Reginald Lucas, is an
AmericanThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
musicianA musician is a person who performs or writes music. Musicians can be classified by their roles in creating or performing music:* An instrumentalist plays a musical instrument.* A singer uses his or her voice as an instrument....
, songwriter and
record producerIn the music industry, a record producer has many roles, among them controlling the recording sessions, coaching and guiding the musicians, organizing and scheduling production budget and resources, and supervising the recording, mixing and mastering processes...
. Lucas is most famous for his production work with percussionist
MtumeMtume was a funk and soul group that had several R&B hits in the 1980s. Its founder, percussionist James Mtume, previously played with Miles Davis in the 1970s. Other members of the group included Reggie Lucas and Tawatha Agee...
and for producing the majority of
Madonna'sMadonna is an American recording artist, actress and entrepreneur. Born in Bay City, Michigan, and raised in Rochester Hills, Michigan, she moved to New York City in 1977, for a career in modern dance...
1983
self-titled debut albumMadonna is the debut album by American singer-songwriter Madonna, released on July 27, 1983 by Sire Records. The album was re-released in 1985 for the European market and re-packaged as Madonna – The First Album. In 2001, Warner Bros. released a remastered version with two bonus remix tracks...
.
Early in his career, Lucas was a jazz guitarist, playing with
Norman ConnorsNorman Connors is an American jazz drummer, composer, arranger, producer, and headliner, who has led some influential jazz and R&B groups...
in the early 1970s and then with
Miles DavisMiles Davis III was an American jazz trumpeter, bandleader, and composer.Widely considered one of the most influential jazz musicians of the 20th century, Miles Davis was, with his musical groups, at the forefront of several major developments in jazz music including cool jazz, hard bop, free jazz...
from 1972-1976. It was in Davis' electric band (one that included
Pete CoseyPete Cosey is an African-American guitarist most famous for playing with Miles Davis' band between 1973 and 1975. His fiercely flanged and distorted guitar bore comparisons to Jimi Hendrix...
,
Michael HendersonMichael Henderson born in Yazoo City, Mississippi, moved to Detroit in his early teenage years to peruse music. is a bass guitarist and vocalist best known for his work with Miles Davis in the early 1970s, providing a deep funky groove to early fusion albums such as A Tribute to Jack Johnson,...
and
Al FosterAl Foster is an American jazz drummer. Foster played with Miles Davis's large funk fusion group in the 70s, was one of the few people to have contact with Miles during his retirement, and was also part of his in the 80s...
) that Lucas met Percussionist
MtumeMtume was a funk and soul group that had several R&B hits in the 1980s. Its founder, percussionist James Mtume, previously played with Miles Davis in the 1970s. Other members of the group included Reggie Lucas and Tawatha Agee...
who would later become his production partner.
Following his stint as a touring jazz guitarist, Lucas shifted his focus to songwriting and producing, where he gained both fame and critical praise.
Reginald Lucas, is an
AmericanThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
musicianA musician is a person who performs or writes music. Musicians can be classified by their roles in creating or performing music:* An instrumentalist plays a musical instrument.* A singer uses his or her voice as an instrument....
, songwriter and
record producerIn the music industry, a record producer has many roles, among them controlling the recording sessions, coaching and guiding the musicians, organizing and scheduling production budget and resources, and supervising the recording, mixing and mastering processes...
. Lucas is most famous for his production work with percussionist
MtumeMtume was a funk and soul group that had several R&B hits in the 1980s. Its founder, percussionist James Mtume, previously played with Miles Davis in the 1970s. Other members of the group included Reggie Lucas and Tawatha Agee...
and for producing the majority of
Madonna'sMadonna is an American recording artist, actress and entrepreneur. Born in Bay City, Michigan, and raised in Rochester Hills, Michigan, she moved to New York City in 1977, for a career in modern dance...
1983
self-titled debut albumMadonna is the debut album by American singer-songwriter Madonna, released on July 27, 1983 by Sire Records. The album was re-released in 1985 for the European market and re-packaged as Madonna – The First Album. In 2001, Warner Bros. released a remastered version with two bonus remix tracks...
.
Early in his career, Lucas was a jazz guitarist, playing with
Norman ConnorsNorman Connors is an American jazz drummer, composer, arranger, producer, and headliner, who has led some influential jazz and R&B groups...
in the early 1970s and then with
Miles DavisMiles Davis III was an American jazz trumpeter, bandleader, and composer.Widely considered one of the most influential jazz musicians of the 20th century, Miles Davis was, with his musical groups, at the forefront of several major developments in jazz music including cool jazz, hard bop, free jazz...
from 1972-1976. It was in Davis' electric band (one that included
Pete CoseyPete Cosey is an African-American guitarist most famous for playing with Miles Davis' band between 1973 and 1975. His fiercely flanged and distorted guitar bore comparisons to Jimi Hendrix...
,
Michael HendersonMichael Henderson born in Yazoo City, Mississippi, moved to Detroit in his early teenage years to peruse music. is a bass guitarist and vocalist best known for his work with Miles Davis in the early 1970s, providing a deep funky groove to early fusion albums such as A Tribute to Jack Johnson,...
and
Al FosterAl Foster is an American jazz drummer. Foster played with Miles Davis's large funk fusion group in the 70s, was one of the few people to have contact with Miles during his retirement, and was also part of his in the 80s...
) that Lucas met Percussionist
MtumeMtume was a funk and soul group that had several R&B hits in the 1980s. Its founder, percussionist James Mtume, previously played with Miles Davis in the 1970s. Other members of the group included Reggie Lucas and Tawatha Agee...
who would later become his production partner.
Following his stint as a touring jazz guitarist, Lucas shifted his focus to songwriting and producing, where he gained both fame and critical praise. First working as part of a production team with percussionist
MtumeMtume was a funk and soul group that had several R&B hits in the 1980s. Its founder, percussionist James Mtume, previously played with Miles Davis in the 1970s. Other members of the group included Reggie Lucas and Tawatha Agee...
-- the two would later go on to write and produce hits for several artists, most prominently being
Stephanie MillsStephanie Mills is an American Grammy Award-winning R&B and soul singer, a former Broadway star, and was originally given the title as "the little girl with the big voice."-Career:...
,
Phyllis HymanPhyllis Linda Hyman was an American soul singer and Tony-nominated actress.- Early years :Phyllis Hyman was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and grew up in the St. Clair Village, the south end section of Pittsburgh. After leaving Pittsburgh, her music training started with a scholarship to a...
,
Jennifer HollidayJennifer-Yvette Holliday is a two-time Grammy Award-winning African-American singer and actress. She started her career on Broadway in musicals such as Dreamgirls, and later became a successful recording artist...
and
Roberta FlackRoberta Flack is an American singer, songwriter and musician who is notable for jazz, soul, R&B and folk music. Flack is best known for singles such as "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face", "Killing Me Softly with His Song", and "Feel Like Makin' Love", as well as "Where Is the Love" and "The...
.
As the 70's grew to a close Lucas branched out and began to write and produce material by himself. In addition to his own instrumental record "Survival Themes", one of his first solo projects was
Madonna'sMadonna is an American recording artist, actress and entrepreneur. Born in Bay City, Michigan, and raised in Rochester Hills, Michigan, she moved to New York City in 1977, for a career in modern dance...
1983
self-titled debut albumMadonna is the debut album by American singer-songwriter Madonna, released on July 27, 1983 by Sire Records. The album was re-released in 1985 for the European market and re-packaged as Madonna – The First Album. In 2001, Warner Bros. released a remastered version with two bonus remix tracks...
including the song
BorderlineBorderline or border line may refer to:*Border*"Borderline" , a song by Madonna from Madonna*"Borderline" *Borderline *Borderline personality disorder, a psychological disorder...
. Lucas has since gone on to work with
Rebbie JacksonMaureen Reillette "Rebbie" Brown is an American singer professionally known as Rebbie Jackson. Born and raised as a Jehovah's Witness in Gary, Indiana, she is the eldest child of the Jackson family of musicians...
,
Randy CrawfordRandy Crawford is an American jazz and R&B singer. She has surprisingly proved more successful in Europe than her homeland, where she has yet to crack the Billboard Hot 100.-Career:...
and The Four Tops on his own.
In 1980, Lucas and Mtume won a
Grammy AwardThe Grammy Awards —or Grammys—are presented annually by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States for outstanding achievements in the music industry...
for Best R&B song for their composition "
Never Knew Love Like This Before"Never Knew Love Like This Before" is a song by American R&B singer Stephanie Mills. The song is the second and final single from Mills' 1980 album, Sweet Sensation...
", which was performed by Stephanie Mills.
Also produced "Young Free & Single" by Sunfire.
In late 1980s, Lucas founded the Jersey City recording studio
Quantum SoundQuantum Sound Studios was a recording studio in Jersey City, New Jersey founded by Reggie Lucas in the 1980s. It was managed by Gary Salzman. One of the semi-house engineers was Doc Dougherty. It contained an SSL mix room with an SSL 4000, a Neve Live Room, and a Midi Room...
.
He currently teaches in the music department at Montclair State University.