Louisiana Red

Personal life Minter married a woman named Ealase in 1963. Together they raised three children. Ealase died of cancer in 1973.

His second marriage was to folk singer and civil rights activist Odetta in 1977. Minter separated from her in 1983 to pursue his career in Germany.

In 1984 he married Dora, a German-Ghanaian woman who acted as his manager later in life. Minter adopted Dora’s two sons and together they resided in Hanover, Germany.

Death English slide guitarist Michael Messer noted on February 25, 2012, "I am very sorry to be bringer of such sad news that my dear friend, Louisiana Red, died this morning. He had a stroke on Monday and had been in a coma." He died in Hanover, aged 79.

Filmography He appeared in the films Rockpalast (1976), Comeback (1982), Ballhaus Barmbek (1988), Red and Blues (2005) and Family Meeting (2008).

In 2005, Louisiana Red, became the central figure in the documentary film 'Red and Blues' directed by the German-Finnish filmmaker Susanna Salonen. The documentary chronicles Louisiana Red's life touring across Germany, providing an intimate look into his experiences as an elderly African-American blues artist residing in Europe.

Discography

Albums Lowdown Back Porch Blues (1963, Roulette) Seventh Son (1963, Carnival) [this is a 1972 reissue of Lowdown Back Porch Blues with Glover single 3002 added] Shouts the Blues (1970, Forum Circle) [this is a 1970 reissue of Lowdown Back Porch Blues with the last two tracks deleted] Louisiana Red Sings the Blues (1972, Atlantic) Sweet Blood Call (1975, Blue Labor) Dead Stray Dog (1976, Blue Labor) New York Blues (1979, L+R) Reality Blues (1980, L+R) High Voltage Blues, with Sugar Blue (1980, Black Panther) Midnight Rambler (1982, Tomato/Rhino) Blues for Ida B (1982, JSP) Boy from Black Bayou (1983, L+R) Blues from the Heart (1983, JSP) Anti Nuclear Blues (1983, L+R) Bluesman (1984, JSP) Back to the Road Again (1984, MMG) My Life, with Carey Bell (1984, L+R) World on Fire (1985, MMG) Brothers in Blues (1985, CMA) Back to the Roots (1987, CMA) Last Mohican of the Blues (1992, Polton) Ashland Avenue Blues (1992, Schubert) Always Played the Blues (1994, JSP) Louisiana Red (1994, Forum) Blues Meets Rembetika (1994, Distazi) Sittin' Here Wonderin''' (1995, Earwig Music) Sugar Hips (1995, CMA) Rising Sun Collection (1996, JAMR) I Hear the Train Coming (1997, Chrisly) Over My Head (1997, Chrisly) Walked All Night Long with Lefty Dizz, originally recorded in 1976 (1997, Blues Alliance) Rip Off Blues (1998, Chrisly) Winter & Summer Sessions (1998, Blues Factory) Driftin' (1999, Earwig Music) Millennium Blues (1999, Earwig Music) Sings Deep Blues (2001, P-Vine) A Different Shade of Red (2002, Severn) No Turn on Red (2005, Hightone) Hot Sauce (2005, Red Lightnin') Back to the Black Bayou, with Kim Wilson and Little Victor (2008, Bluestown) You Got to Move, with David Maxwell (2009, Blu Max/Vizztone) Memphis Mojo, with Little Victor (2011, Ruf) When My Mama Was Living (2012, Labor Records; recorded 1975)

Live albums Live & Well (1976, Ornament) King Bee, with Sugar Blue (1978, Orchid) Red, Funk and Blue, with Sugar Blue (1978, Black Panther) Live in Montreux (2000, Labor) Live at 55, with Carey Bell (1994, Enja) Bad Case of the Blues, with Carey Bell (2004, Mojo Tone) Live at Painted Sky (2008, Paul Productions) Red Funk 'n Blue: The Complete 1978 Recordings [with Sugar Blue] (2021, JSP Records)

Compilation albums Anthologie du Blues, vol. 11 (Roulette) Blues Classics (1983, L+R) Pretty Woman (1991, Blues Beacon) The Best of Louisiana Red (1995, Evidence) The Blues Spectrum of Louisiana Red, with Sugar Blue (1998, JSP) The Sky Is Crying (2014, Wolf Records)

Guest appearances (selected) Carey Bell, Brought Up the Hard Way Eric Burdon, Comeback Kent Cooper, The Blues and Other Songs Bob Corritore, Harmonica Blues Champion Jack Dupree, After All John Lee Hooker, Down Child Albert King, Blues Guitar Killers, with Johnny Winter and Rory Gallagher Albert King, Live Brownie McGhee, Rainy Day Roswell Rudd, Blown Bone Johnny Shines, Too Wet to Plow Sunnyland Slim, Decoration Day Roosevelt Sykes, Boogie & Blues Roosevelt Sykes, Music Is My Business Wentus Blues Band, Family AlbumVarious artists (selected) The Paul Jones Rhythm & Blues Show – The American Guests (JSP CD210) The Paul Jones Rhythm & Blues Show – The American Guests, vol. 3 (JSP CD235) Chicago Blues, vol. 2 Earwig 16. Ann. Sampler (1995, Earwig Music) Earwig 20. Ann. Sampler (2000, Earwig Music) American Folk Blues Festival (1980, 1983, L+R) The 1. Blues Sampler (1980, L+R) Blues Legends – Blues Giants (1993, Castle Communications) Live at Boston Blues Festival, vol. 2 (2007, Blues Trust) Family Meeting, Wentus Blues Band with Mick Taylor and Lazy Lester (2008, Ruf) Blues Wire Birthday Tour (Greece, 2007) Houserockin' and Blues Shoutin – Rhythm Room 15 Year Anniversary Album (2006, Blue Witch Records)

Awards W. C. Handy Award for Best Traditional Blues Male Artist, 1983 Lifetime Achievement Award, Blues Trust Productions, 2006 Grand Prix du Disque (Blues) for Back to the Black Bayou, 2009 German Record Critics Award (2nd quarter) for Best New Release (Blues), 2009 Bluesnews Poll for Back to the Black Bayou, 2009 Blues Music Award for Acoustic Album of the Year (You Got to Move''), 2010