Luther passed away at approximately 2:30 AM this morning.

Visitation will be held on Sunday, August 17, from 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Piser Funeral Home, 5206 North Broadway, in Chicago, IL. A memorial jam session will follow at Buddy Guy's Legends, 754 S. Wabash.

Official Statement Regarding Luther Allison's Medical Condition

We are deeply saddened to announce that on July 10, 1997, Luther Allison was diagnosed with lung cancer and metastatic brain tumors. He is undergoing treatment and looking forward to returning to the stage as soon as he is in remission.

Unfortunately, rumors have flourished since cancellation of Luther's upcoming dates. Please be advised that official statements with FACTS generated by those professionals qualified to post on Luther's behalf will be available only through the following websites; please disregard statements posted elsewhere.

http://www.LutherAllison.com
http://www.BlueSkyArtists.com
http://www.Alligator.com
http://www.RosebudUS.com

All your prayers, smiles, and positive thoughts are deeply appreciated. Luther wants you to know, "You are so beautiful to me."

Official Luther Allison Update

All of us, especially Luther, offer our heartfelt thanks and gratitude to our wonderful friends that are stepping forward to offer love, positive energy, and help in this difficult time. There is nothing that can help Luther more right now than feeling your love.

Friends and fans wishing to send upbeat cards and letters may write to:

Luther Allison
c/o Blue Sky Artist Management
761 Washington Avenue North
Minneapolis, MN 55401

Letters may also be sent to Luther via his new email address:

LutherAllison@BlueSkyArtists.com

Friends and fans are already stepping forward to assist us in establishing a Medical Fund. The Bayfront Blues Festival, Pocono Blues Festival, and Berrian Springs "Evening With the Blues," in conjunction with Mojo Magazine, will be selling Luther's merchandise during their festivities, with 100% of the profits being directed to the Fund. In addition, "Evening With the Blues" has graciously offered to donate a percentage of their profits to assist with this effort.

Luther started radiation therapy yesterday (7/16) and is feeling good. This line of therapy will continue into the first week of August.

All updates regarding Luther will be posted immediately to the Blue Sky Artist Management Web Site listed above.

I don't know what else has gone out by e-mail about Luther, but I thought you all might be interested in this article that appeared in the Madison, WI paper.

I was at the concert here on July 10 and it was a humdinger - but then every concert of Luther's I've ever been to has been awesome. If anyone wants to get cards or letters to him, you could send them to his longtime friend and musical buddy: J.E. Tate 2040 Rusk Street Madison WI 53704

Or send mail or donations toward his medical expenses to him in care of his management company:

Luther Allison c/o Blue Sky Artist Management 761 Washington Ave North Minneapolis, MN 55401

Yours in the Blues,

Dee Grimsrud, Secretary

Madison Blues
PO Box 3202
Madison WI 53704-0202

UW treating blues musician Allison for cancer

By Ed Treleven
Wisconsin State Journal
July 19, 1997

Blues great Luther Allison, known for popping up for impromptu jams at Madison music venues, is being treated in Madison for incurable cancer.

Allison was diagnosed with lung cancer and metastatic brain tumors July 10 while in Madison to play at a birthday party for WMMM-FM (105.5) at the Barrymore Theatre. Miki Mulvehill, Allison's U.S. manager, said the 57-year-old guitarist learned of his condition at University Hospital about 6 p.m. that night and took the stage at the Barrymore just hours later.

"For him, it was the natural way to deal with his emotions," Mulvehill said. "I was there that night and, if anything, it was even more soulful."

Allison received his third radiation treatment Friday at the Southern Wisconsin Radiotherapy Center in Madison, Mulvehill said. The treatments will last through Aug. 1, then Allison will try chemotherapy, she said.

Allison played his last concert July 11 in Minneapolis, then canceled the remainder of his tour, which included dates through November in the United, States and Europe. Mulvebill said Allison hopes to play concerts scheduled for Labor Day weekend in Rockford, Illinois, southern California and Las Vegas.

"Then he'll want to play as long as he feels up to it," Mulvehill said.

Allison, winner of three 1997 W.C. Handy blues awards, was touring to promote "Reckless," his third U.S. album after not having released one domestically for nearly 20 years.

He was born in Arkansas and moved with his family to Chicago in 1951, where he was a classmate at school with a son of blues legend Muddy Waters.

He spent his formative years playing in Chicago alongside Magic Slim, Otis Rush and Freddie King. He and contemporary Buddy Guy are among the last of the original Chicago artists from the scene that launched electric urban blues in the 1950s and early '60s.

An announcement Tuesday of Allison's condition was prompted by inaccurate information being circulated about him, largely on the World Wide Web.

"There are all kinds of rumors all over the Internet. Some even have him dead," said publicist Marc Lipkin of Chicago-based Alligator Records, Allison's label. "He's OK, he's going to undergo treatment, he's not throwing in the towel."

The Lincoln (Neb.) Journal Star contributed to this story.