John "Juke" Logan

John "Juke" Logan (September 11, 1946 – August 30, 2013) was an American electric blues harmonica player, musician, singer, pianist and songwriter. He is best known for his harmonica playing on the theme music for television programs (Home Improvement and Roseanne) and films (Crossroads and La Bamba). In addition to playing on many other musicians' work, Logan released four solo albums, and wrote songs for Poco, John Mayall and Gary Primich.[1]

John "Juke" Logan
Birth nameJohn Farrell Logan
Born(1946-09-11)September 11, 1946
Los Angeles, California, United States
DiedAugust 30, 2013(2013-08-30) (aged 66)
Joshua Tree, California, United States
GenresElectric blues[1]
Occupation(s)Harmonicist, singer, pianist, songwriter
Instrument(s)Harmonica, vocals, piano
Years activeMid 1970s–2013
LabelsRazor & Tie, Mocombo

Biography

John Farrell Logan was born in Los Angeles, California, United States.[1] He gained his nickname, following his constant playing of Little Walter's track, "Juke".[2] He originally learned to play the piano, and instigated his own groups the Juke Rhythm Band, and later the Angel City Rhythm Band.[3] During his time playing in Southern California, he played with several musicians who went on to work with John Mayall, such as guitarists Rick Vito, Randy Resnick and drummers Joe Yuele and Greg LeRoy (Crazy Horse).

His early career saw Logan work as a backing musician for Dobie Gray, Leon Russell and by the latter half of the 1980s, Dave Alvin. In addition, Logan's songwriting credits include John Mayall's "Fanning the Flames", Poco's "Starin' At The Sky" (co-penned with Timothy B. Schmit), plus Gary Primich's "The Sound of Money Talkin'" and "Hustler". In 1984, he worked with Ry Cooder on the soundtrack for the film, Crossroads.[1] His own debut album, The Chill, was released in 1995, and after moving to his own Mocombo Records,[3][4] followed this with Juke Rhythm (1999), the live album, Live as It Gets (1999), and his final offering, The Truth Will Rock You (2005).[1] Until 2000, Logan co-hosted a Los Angeles-based weekly radio program, 'The Friday Night Blues Revue', with Ellen Bloom.[2] He met fellow radio DJ and musician Stephanie Riggio,[5] and they remained friends for decades.

Amongst many such efforts, Logan's harmonica work has appeared on The Dickies' Second Coming (1989), Richard Marx's Rush Street (1991), the Carla Olson / Mick Taylor Band's Too Hot For Snakes (1990),[6] Gary Primich's My Pleasure (1992) and Travellin' Mood (1994), Heather Myles's Untamed (1995), John Mayall's Spinning Coin (1995), John Lee Hooker's Don't Look Back (1997), Doug MacLeod's Unmarked Road (1997), Adam Sandler's 1997 vintage, What's Your Name?, plus Stoned Immaculate: The Music of The Doors (2000), Sugar Ray's Sugar Ray (2001), Blue Xmas (various artists, 2001), Barry Goldberg's Stoned Again (2002), "Weird Al" Yankovic's 2003 album, Poodle Hat, Etta James's Blues to the Bone (2004) and J. J. Cale's Roll On plus Percy Sledge's Shining Through The Rain.[7] Logan played the "harmonica drops" in the TV series Roseanne and appeared in Home Improvement.

In 2009, Logan was diagnosed with esophageal cancer and underwent successful surgery.[8]

In 2010, in conjunction with Rick Holmstrom and Stephen Hodges, Logan appeared on the album, Twist-O-Lettz. [9] In September 2011, Logan made a club appearance in Tucson, Arizona.[8]

In 2011, Logan's cancer returned. In 2013, a benefit show was presented at Cafe Fais Do Do in Los Angeles, featuring Dave Alvin, The Delgado Brothers, and Rick Holmstrom amongst others.

In 2013, Logan died from cancer at the home he co-owned with Stephanie Riggio in Joshua Tree, California. He was 66.[10]

Discography
YearTitleRecord label
1995The ChillRazor & Tie Music
1999Juke RhythmMocombo
1999Live as It GetsMocombo
2000Custom Blues For YouMocombo
2005The Truth Will Rock YouMocombo
2010Twist-O-LettzMocombo

[11]

See also

References
  1. Char Ham. "John "Juke" Logan". Allmusic. Retrieved October 25, 2010.
  2. Michael Ventura. "John "Juke" Logan". Mocomborecords.com. Archived from the original on January 29, 2013. Retrieved October 25, 2011.
  3. "John "Juke" Logan Biography". Oldies.com. Retrieved October 25, 2011.
  4. "Custom Blues". Mocombo Records. Retrieved 2013-09-01.
  5. "StephanieRiggio.com". Stephanieriggio.com. Retrieved 2013-09-01.
  6. Jesse Sublett, Never the Same Again: A Rock n' Roll Gothic (Berkeley: Boaz/Tenspeed 2004)
  7. "John "Juke" Logan | Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2013-09-01.
  8. Dan Gibson. "Meet the Visitors - A number of touring musicians are joining the Club Crawl® party". Clubcrawl.ning.com. Archived from the original on October 16, 2011. Retrieved October 25, 2011.
  9. Chip Eagle. "Rick Holmstrom, John "Juke" Logan, Stephen Hodges: Twist-O-Lettz". Bluesrevue.com. Archived from the original on April 2, 2012. Retrieved October 25, 2011.
  10. "Obituary: Ray Grebey, John 'Juke' Logan". Los Angeles Times. 6 September 2013. Retrieved 2013-09-06.
  11. "John "Juke" Logan | Discography". AllMusic. Retrieved 2013-09-01.
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