Spotlight on Good Blues

Last December, Lucie and Luna Blues shook a Memphis music hall with field hollers and other authentic blues in their International Blues Challenge performance. The trip to the Delta region was a lifetime dream-come-true for Lucie Sweat. The blues singer, who has lived in Maryland for almost two decades, homeschools her children. She records blues videos that also educate viewers about the deep, rich roots of the music, alongside one of her grown children, singer/guitarist LB Sweat.

Here is an edited interview with Lucie.

How did you get involved with the IBC competition?

My husband was killed, and the trauma robbed me of my ability to sing for almost two years. When my voice began returning, I started singing and making videos for my own peace of mind. LB was the guitar player so I wanted them in the videos with me. We were encouraged to enter the D.C. Blues Society Solo/Duo competition and won. So we headed to Memphis.

Please tell us about your music.

I sing authentic blues. I sing field hollers and early blues. But I also sing some mid-20th century blues. I educate in my videos. They have bits of information about the music, musicians, and origins of the songs. The goal is to highlight the artists who have influenced the biggest blues artists we know. Blues did not just fall out of the skies and neither did our blues superstars - they were all influenced by someone. Everyone who molded and shaped our music deserves to be recognized. Some songs are originals that I perform with LB. Most are covers because I'm attempting to highlight our ancestors.

Which musicians inspire you the most, and why?

As far as men go, Johnnie Taylor is my greatest vocal inspiration. He had a unique delivery and unbelievable way of bending the notes with soul-stirring emotion.

Women would be my grandmother, who had the most uniquely spellbinding voice I have ever heard. My people say I sound like her on “Sitting On Top Of The World”, which is the greatest compliment I have received. Sugar Pie DeSanto, Mitty Collier - because they are small women with big voices, and it made me realize my stature has no bearing on the power of my voice. Also, Memphis Minnie, Big Maybelle, Millie Jackson, Lucille Bogan - women who said whatever they wanted without regard to society's restraints and expectations.

Tell us about your recent visit to Memphis for your IBC performance.

I have wanted to go to Memphis since I was a child. I wanted to visit Stax, I wanted to perform on Beale Street. And LB and I were on a mission to travel the Mississippi Blues Trail. So I wanted to visit the Delta, and I finally did it!

We performed originals - “Black Cat,” “I Need You Baby”, “Please Don't Take Your Love Away,” and “Memphis Train Is Coming.” We also performed covers - “Sitting on Top of The World” (Mississippi Sheiks), “When The Sun Goes Down” (field holler), “Wang Dang Doodle” (Willie Dixon), “Going Down South” (R.L. Burnside), “I Ain't Gonna Be Worried Anymore” (Sleepy John Estes), and a few more.

You can watch Lucie and Luna Blues’ IBC Memphis performance at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9i6Aui6Dxag