAugust 18, 2007(2007-08-18) (aged 65)
Orlando, Florida
GenresSoul, soul jazz, funk, R&B
Occupation(s)Singer
Years active1960s–2000s
LabelsRCA, Columbia, Mercury, Shanachie, Sugar Apple Music
Websitejonlucien.com

Life and career

Born in Tortola in 1942, Lucien was raised in St. Thomas.[2] As a teenager, he played bass in his father's band.[2] During the 1960s he moved to New York City.[2] While performing at a party, he was discovered by an executive from RCA, which released his debut album (I Am Now, 1970) of pop and jazz standards.[2] Lucien said the label attempted to market him as a "black Sinatra".[2] His second album, Rashida, contained only songs written by Lucien, with "Lady Love" receiving radio airplay.[2] Dave Grusin received a Grammy Award nomination for his arrangements.[2] He recorded two albums for Columbia before making guest appearances on Yesterday's Dreams by Alphonzo Johnson and Mr. Gone by Weather Report.[2] His daughter drowned in 1980, and he spent much of the decade struggling with drug addiction.[2] He returned to music with the albums Listen Love (Mercury, 1991) and Mother Nature's Son (Mercury, 1993).[2] Another daughter died tragically, in the crash of TWA Flight 800, and Lucien dedicated his album Endless Love (1997) to her.[2] He died of respiratory failure in Orlando, Florida, on August 18, 2007.[2]

Discography
  • I Am Now (RCA, 1970)
  • Rashida (RCA, 1973)
  • Mind's Eye (RCA, 1974)
  • Song for My Lady (Columbia, 1975)
  • Premonition (Columbia, 1976)
  • Romantico (Precision, 1980)
  • Listen Love (Mercury, 1991)
  • Mother Nature's Son (Mercury, 1993)
  • Endless Is Love (Shanachie, 1997)
  • By Request (Shanachie, 1999)
  • Precious Is Love (Love Arts, 1999)
  • Man from Paradise (Sugar Apple Music, 2002)
  • Live in NYC (Sugar Apple Music, 2003)
  • A Time for Love (Sugar Apple Music, 2004)
  • The Wayfarer (Sugar Apple Music, 2008)

References
  1. Méndez-Méndez, Serafin; Mendez, Serafín Mendez; Cueto, Gail; Deynes, Neysa Rodríguez (2003). Notable Caribbeans and Caribbean Americans: A Biographical Dictionary. ISBN 9780313314438.
  2. Ankeny1, Jason. "Jon Lucien". AllMusic. Retrieved 15 May 2021.

Further reading
  • Notable Caribbeans and Caribbean Americans: A Biographical Dictionary, by Serafín Méndez-Méndez and Gail A. Cueto. Greenwood Press, 2003. ISBN 0-313-31443-8
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