BIOGRAPHY
At age six after watching the TV show “Peter Gunn,” David hounded his father to take him to the record store to buy the Henry Mancini soundtrack album providing his first introduction to cool blues/jazz styles.
David’s love of blues and blues/rock music started four years later, when David got his first guitar and became heavily influenced by the British blues rock/Invasion of the 1960’s, starting with The Yardbirds’ “Rave Up” followed by John Mayall with Eric Clapton’s “Blues Breakers”, Jeff Beck’s “Truth”, Cream’s “Wheels of Fire”, Jimi Hendrix’s “Are You Experienced” and Led Zeppelin’s albums I & II. When David read the liner notes of these albums he found out about the history and the American originators, such as: Robert Johnson, Willie Dixon, Chester Burnett, Bill Broonzy, John Lee Hooker, and others.
Later in 1971, at age 16, another aspiring musician foolishly loaned him Freddie King’s “Getting Ready” album and that was it. David was introduced to one of the “Three Kings of American Blues Guitar”, got hooked and never returned the album.
The former lead guitarist for the acclaimed blues women Hurricane Ruth (2011-17) stepped up as a leader with his debut album “Hues Of Blues,” self-released in 2018 and has since fronted his own band. His sophomore album, “Rooted In The Blues,” features his band with three originals and seven arrangements.
LUMSDEN HAS SHARED THE STAGE WITH:
Allman Brothers Band
Lonnie Brooks
George McCorkle
Heart
Kenny Wayne Shepherd
…And many others
More recently with:
Toronzo Cannon
Mike Zito
"Vocally Lumsden is the quintessential blues man with a well lived whiskey soaked voice that oozes years of paying his dues and knowing just what he's all about in "David's world of want to be's" playing as a guitarist is virtuoso with a deft touch that borders on being out of this world"
Peter Merrett, PBS 106 - Melbourne, Australia
"David Lumsden is inspired and very creative in his interpretations."
"Lumsden provides gritty vocals and equally gritty guitar."
Graham Clarke, Blues Bytes - 2/17/19
"David shows that he is a great guitarist"
Eigen Beheer, Back to the Roots (Belgium & Netherlands)
"Dave's gritty voice and smokin' guitar feel right at home"
Jim Santella, Southland Blues - 2/22/19
"David Lumsden is able to swing you to the most greasy blues-rock face as the sweetest romance"
Caesar, Blue Again (France) - 12/2/18
"There are a handful of great blues guitarists, and David Lumsden is definitely one of them"
Bob Leggett, LA Music Critic Indie Voice Blog - 11/23/18
"Well crafted originals and a set of covers showing originality and imagination"
"Kudos to Lumsden for self-producing a fine album that makes for a great listen"
Steve Jones, Blues Blast Magazine - 12/22/18
"Differing styles of blues that are raw and powerful. They remind us why we fell in love with the blues in the first place!"
Sheryl & Don Crow, Nashville Roots Alliance - 11/16/18
Note: David was formerly the Lead Guitarist for Hurricane Ruth as well as songwriting collaborator and arranger (from 2011 – 2017). A few accolades David received regarding his work with Hurricane Ruth follow:
“Lumsden’s strident, aggressive guitar driving the sound along like a train”
Blues Matters – UK – 2/26/15
"David’s muscular guitar riffs are a central part of the band’s sound.”
Crossroads Blues Society of Northern Illinois, Nov. – Dec. 2014
Blues Blast Magazine – 11/13/14
“An abundance of guitar heroics”
Norman Transcript – 10/10/14
"Fiery guitar stylings”
Dan and Sheryl’s Blues Blog – 9/9/14
“Lumsden’s wailing guitar with plenty of vinegar and salt”
JazzWax – 9/29/14
“Dirty guitar licks”
“Poignant guitar lead”
Blues Blast Magazine – 5/31/12
“Sonic guitar work” “aggressive guitar attack” “smooth laid back guitar” “shows his versatility”
Bman’s Blues Report – 9/16/14
"Lumsden barely allows you to take a breath as he melts the strings on his guitar”
“Lumsden lays down solid guitar that cannot be denied”
Peter Merrett – PBS 106.7 Melbourne, Australia – 9/14/14