Luke Winslow-King

Luke Winslow-King Balzuweit (born March 12, 1983) is an American guitarist, multi-instrumentalist, singer, composer, and lyricist. Winslow-King plays vintage blues and jazz music and is known for his slide guitar work. He is a music traditionalist, playing a mixture of "people's music" and improvisational jazz based in collective improvisation. He has been influenced by the music of New Orleans, where he was based for 15 years. These influences include jazz, Delta blues, ragtime, pre-war American folk, Béla Bartók and Antonín Dvořák's String Quartet No. 12 (American String Quartet), and Woody Guthrie.

Early life and education Winslow-King was born in Cadillac, Michigan. His mother, Kathy Balzuweit (née King), is a painter and farmer and founded the soup kitchen called the Shepherd's Table in Cadillac. His father, Kurt Balzuweit was a musician and worked at a hospital. Winslow-King grew up in the Baptist church. On his maternal side, Winslow-King's family comes from the Winslow descendants of the Mayflower. He often played in church.

In 2001, Winslow-King graduated from Interlochen Center for the Arts with a major in jazz guitar, and where he also studied bebop jazz.

In 2002, Winslow-King attended Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, Michigan. In 2003, he began attending the University of New Orleans, where he was in the music theory and composition program. While there, he also studied classical music. – like "Washboard Chaz" Leary, George Porter Jr., Paul Sanchez's "Nine Lives" project, Roberto Luti, The Loose Marbles Jazz Band – in the city. He often played at local New Orleans clubs like Three Muses and DBA on Frenchmen Street in the 7th Ward. While living in New York City, Winslow-King studied composition and worked with avant-garde composer "Blue" Gene Tyranny and played in Jack Hardy's well-known songwriter's circle.

In 2007, Winslow-King moved back to New Orleans and released his self-titled debut via Earthwork on his own imprint, Fox on a Hill.

His 2009 record, Old/New Baby, was recorded at Preservation Hall and was distributed by EMusic. American Songwriter named it one of 2009's Top 10 Record.

In 2012, Winslow-King signed with Chicago-based independent record label, Bloodshot Records. At the time his band was a trio made up of Winslow-King on vocals and guitar, Esther Rose on vocals and washboard, and Cassidy Holden on upright base.

In 2013, Winslow-King released his third record, The Coming Tide, on Bloodshot Records.

In 2014, Winslow-King released Everlasting Arms on Bloodshot.

In September 2016, Winslow-King released I’m Glad Trouble Don't Last Always on Bloodshot. The record was influenced by his divorce and his move back to northern Michigan in August 2016 to be with his father, who was diagnosed with cancer. Contributors to the record were Roberto Luti on guitar, Brennan Andes on electric bass, Mike Lynch on keyboards, and Benji Bohannon on drums. Colin DuPuis (The Black Keys) mixed the record, which was partially recorded live while on tour in Livorno, Italy. and is a departure from his prior record, more upbeat and broader in diversity of sound and topics. Contributing to the recording were Ben Polcer on trumpet, Dominick Grillo on baritone sax, Matt Rhody on violin, and Chris Davis on drums. Tracks "Chicken Dinner" and "You Got Mine" were co-written with one of his New Orleans–based mentors, "Washboard" Lissa Driscoll, who died in 2017 of throat cancer. "Farewell Blues" is in homage to his father, who died in 2017.

His current band is made up of Roberto Luti on slide guitar, Christian Carpenter on bass guitar, Mike Lynch (Bob Seger, Larry McCray) on organ, and Chris Davis (King James and the Special Men) on drums.

Other work In 1993, Winslow-King and his sister were extras in the Bill Murray movie, Groundhog Day. It was filmed in New Orleans at the Balcony Room at Blue Nile.

Personal life From 2013 to 2015, Winslow-King was married to singer-songwriter Esther Rose. They performed together over a period of six years. She also had a fashion line at the store Bon Castor in New Orleans and influenced the Winslow-Kings' stage outfits. The couple lived in Arabi, St. Bernard Parish Louisiana. Winslow-King was often known for wearing vintage clothes on stage.

In November 2014, Winslow was arrested and incarcerated for three weeks in northern Michigan for the possession of a small amount of marijuana. He spent that time almost entirely in solitary confinement due to a serious nut allergy.

Discography Records Luke Winslow King (2008) Old/New Baby (2009) The Coming Tide (2013) Everlasting Arms (2014) I’m Glad Trouble Don't Last Always (2016) Blue Mesa (2018) If These Walls Could Talk (2022)

7-inch You Hear Me Talkin' To Ya (2011)

Contributions Ghost Glacier by Breathe Owl Breathe (2008) Lucky Devil by Meschiya Lake and the Little Big Horns (2012) Vari-colored Songs (A Tribute To Langston Hughes) by Leyla McCalla (2013)

Honors 2010: Offbeat Magazine's Best of the Beat Awards (nominee) for Best Emerging Artist 2011: Offbeat Magazine's Best of the Beat Awards (nominee) Best Singer-Songwriter 2011: American Songwriter's Writer of the Week 2012: Offbeat Magazine's Best of the Beat Awards (nominee) for Best Country/Folk/Singer-Songwriter Album for The Coming Tide 2013: Offbeat Magazine's Best of the Beat Awards (nominee) for Best Male Performer 2014: Offbeat Magazine's Best of the Beat Awards (nominee) for Best Blues Performer 2014: AllMusic Favorite Blues Albums for Everlasting Arms 2015: Gambit Magazine's Best of New Orleans, Best Album (nominee) for Everlasting Arms 2015: Gambit Magazine's Best of New Orleans, Best Blues Performer 2016: Offbeat Magazine's Best of the Beat Awards (nominee) for Song of the Year for "No More Crying Today" 2016: Offbeat Magazine's Best of the Beat Awards (nominee) for Best Blues Album for I’m Glad Trouble Don't Last Always" 2016: Offbeat Magazine's Best of the Beat Awards (nominee) for Best Blues Performer" 2016: AllMusic Favorite Blues Albums and Favorite Folk and Americana Albums for I'm Glad Trouble Don't Last Always