Bassist Luther Hughes received his training at the University of Cincinnati’s College Conservatory of Musicand Long Beach City College, earning his bachelor’s degree from Cal State Long Beach. His teachers included Alex Cirin, Thomas Martin, Nat Gangursky, Eileen Strang and Sue Raney. Luther is involved in the music business in a number of ways: As a musician, he currently leads The Cannonball-Coltrane Project, as well as Luther Hughes & Friends: Remembering The Nat King Cole Trio, and H.E.R.K.. As a record producer and music publisher, Luther heads up Primrose Lane Music, which he founded in 2004. As an educator, Luther currently teaches at Cal State University in Fullerton Ca. and Saddleback College in Mission Viejo Ca. He has taught at Cal State University Long Beach Ca. , Goldenwest College in Huntington Beach Ca. , the Musicians Institute in Hollywood Ca., Rio Hondo College in Whittier Ca. and formerly served as the Southern California Regional Director for Bruce Forman’s JazzMasters Workshop. Luther has played bass with some of the biggest names in jazz in a career spanning over 30 years. He has performed or recorded with jazz legends such as Gene Harris, Mundell Lowe, Joe Henderson, Carmen MacRae, Willie Bobo, Horace Silver, Harold Land, Don Ellis, Joe Pass, Louis Bellson, Hampton Hawes and many more. Having recorded and performed on stage, and for film and television scores, Luther has appeared as a band member on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and Boston Legal. EDUCATION …as a student Luther has studied at the University of Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music, Long Beach City College and California State University Long Beach. Privately he has studied with Alex Cirin (Boston Pops/Jazz Bassist), Thomas Martin (Former Principal Bassist, London Symphony Orchestra), Nat Gangursky (Chicago Symphony), Sue Ranney (Principal Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra), Victor Sazar (Cellist LA Studios/CSULB), and Eileen Strang (Cellist, LBCC). …as a teacher Luther has taught musicians in both the classroom and privately from his home studio. He has taught at the Musicians Institute of Technology (Hollywood, CA), Golden West College (Huntington Beach, CA), Rio Hondo Community College (Whittier, CA), California State University Long Beach (Long Beach, CA), California State University Fullerton (Fullerton, CA), Fullerton College (Fullerton, CA), Vanguard University (Costa Mesa, CA). Luther’s current teaching schedule includes students at Fullerton College, and California State University Fullerton. PERFORMING Luther’s performing career extends beyond jazz to pop music and musical theater and television. The following is a list of Luther’s performing experiences. Jazz: Gene Harris, Quincy Jones, Joe Henderson, Carmen MacRae, The Crusaders, Buddy Greco, Frank Wess, Teddy Edwards, Terry Gibbs, Buddy DeFranco, Jimmy Rowles, Tal Farlow, Bob Cooper, Kenny Burrell, Hampton Hawes, Willie Bobo, Dorothy Donegan, Don Rader, Rob McConnell, Mundell Lowe, Jimmy and Jeannie Cheatam, Sue Rainey, Morgana King, Dave Pell’s “Prez Conference”, George Van Eps, Phil Upchurch, Sam Riney, Joe Pass, Joe Farrell, Horace Silver, Jack McDuff, Lionel Hampton, Joe Williams, David Matthews, Gloria Lynn, Jack Sheldon, Poncho Sanchez, James Moody, Roy Meriweather, Anthony Wilson, Scott Hamilton, Richie Cole, Karyn Allison, Bud Shank, Nick Brignola, Al Gray, Bill Watrous, Joe Diorio, Pat Metheny, Sweets Edison, Cat Anderson, Barney Kessel, Laurindo Almeida, David Benoit, Ernestine Andersen, Harold Land, Charlie Shoemake. Jazz Festivals: West Coast Jazz Party, The Newport Beach Jazz Party, Playboy Jazz Festival, North Sea Jazz Fest, Monterey Jazz Fest, Concord Jazz Fest, Montreux Switzerland Jazz Fest, Umbria Italy Jazz Fest, Concord/Fujitsu Jazz Fest in Japan, Hamakua Music Festival, Sacramento Jazz Fest, Graz Austria Jazz Fest, Norway Jazz Festival Cruise, Lionel Hampton Jazz Fest, Moscow Idaho Jazz Fest, Gene Harris Jazz Fest, Boise Idaho. Big Band: Don Ellis, Harry James, Louis Bellson, Les Brown, Les Elgart, Bob Florence, Ray Anthony, The Clayton/Hamilton Orchestra, and The Capp/Pierce Juggernaut. Pop/Rock/Country: Long Beach Municipal Band, and leader of Long Beach Municipal Jazz Combo, Patti Page, Tony Martin, Frankie Avalon, Fabian, Nancy Sinatra, Pearl Bailey, King Sisters, Lennon Sisters, The Fifth Dimension, The Coasters, Tennessee Ernie Ford, Connie Smith, Ray Price, Homer and Jethro, The Playboy Club in Cincinnati and Los Angeles, and freelance musician for Disneyland Park. Musical Theater and Television: “Georgia Brown and Friends”, “The Four Poster” starring Carol Lawrence, and Ross Martin, “Flower Drum Song”, The Rich Little Show, conductor/musical director for “Good Times”, and Jack Jones, Don Rickles, Yakov Smirnoff, Pat Morita. “The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson”, “The Pat Sajak Show”, “The Midnight Special”, numerous Dick Clark productions, and can also be seen in several episodes of “Star Trek Deep Space Nine”. Also extensive work as a Los Angeles session bassist for TV, records, movies, etc. BROADCASTING Luther has hosted two radio programs, Lunch with Luther, and Jazz Today, both on KKJZ FM 88.1 (formerly KLON) in Long Beach California. from www.lutherhughes.com
