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He may be known as Lazy Lester, but the 66-year-old blues legend and Louisiana swamp music innovator is anything but a slacker. Playing music since his teens, Lester is a spirited singer and gifted multi-instrumentalist (on harmonica, guitar and percussion). His songwriting gifts have inspired countless musicians like The Kinks (who covered "I'm A Lover, Not A Fighter"), Dave Edmunds (who turned Lester's "I Hear You Knockin'" into one of his signature tunes) and The Fabulous Thunderbirds (who cut "Sugar Coated Love"). Born Leslie Johnson in Torras, Louisiana on June 20, 1933, Lester was weaned on the country music of Jimmie Rodgers. He started playing guitar at an early age, and by his teens had also become a distinctive harmonica player, inspired by his harp hero Little Walter and the records of Jimmy Reed and Sonny Boy Williamson II. He cut his musical teeth playing the Louisiana club circuit with Big John Jackson and Guitar Gable and while riding on a bus, Lester had a fortuitous meeting with Lightnin' Slim. He tagged along with Slim to a session at Jay Miller's Modern Music recording studio in Crowley, LA. When the harmonica player scheduled for Slim's session failed to show, Lester stepped to the microphone, initiating a fertile, creative relationship with Miller that helped pioneer the Louisiana swamp music style. Throughout the late '50s and early '60s, Lester recorded some of his best work at Excello and toured with Lightnin' Slim. In and out of the business for most of the '70s and '80s, Lester was coaxed out of retirement in 1989. He cut the album, Lazy Lester Rides Again, for which he won a W. C. Handy Award that year. In 1998 he released his highly acclaimed "All Over You," on Antone's. Lazy Lester, one of the best purveyors of Louisiana swamp blues, remains one of the most dynamic blues artists on the contemporary blues circuit. At Bayfront, Lazy Lester will be backed by guitarist Ted Morgan and the Sevilles. After the festival, Ted Morgan (the Minnesota native who now hails from Texas) will also be appearing at Keglers on Friday and Saturday night.
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