JON LUCIEN: Listen Love

JON LUCIEN
A vida de Jon Lucien não foi um mar-de-rosas: além de ter perdido duas filhas, em condições trágicas - uma, afogada e a outra, num desastre de avião, boa parte de sua carreira foi consumida na luta contra produtores de gravadoras, que tentavam lhe impingir um repertório com o qual ele não tinha nenhuma afinidade,  principalmente pelo fato de que era compositor e pretendia cantar suas próprias composições. O sofrimento e a dor com as perdas das filhas, aliadas à frustração com a carreira, tiveram como consequência o mergulho (de cabeça) de Lucien nas drogas. Depois de uma luta de 10 anos, conseguiu se libertar, mas havia perdido muito tempo... Certamente, não fosse por isso, sua carreira teria seguido por outros caminhos: voz e talento, Lucien tinha de sobra. 
----------
JON LUCIEN
Jon Lucien (8 de janeiro de 1942 - 18 de agosto de 2007) Cantor e compositor, nasceu na ilha de Tortola, Ilhas Virgens Britânicas, cresceu em Saint Thomas, nas Ilhas Virgens Americanas, junto com seu pai, também músico. JON LUCIEN se tornou conhecido pela versão de "Dindi", de Tom Jobim e seu timbre barítono suave atraiu comparações com Nat King Cole e Lou Rawls. Na década de 1960, se mudou para New York onde começou sua carreira musical. Jon Lucien morreu aos 65 anos, em Orlando, Flórida no dia 18 de agosto de 2007, de insuficiência respiratória e outras complicações após uma cirurgia.
(Fonte: wikipedia)
----------
JON LUCIEN
Dubbed "the man with the golden throat" by Herbie Hancock, Jon Lucien was the premier crooner of the fusion era -- blessed with a deep, velvety voice ideally matched to romantic ballads, his sophisticated amalgam of soul, light jazz, and Caribbean rhythms never enjoyed commercial success commensurate with the esteem afforded him by critics and peers alike. Born Lucien Harrigan on Tortola in the British Virgin Islands on January 8, 1942, he grew up on the neighboring island of St. Thomas. An ardent fan of Nat King Cole, as a teen he played bass in Rico and the Rhythmaires, a group led by his father, Eric. In the mid-'60s he relocated to upstate New York, recording commercial jingles and performing at parties, weddings, and bar mitzvahs. At one such gig he captured the attention of RCA exec Ernie Alshulter, and the label soon extended a contract offer. Renaming himself Jon Lucien, the singer was also a gifted songwriter, but RCA limited his contributions to his 1970 debut, I Am Now, to just one original, instead insisting he record a series of jazz and pop standards: "The record company was attempting to package me as a sort of 'black Sinatra,'" Lucien recalled decades later. "Once the white women started to swoon at my performances, their attitudes quickly changed." Three years in the making, the follow-up, Rashida, consisted solely of Lucien originals. Both the title cut and the bossa nova-inspired single "Lady Love" found some favor with U.S. radio, and the record also earned rapturous critical notice, even earning arranger Dave Grusin a Grammy nomination. While 1974's Mind's Eye seemed to position Lucien on the cusp of a commercial breakthrough, a move to Columbia for the follow-up, Song for My Lady, conspired to upset his momentum, and in the wake of 1976's Premonition the label terminated his contract. Lucien resurfaced later that year on jazz-rock bassist Alphonso Johnson's Yesterday's Dreams, and in 1978 he also guested on fusion supergroup Weather Report's Mr. Gone. Only in 1982 did he resume his solo career with the Precision label release Romantico. "My frustration stemmed from being asked to be a hit-maker...do disco, country...whatever it takes to sell millions," he later said. "I struggled for the executives to understand my music." Lucien also suffered personal tragedy in 1980 when his young daughter Zeudi Jacira drowned. He spent much of the decade to follow battling drug addiction, and during the mid-'80s returned to the Virgin Islands, ultimately settling in Puerto Rico. With his 1991 comeback album Listen Love he found a home on quiet storm radio playlists. 1993's Mother Nature's Son was also well received at contemporary jazz outlets, but he faced another crushing blow in 1996 when daughter Dalila was killed aboard TWA flight 800, which crashed off the coast of Long Island. (The 1997 album Endless Is Love is dedicated to her memory.) In subsequent years Lucien put aside his differences with the recording industry once and for all by founding his own label, Sugar Apple Music. Health problems plagued him, however, and he died of respiratory failure in Orlando, FL, on August 18, 2007.
~ Jason Ankeny, Rovi
-------------
ALBUM REVIEW
Singer and songwriter Jon Lucien first came to my attention around the year 1975 with his album "Song For My Lady".  And I instantly took note of this extremely talented caribbean singer. So a few days ago went I was going through some old music tapes I have.I came across "Listen Love".And to my delight rediscoverd this beautiful album once again.Listen Love is a 1991 album by Jon Lucien and it catches the caribbean singer at his best.The sound of the album is still fresh and seductive with songs like Sweet Control, Nothin Lasts Forever and You Don"t
Need Me.And the song I like the most You"re Sensational.This song is full of seductive lyrics proveing that a song can be romantic without useing the words "I Love You".I remember the first time heard the song. It was at a FREE Jon Lucien concert in the park with my girlfriend.It was a great day,a great show and a great singer. Very fan of Jon Lucien should have this album.And if you"re not a fan.This album will make you one.
~By S.Howard "sammieh" (Orange,N.J) - amazon.com
---------------
MINHA OPINIÃO
Herbie Hancock acertou na mosca: JON LUCIEN tinha mesmo um "gogó-de-ouro"...O repertório, básicamente composições do próprio Lucien,  é "assim-assim": tem samba, bossa nova, etc. mas, nenhuma delas provoca comoção, o que me leva a crer que  os produtores tinham razão, quando não deixavam exclusivamente a critério de JL a escolha do repertório. (E, fica evidente, que o negócio de Lucien era cantar e não - como ele pretendia - compor).  Mas tem uma pérola incrustada neste álbum:  "MYSTERIES " (ou seja, a nossa velha conhecida "Mistérios" - o "blockbuster" de Mauricio Maestro & Joyce), que JL canta em dueto -  lindíssimo! - com a  autora, a nossa querida JOYCE.  Só esta faixa, justifica a audição do álbum.
---------------
JON LUCIEN: Listen Love

TRACKS/FAIXAS:
1. Take Me Away
2. Mysteries
3. You Take My Breath Away
4. Love Me
5. Nothing Lasts Forever
6. You Don't Need Me
7. You're Sensational
8. My Special Friend
9. Sweet Control
10. Listen Love