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Luke Winslow-King

My New Orleans

Muddy Bottom Blues

Program #145 (June 29 at 8:00pm and June 30 at 3:00pm)

Originally from Cadillac, Michigan, Luke Winslow-King began studying and performing music at a young age. He first came to Louisiana at age 19 with Earthwork Music founders Seth Bernard and Daniel Kahn presenting “From California to the New York Island: The songs and stories of Woody Guthrie.”

In 2002, a year after receiving his diploma from Interlochen Arts Academy, he made a pilgrimage back to New Orleans and ending up staying there almost by chance; after only a few days in town, Winslow-King’s car – filled to the brim with a band’s worth of instruments – was stolen while parked overnight on Ursulines Street in the Tremé.

During the weeks spent trying to recover his vehicle and instruments LWK fell in love with the city that he now calls home. He enrolled in the music theory and composition program at the University of New Orleans in the spring of 2003 and was awarded an ambassador scholarship to study Czech classical music at St. Charles University in Prague that summer.

Following the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Winslow-King lived in New York City and was employed as a music therapist by the Institutes of Applied Human Dynamics in the Bronx. He also held a music teacher’s position at the La Velle School for the Blind. While in New York, Luke studied composition privately and recorded with Grammy nominated avant-garde composer “Blue” Gene Tyranny, and attended Jack Hardy’s legendary songwriter’s circle.

In 2007 he headed back home to New Orleans after recording his first self-titled debut album and continued paying his dues, busking on Royal Street during the day and working in the clubs on Frenchman Street at night. In 2008 recorded ‘Old New Baby’ mostly live at Preservation Hall in New Orleans.

He learned gospel and jazz standards accompanying John Boutté, studied bottleneck guitar with blues maestro Roberto Luti (formerly of The Washboard Chaz Blues Trio), and immersed himself in the trad jazz songbook while playing with the Loose Marbles Jazz Band. During this time he was also a member Meschiya Lake's Little Big Horns and is featured on her album ‘Lucky Devil.’

This non-stop woodshedding helped Winslow-King hone his sound, earn respect as a leader among the young traditionalists in New Orleans, and become known as one of the hardest working, authentic, and original acts in Americana music.

After performing years of weekly gigs on Frenchmen Street, he now consistently tours the United States, Europe, and Australia. With his 3rd album ‘The Coming Tide’ LWK and his band landed a support slot opening for Jack White on his Blunderbus tour and were signed to Bloodshot Records in 2013.

In 2014 LWK toured Serbia, Croatia, and Bosnia with ‘Blues for the Balkans’ raising money for flood relief in the area. An unreleased documentary was made about the experience.

LWK landed in front of larger audiences over the last few years while sharing the stage with the likes of Roseanne Cash, Jack White, Taj Mahal, Buckwheat Zydeco, Robert Earl Keen, Pokey Lafarge, Chris Thile, and the Rebirth Brass Band.

(provided by Luke Winslow-King)

Paul Hitchcock earned his Masters in Communications from Morehead State University and Bachelors in Radio-TV/Psychology from Georgetown College. A veteran broadcaster for more than 40 years and an avid fan of blues, jazz and American roots music. Hitchcock has been with WMKY since 1986 and was named General Manager in 2003. He currently hosts "Muddy Bottom Blues" (Fri., 8pm-9pm), "Nothin' But The Blues" (Sat., 8pm-12am), "Sunday Night Jazz Showcase" and "Live From The Jazz Lounge" (Sun., 8pm-9pm) and "The Golden Age of Radio" (Sun., 2pm-3pm). He also serves as producer for "A Time For Tales" and "The Reader's Notebook."