Nellie Lutcher: Celebrating a Southwest Louisiana Music Legend
Renowned R&B singer Nellie Lutcher played a pivotal role in Southwest Louisiana's rich music history. This spring, the Arts & Humanities Council of Southwest Louisiana honors her through its Roots Revival program.
(Nellie Lutcher's 1956 appearance on the NBC Today Show)
On April 21, the Roots Revival showcase concert honors music icons like Lutcher, Dolly Parton, Lucinda Williams, and Goldband Records artists at Historic Central School, 809 Kirby St., Lake Charles. The series continues with a theatrical production.
The Itinerant Theatre presents An Evening with Nellie Lutcher – Her Music, History & Career on April 22-23 and 29-30 at Foundation House, 720 Enterprise Boulevard, Lake Charles. Carolyn Woosley's one-woman play ends with a talk on Lutcher's historical importance to Lake Charles, featuring local artists' themed works, memorabilia, emerging talent showcases, and more.
The City of Lake Charles has designated the Enterprise Boulevard area as the Nellie Lutcher Memorial Cultural District, driving redevelopment and positioning it as a music and entertainment destination inspired by her legacy.
Born in 1912, Lutcher grew up in her family home on Enterprise Boulevard, the district's heart. The eldest of 15 children from a musical family, she relocated to Los Angeles in 1935. Her hits include “The One I Love Belongs to Somebody Else,” “Hurry On Down,” “He’s a Real Gone Guy,” and “Lake Charles Boogie.”
Susan Reed, director of the Imperial Calcasieu Museum, who partnered with the American Press in 2007 for a Lutcher exhibit, stated, “Nellie left a mark on the world and is a Lake Charles hero.”
