b. 15th October 1915, Lake Charles, Louisiana, U.S.A.
d. 8th June 2007, Los Angeles, California, U.S.A.
Nellie was a singer and pianist who was popular in the late 1940's and early 1950's.
She was born in Lake Charles, Louisiana to Isaac and Suzie Lutcher.
Her father was a bass player and she learned to play piano. She was the eldest daughter of 15 children. Her brother was the saxophonist Joe Woodman Lutcher.
Initially, Lutcher played in a big band with her bass-playing father before moving on to join the Clarence Hart band.
She played clubs on the west coast during the late 30's / early 40's 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 version of an earlier hit by bandleader Buddy Johnson.
Nellie left Capitol in 1952.
She later moved on to Decca, Epic and Liberty Records, recording a highly rated album, 'Our New Nellie'.
However, her popularity had faded, and during the late 60's and early 70's she took a staff job with the Hollywood Local Branch of the Musicians' Union, still occasionally playing clubs and, also, raising her son.
Nellie continued to perform occasionally until the 1990's, enjoying a resurgance of popularity at the Hollywood Roosevelt Cinegrill and Michael's Pub in New York.
The Bear Family record company in Germany later issued a box set containing her entire body of work.
Nellie Lutcher died in 2007. She was 94.
Albums:
Real Gone (1954)
Our New Nellie (Liberty 1955)
