View source for David Lucas (composer)

{{Short description|American rock and roll composer}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| image               = File:Lucas 2015.JPG
| alt                 = David Lucas
| caption             = David Lucas, 2015
| name                = David Lucas
| image_size          =
| birth_name          = David Helfman
| alias               =
| birth_date          = {{birth date and age|1937|04|21}}
| birth_place         = [[Buffalo, New York]]
| origin              =
| death_date          = <!-- {{death date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|YYYY|MM|DD}} (death date 1st) -->
| death_place         =
| genre               = Rock and roll
| occupation          = Composer, singer, and producer
| instrument          =
| years_active        = 1941–present
| label               =
| associated_acts     =
| website             = {{URL|davidlucasmusic.com}}
| notable_instruments = 
}}

'''David Lucas''' (born '''David Helfman''' April 21, 1937) is an American [[rock and roll]] composer, singer, and music producer. He has written thousands of commercial [[jingle]]s, such as [[AT&T Communications|AT&T]]'s "[[N. W. Ayer & Son|Reach Out and Touch Someone]]." In 1981, he received a [[Clio Awards|Clio Award]] for composing the music to [[Pepsi]]'s "[[Pepsi#Slogans|Catch That Pepsi Spirit]]." As a record producer, he worked with many new artists such as [[Blue Öyster Cult]].  On the 1976 Blue Öyster Cult song "[[(Don't Fear) The Reaper]]" which he co-produced, Lucas sang backup vocals and came up with the idea for using a [[Cowbell (instrument)|cowbell]], parodied by [[Christopher Walken]] in the "[[More cowbell]]" skit on ''[[Saturday Night Live]]''.  In June 2011, Lucas was inducted into Buffalo's Music Hall of Fame.<ref name=bmhof>{{cite web|url=https://www.bmhof.org/inductees-l/david-helfman-lucas.html|publisher=Buffalo Music Hall of Fame|title=David Helfman Lucas|access-date=July 27, 2020|date=2018}}</ref>

==Biography==

===Early years (1940s–1960s)===
Lucas was born David Helfman on April 21, 1937, in [[Buffalo, New York]].  By the age of four, he was singing with his parents in the Buffalo area, both at venues and on local radio.<ref name=bmhof/> He briefly attended [[Bennett High School (Buffalo, New York)|Bennett High School]] in Buffalo, where he sang in the choir, and then in 1951 transferred to [[Miami Beach Senior High School]], graduating in 1955.<ref name=reunion>{{cite news|title=Miami Beach High Class of 1955 gets together|author=Leibowitz, Debra K.|date=July 4, 2010|work=[[The Miami Herald]]}}</ref>

At the age of nineteen, Lucas started promoting records, choosing artists such as the young [[Paul Anka]], [[Frankie Avalon]], [[Sam Cooke]], and [[The Everly Brothers]], and encouraging local DJs to play their music. He was the top record promotion man in the northeastern United States until he was drafted into the [[United States Army]], after which he moved to [[Miami Beach, Florida|Miami Beach]], where he was a social director and performer at the Attache Hotel.<ref name=bmhof/> He made ends meet by selling vacuum cleaners during the day, and attending night school to learn about [[mutual funds]]. While in Miami, he met jazz drummer and bandleader [[Buddy Rich]],<ref name="nym">{{cite news|work=[[New York (magazine)|New York]]|date=April 23, 1979|title=Jingle Giants|author=Gorfain, Louis|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IeECAAAAMBAJ&q=%22david+lucas%22+buddy+rich%22&pg=PA50|access-date=June 6, 2011}}</ref> and joined him for a world tour, after which Lucas moved to Los Angeles, where he worked as a songwriter and producer. In [[Las Vegas Valley|Las Vegas]], he sang at the [[Sahara Hotel and Casino|Sahara Hotel]], where he was noticed by popular singer [[Doris Day]], who was impressed, and signed Lucas to her record label, [[Arwin Records]]. Lucas then recorded "So Until I See You", a song by composer [[Al Lerner (composer)|Al Lerner]] which became the closing theme for [[Jack Paar]]'s ''[[The Tonight Show with Jack Paar|The Tonight Show]]''.<ref name=bmhof/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.globaldogproductions.info/a/arwin.html|title=45 Discography for Arwin Records|year=2005|access-date=May 29, 2011|publisher=Global Dog Productions}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.songsforfilmandtv.com/profile/allerner |title=Al Lerner profile |access-date=July 17, 2011 |publisher=songsforfilmandtv.com |url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110807200744/http://songsforfilmandtv.com/profile/allerner |archive-date=August 7, 2011 }}</ref>

Lucas then moved to New York City where he took various odd jobs, including becoming a sound engineer for his cousin,<ref name=cousin>{{cite web|url=http://www.vietnamjazz.com/index.php?do=/public/music/musician/id_189/|title=Don Elliott, biography|publisher=Vietnam Jazz|access-date=June 7, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120325032609/http://www.vietnamjazz.com/index.php?do=%2Fpublic%2Fmusic%2Fmusician%2Fid_189%2F|archive-date=March 25, 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> jazz musician and writer [[Don Elliott]].<ref name=bmhof/> He worked with artists such as [[Laura Nyro]], [[Ravi Shankar]] (produced by [[Timothy Leary]]), [[Tim Rose]], [[Cass Elliot]], [[Janis Ian]], [[Jimmy Smith (musician)|Jimmy Smith]], [[Bill Evans]], [[Roger Kellaway]], 
[[Mel Tormé]], and [[Terry Gibbs]]. In 1964 he joined a quintet formed by [[Dave Lambert (American jazz vocalist)|Dave Lambert]], "Lambert and Co." This quintet, though it never recorded any albums, was notable because it became the subject of a 15-minute documentary by [[D. A. Pennebaker]] (later famous for working with [[Bob Dylan]]), called ''Audition at RCA''.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Audition |author=Pennebaker, D.A. |author-link=D. A. Pennebaker |year=1964 |access-date=June 4, 2011 |format=video |publisher=Pennebaker Hegedus Films |url=http://www.phfilms.com/index.php/phf/film/lambert_co/ |url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721075029/http://www.phfilms.com/index.php/phf/film/lambert_co/ |archive-date=July 21, 2011 }}</ref> The scenes in the documentary were some of the last images recorded of Lambert, who, in 1966, was killed in an auto accident.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jazzwax.com/2011/05/dave-lambert.html|title=Dave Lambert: Audition at RCA|date=May 31, 2011|access-date=June 4, 2011|publisher=JazzWax|author=Myers, Marc}}</ref>

===Jingle writer (1960s–1990s)===
In the late 1960s, Lucas began writing his own commercial [[jingle]] melodies, such as [[GlaxoSmithKline|Macleans Toothpaste]]. He eventually passed off his engineer job to [[Jay Messina]], and opened his own company, David Lucas Associates, to write jingles full-time. In 1969, [[Quincy Jones]] introduced Lucas to [[Cy Coleman]], who signed him to Coleman's Notable Music Publishing Company.

Along with writing jingles, Lucas continued with other projects as well. He was hired by [[Ahmet Ertegun]] as musical director for the first [[rock and roll]] musical, [[Tom Sankey]]'s ''[[The Golden Screw]]'', which played at the [[Provincetown Playhouse]] and won the 1967 [[Obie Award]] for Sankey's concept, writing, and performing.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lortel.org/lla_archive/index.cfm?search_by=people&first=David&middle=&last=Lucas|title=David Lucas|publisher=The Lortel Archives – The Internet Off-Broadway Database|access-date=May 29, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121013205104/http://www.lortel.org/lla_archive/index.cfm?search_by=people&first=David&middle=&last=Lucas|archive-date=October 13, 2012}}</ref> Lucas used a young tape dubber from Gotham Studios named [[Walter Carlos]] who had an early [[Moog synthesizer]] to compose music for [[William Claxton (photographer)|William Claxton]]'s film ''Basic Black'', a work that is credited as the first "fashion video" and is in the collection of the [[Museum of Modern Art]] in New York.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|date=October 15, 2008|title=William J. Claxton, 80, – Made 'Jazz for the Eyes'|author=Holley, Joe}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.roseapodaca.com/2009/03/a-rip-roaring-tribute-to-william-claxton.html|title=A R.I.P. Roaring Tribute to William Claxton|date=March 18, 2009|author=Apodaca, Rose|access-date=June 6, 2011}}{{Dead link|date=December 2018}}</ref> He produced the first recordings of the blues band [[Raven (American band)|Raven]], enabling them to secure a contract with [[Columbia Records]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.martyangelo.com/raven1.htm|title=Raven|author=Angelo, Marty|access-date=June 11, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714043050/http://www.martyangelo.com/raven1.htm|archive-date=July 14, 2011}}</ref> He composed the songs "Tell Me a Story" and "Blood" for ''[[The Magic Garden of Stanley Sweetheart]]'' (the first movie by actor [[Don Johnson]]) and also composed the theme music for the 1970s children's series, ''[[Jabberwocky (TV series)|Jabberwocky]]'', a show which remained in syndication for decades.

In 1973, Lucas formed a new partnership with Tom McFaul, and they founded their own studio.<ref>{{cite news|work=Buffalo Evening News|title=Jingles, a gold rush|author=Carlton, William}}</ref> Situated in an old spice warehouse, they called it the Warehouse Recording Studio, and it hosted such artists as [[Paul McCartney]]<ref name=nym/><ref name=billboard-1971>{{cite magazine|magazine=Billboard|date=January 15, 1972|title=Studio Track|author=Glassenberg, Bob|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uigEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA8}}</ref> and Charlie Brown.<ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=Billboard|date=November 27, 1971|author=Glassenberg, Bob|access-date=August 13, 2011|title=Studio Track|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QA8EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA10}}</ref> They employed a dozen people, and Lucas composed and produced thousands of jingles for many national brands, and McFaul created the "Meow" theme for [[Meow Mix]].<ref name=nym/> Notable jingles Lucas wrote included [[AT&T]]'s "Reach Out and Touch Someone";<ref name=time>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,949354,00.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101015141101/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,949354,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 15, 2010|title=Show Business: Mirror, Mirror, on the Tube|date=August 17, 1981|author1=Henry, William A. III |author2=Martinez, Demetria |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]|access-date=May 29, 2011}}</ref>
[[Pepsi]]'s "Catch That Pepsi Spirit"<ref name=time/><ref name=clio>{{cite web|url=http://www.clioawards.com/archive/results.cfm|title=Clio Archive|access-date=May 29, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110611165524/http://www.clioawards.com/archive/results.cfm|archive-date=June 11, 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> and "Pepsi's got your taste for life"; "You look like you just heard from [[Dean Witter Reynolds|Dean Witter]]"; Maxwell House "Coffee Made Your Way";
[[Coca-Cola]]'s "You Can't Beat The Feeling" (co-written with Jayne Critelli);<ref name=critelli>{{cite web|url=http://www.jaynecritelli.com/music/jingles.html|title=Jayne Critelli: Jingles and Songs|year=2009|access-date=June 3, 2011|publisher=Jayne Critelli|archive-date=March 24, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120324230923/http://www.jaynecritelli.com/music/jingles.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> "Give Your Cold To [[Contac]]"; "G.E. We Bring Good Things To Life";<ref name=gale>{{cite book|page=3|title=Encyclopedia of Major Marketing Campaigns|volume=2|year=2006|author=Gale}}</ref> "Lipton puts Summer on Ice";<ref name=bb>{{cite magazine|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|date=July 18, 1970|title=Selling Sounds|author=Kenzik, Debbie}}</ref> and a jingle for [[Mercury Cougar]].<ref>{{cite book|page=47|title=Television/radio age|volume=24|year=1976|author=Television Editorial Corp.}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=Billboard|date=June 27, 1970|title=Radio-TV programming|page=33|quote=WOR air personality Jack O'Brian keyed in on the music world in a recent show.  Visiting the New York station for the program were some leading music men.  From left: O'Brian, songwriter Jerry Ragavoy, record producer David Lucas, music supervisor Gary Sherman}}</ref> In 1979, ''[[New York Magazine]]'' referred to Lucas and McFaul as "Jingle Giants", two out of a handful of jingle writers, saying, "Two out of three major commercial jingles are written by the elite group."<ref name=nym/>

===Blue Öyster Cult (1970s)===
{{see also|More cowbell}}
In 1971, Lucas produced a four-song demo for the band Stalk-Forrest, which led to them being signed by Columbia's [[Clive Davis]] as [[Blue Öyster Cult]].<ref name=billboard-1971/><ref>{{cite magazine|title=Signings|date=December 4, 1971|magazine=Billboard|quote=Blue Oyster Cult to Columbia.  David Lucas produced with Krugman and Pearlman at the Warehouse Recording Studio, N.Y.}}</ref>  Lucas co-produced their first album at his Warehouse studio, and co-producer their 1976 album ''[[Agents of Fortune]]'', including the song, "[[Don't Fear the Reaper]]".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.blueoystercult.com/Studio/SWbios.html#Lucas|access-date=May 30, 2011|publisher=[[Blue Öyster Cult]]|title=Blue Oyster Cult bios}}</ref> "Reaper" became a huge hit, and is listed at number 405 on ''[[Rolling Stone]]'''s list of the top 500 songs of all time.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/the-500-greatest-songs-of-all-time-20110407/blue-oeyster-cult-dont-fear-the-reaper-19691231|title=500 Greatest Songs of All Time: #405, Blue Oyster Cult, 'Don't Fear the Reaper'|access-date=May 30, 2011|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604184959/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/the-500-greatest-songs-of-all-time-20110407/blue-oeyster-cult-dont-fear-the-reaper-19691231|archive-date=June 4, 2011}}</ref> In it, Lucas sang background vocals and came up with the idea of playing the [[cow bell|cowbell]],<ref name=retro/> which was parodied by [[Christopher Walken]] in the ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'' "[[More cowbell]]" comedy sketch on April&nbsp;8, 2000.<ref name=retro>{{cite web|url=http://justmyshow.com/he-really-did-want-that-cowbell|title=He Really Did Want That Cowbell|date=July 15, 2011|publisher=Just my Show: Retro Pop Culture Podcast|access-date=July 19, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110722145010/http://justmyshow.com/he-really-did-want-that-cowbell|archive-date=July 22, 2011}}</ref><ref name=hall/> In 1977 Lucas co-produced ''[[Spectres (album)|Spectres]]'' which included the hit "[[Godzilla (Blue Öyster Cult song)|Godzilla]]".

===Current projects (1990s–present)===
[[Image:David Lucas.jpg|right|thumb|David Lucas, 2008]]In 1998, Lucas sold The Warehouse, which was subsequently sold to [[Wyclef Jean]]. Lucas moved back to Miami where he built a studio and is continuing to write songs and jingles.

In 2010, Lucas wrote the song "Inside my Heart", which was sung by actress [[Kyra Sedgwick]] for The Miracle Project of Hollywood to benefit [[autism]].<ref name=kyra/>

Also an avid sailor,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cepheidvariable.com/etc/blackbeard/press.html|title=On Blackbeard's Trail|access-date=May 29, 2011|author1=Burns, Valerie |author2=Sillan, Diane |work=Cruising Yachtsman}}{{dead link|date=December 2018}}</ref> Lucas once had a yacht built by David Macfarlane, [[Alden Yachts]], now the president of [[reliantyachts.com]], Sisu was used in the company's advertisements.<ref>{{cite news|title=It's not a typical family outing < Kays spend spare time on the seas|date=August 23, 1992|work=[[Wisconsin State Journal]]|author=Aehl, John}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|work=[[Yachting (magazine)|Yachting]]|title=Alden 44|page=inside cover|date=September 1982|author=Tillotson-Pearson, Inc.|author-link=Tillotson-Pearson, Inc.}}</ref> In 1985, Lucas refined a recipe of his grandfather's and developed a brand of cocktail mix, "Bob's No Problem, [[Bloody Mary (cocktail)|Bloody Mary]] maker". The brand launched nationally in 2010.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.behance.net/gallery/Bobs-No-Problem-Bloody-Mary-Maker-Brand-ID-Site/1163423|title=Bob's No Problem Bloody Mary Maker Brand ID|access-date=June 7, 2011|publisher=Behance}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://bobsnoproblem.com/?page_id=38|title=Bob's No Problem: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow|publisher=Bobsnoproblem.com|access-date=June 7, 2011}}</ref>

Lucas has four grown children. [[Lisa Lucas]], an award-nominated child actress in the 1970s,<ref>{{cite news|title=Films on Vietnam pace awards|date=December 18, 1978|work=[[The Day (New London)|The Day]]|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=KOwgAAAAIBAJ&pg=1243,4216390&dq=lisa-lucas+unmarried-woman+best-picture&hl=en}}</ref> played "Addie Mills" in several CBS holiday specials.<ref>{{cite news|title=Girl's desire for tree tugs at heart strings|date=December 22, 1999|work=[[Spartanburg Herald-Journal]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|work=[[USA Today]]|title=Lords a-leaping! A top 10 for the holidays|author=Bianco, Robert|date=December 1, 2008}}</ref><ref name=post>{{cite news|title=After Love Loses Its Bloom|author=Arnold, Gary|date=April 5, 1978|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]}}</ref> Jason Lucas is a composer and producer in Nashville,<ref name=kyra>{{cite web|url=http://www.monstanash.com/Site/Home.html|date=April 2010|access-date=June 4, 2011|title=Kyra Sedgwick sings for the Miracle Project|publisher=Monsta Nash|quote=Kyra Sedgwick, award-winning actress from TV’s "[[The Closer]]" and wife of [[Kevin Bacon]], sings on a Jason Lucas production for The Miracle Project of Hollywood to benefit [[Autism]]. It’s a masterpiece song, co-written by David Lucas (Jason’s Father) and Diane Sillan and arranged by the renowned Doug Katsaros.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120327203151/http://www.monstanash.com/Site/Home.html|archive-date=March 27, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nashvillemusicpros.com/profile/JasonLucas|title=Jason Lucas's page|publisher=Nashville Music Pros|access-date=June 4, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110610010354/http://www.nashvillemusicpros.com/profile/JasonLucas|archive-date=June 10, 2011}}</ref> Cristopher Lucas is a composer and performer in Idaho, and David Lucas's youngest daughter Lindsay Lucas is a singer and performer in Boston, who attended [[Berklee College of Music]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.reverbnation.com/lindsaylucas|title=Lindsay Lucas|publisher=[[ReverbNation.com]]|access-date=June 4, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121023043456/http://www.reverbnation.com/lindsaylucas|archive-date=October 23, 2012}}</ref> He is also working on a musical with co-writer Jayne Critelli, a writer/singer from Lucas/McFaul in the 1980s.<ref name=critelli/>

According to his website, Lucas spends a great deal of time in Portland, Jamaica, sailing and working on environmental projects, such as trying to save [[Winifred Beach]] for the local people. He operated the Frenchman's Cove resort for several years in the 1990s. He also joined his friend, Frank Clark, in sustaining "Reach Falls" and continues to support the revival of [[Portland Parish]].

==Awards==
Lucas has won [[Clio Awards]] for his composing music for commercials for [[AT&T]] (1980, Best Television/Cinema), [[Pepsi Cola]]'s "Catch that Pepsi Spirit" (1981, U.S. Radio, Clio Winner), and [[Coca-Cola]]'s "Masquerade on Skis" (Television/Cinema, Special Citation, 1969).<ref name=clio/> In 2010, Lucas was recognized at the 35th annual [[Friends of Old Time Radio]] Convention, with an award for his contributions to the [[Golden Age of Radio]].<ref name=fotr>{{cite news|url=http://radiomagonline.com/currents/people/david-lucas-friends-old-time-radio-award-1111/|title=David Lucas receives Friends of Old Time Radio award|date=November 11, 2010|access-date=May 29, 2011|work=[[Radio (magazine)|Radio]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724200336/http://radiomagonline.com/currents/people/david-lucas-friends-old-time-radio-award-1111/|archive-date=July 24, 2011}}</ref> In June 2011, Lucas was inducted into the [[Buffalo, New York]] Music Hall of Fame.<ref name=hall>{{cite news|url=http://www.wivb.com/dpp/entertainment/music/Blue-Oyster-Cult-cowbell-ringer-honored|title=Blue Oyster Cult cowbell ringer honored|date=June 30, 2011|access-date=July 1, 2011|publisher=[[WIVB-TV]]|author=George, Eli|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110702084549/http://www.wivb.com/dpp/entertainment/music/Blue-Oyster-Cult-cowbell-ringer-honored|archive-date=July 2, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.buffalomusic.org/news.html|title=Buffalo Music Hall of Fame News|access-date=August 10, 2011|publisher=Buffalo Music Hall of Fame|archive-date=November 13, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171113111219/http://www.buffalomusic.org/news.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Buffalo Music Hall of Fame's Class of 2011|date=July 27, 2011|publisher=[[YNN Buffalo|YNN]]|url=http://rochester.ynn.com/content/news/551431/buffalo-music-hall-of-fame-s-class-of-2011/|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130908171844/http://rochester.ynn.com/content/news/551431/buffalo-music-hall-of-fame-s-class-of-2011/|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 8, 2013|access-date=September 8, 2013}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
{{commons category|David Lucas (composer)}}
* {{official website|http://www.davidlucasmusic.com}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lucas, David}}
[[Category:Record producers from New York (state)]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:1937 births]]
[[Category:Musicians from Buffalo, New York]]
[[Category:Blue Öyster Cult]]
[[Category:Arwin Records artists]]
[[Category:Jingle writers]]
[[Category:Clio Award winners]]