The Lucky Losers
Since July of 2014, The Lucky Losers emerged onto the scene by combining the careers of two blues veterans, Cathy Lemons and Phil Berkowitz. They have been entertaining audiences across America ever since. In June of 2015, Cathy and Phil delivered an outstanding debut album, “A Winning Hand, which was engineered and co-produced by Kid Andersen at his famous Greaseland in San Jose, California. The Lucky Losers recruited top West Coast players, such as Grammy award winning guitarist, Steve Freund (Sunnyland Slim), Andersen himself, and Ben Rice, who won the 2014 International Blues Challenge for “Guitar” in the Solo/Duo category, to make their dreams come alive.
"A Winning Hand" peaked at #5 on The Roots Music Report’s “Top 50 Blues Albums” and reached #1 on Blues 411's "A Baker's Dozen of Blues". Soon after, Chef Jimi Patricola nominated the record in the Jimi's Award "Best Traditional Album " category. Dan Akroyd (Elwood Blues) chose The Lucky Losers' original song, "Change in the Weather" as "Bluesbreaker of the Week" for his internationally syndicated "Bluesmobile/Everything Blues" radio show. The album also made the "Top 50 Blues albums for 2015" compiled by The Roots Music Report.
"A Winning Hand" was featured in “On the Radar” from the globally popular “The Alternate Root,” and was recognized by Richard L’Hommedieu, king of the “Indie Blues” movement, on “Making a Scene". The Lucky Losers landed the cover of the November 2015 issue of French magazine "Blues and Co.". Living Blues, Elmore, Classicalite, Blues Matters, Blues Blast, Blues Bytes, and more agreed that The Lucky Losers were indeed holding a winning hand. In the fall of 2015, The Lucky Losers embarked on a 16-date national tour in support of "A Winning Hand", performing for full houses in Missouri, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Tennessee, Louisiana, Texas, Alabama, Oklahoma, and Florida. It was a grand success.
At the top of 2016, The Lucky Losers returned to the studio to record with Kid Andersen, which evolved into "In Any Town", their sophomore release on Dirty Cat Records. Inspired by music of the 60's and true events from their beautiful, twisted lives, Cathy Lemons and Phil Berkowitz serve up medicine for wayward souls, offering glimpses of paradise through a veil of tears. Featuring stellar musical contributions from Kid Andersen, Terry Hanck, Paris Slim, and Jeff Jensen, and featuring nine original songs, this album was nominated for two Blues 411 "Jimi" awards in 2016: "Best Contemporary Album" and "Best Harmonica Player". They were also nominated for two Independent Blues Awards for "Best Independent Blues/R&B/Soul Album/ In Any Town" and "Best Independent Blues Song / It Ain't Eough" In 2017.
"In Any Town" made Making a Scene's "Top Independent Blues Albums of 2016" list as well as critic Bill Wilson's and Bruce Edward's "Top 10 Albums of 2016." It peaked at #6 on The Living Blues Radio Charts, at #3 for "Top Blues Rock Albums," at #10 for "Top Blues Albums," and climbed to #2 on The Roots Music Report's "Top Albums/All Genres/California," surpassing even Bonnie Raitt. Eight singles made the RMR charts as well. living Blues gave the album an outstanding five star review, and critics from all over the world--England, Spain, France, Croatia, Australia, Belgium, and Germany--gave the album the thumbs up.
