Reginald Grant Lucas (February 25, 1953 – May 19, 2018) was an American guitarist, songwriter and record producer. Lucas is perhaps best known for producing the majority of Madonna's 1983 self-titled debut album, and for playing rhythm guitar with the Miles Davis electric band during the first half of the 1970s.

Early life

Lucas was born on February 25, 1953, in Flushing, Queens, New York. He attended the Bronx High School of Science, but dropped out to focus on his music.

Career

Early in his career, Lucas was an R&B and jazz guitarist, playing with Billy Paul in the early 1970s and then with Miles Davis from 1972 to 1976. It was in Davis' electric band (one that included Pete Cosey, Michael Henderson and Al Foster) that Lucas met percussionist James Mtume, who would later become his production partner. The two joined singer Roberta Flack's band in 1976, and toured with her for several years. Following his stint as a touring jazz guitarist, Lucas shifted his focus to songwriting and producing, where he gained both fame and critical praise. The production team of Lucas and Mtume would write and produce hits for a number of artists, including Stephanie Mills, Phyllis Hyman, Lou Rawls, The Spinners and Roberta Flack. As the 1970s came to a close, Lucas branched out and began to write and produce material on his own. In addition to his own instrumental record "Survival Themes" (1976), one of his first solo projects was Madonna's 1983 self-titled debut album, including the song "Borderline". Lucas produced the majority of the album, which sold more than five million copies. Lucas later worked with Rebbie Jackson, Randy Crawford, and The Four Tops on his own. The Four Tops' 1985 "Magic", included the single "Sexy Ways" and "Maybe Tomorrow", a duet between Levi Stubbs and Phyllis Hyman. Lucas was also a member of the short-lived group Sunfire, who released one album in 1982. Lucas produced their single "Young, Free and Single". In 1986, Lucas founded the Jersey City recording studio Quantum Sound. Clients of the studio included the Pet Shop Boys, Jodeci, Jeff Buckley and Sepultura.

Personal life and death

Lucas's daughter, Lisa Lucas, was the executive director of the National Book Foundation and is now the publisher of Pantheon and Schocken Books. His son, Julian, is a staff writer for The New Yorker. A longtime resident of Montclair, New Jersey, Lucas died of heart disease in New York City, at the age of 65.

Awards and honors

In 1981 Grammy Awards, Lucas and James Mtume won a Best R&B Song for their composition "Never Knew Love Like This Before", which was performed by Stephanie Mills.

Discography

As producer

As producer with James Mtume

As composer

As leader

As sideman

With Miles Davis With Carlos Garnett '''With Norman Connors With others