Joseph Woodman Lutcher was an American rhythm and blues saxophonist and bandleader born on 23 December 1919 in Lake Charles, Louisiana. The younger brother of singer Nellie Lutcher, he moved to Los Angeles in 1941 and served in the United States Navy from 1942 to 1945. Following his service, he led the house band at the Look Café and the Society Cats at the Café Society. In 1947, he signed with Specialty Records and also recorded for Capitol Records. His single “Shuffle Woogie” reached number 10 on the Billboard Race Records chart in 1948, while “Rockin' Boogie” reached number 14. After recording “Mardi Gras” for Modern Records in 1949, Lutcher joined the Seventh-day Adventist Church in 1953 and abandoned his secular career. In 1957, he influenced Little Richard to pursue Bible studies, and the two toured as an evangelistic team. Lutcher established Jordan Records to release gospel music before his death in Los Angeles on 29 October 2006.
