AUSTIN, Tex., December 15, 1998 — Legendary Louisiana bluesman Lazy Lester, a staple of the Excello Records label in the ‘50s and ‘60s, has signed a long-term contract with Antone’s Records and has completed his first new album in ten years, All Over You. The album — which unites Lazy Lester with some of top flight talent from Austin, Texas, including Sue Foley, Derek O’Brien, bassist Sarah Brown and Fabulous Thunderbirds drummer Mike Buck — is set for January 21, 1999 release.

In addition to re-cutting his classic “I’m A Lover, Not A Fighter,” Lester reprises some of his lesser-known chestnuts, as well as material from the catalogs of such Louisiana Excello colleagues as Slim Harpo, Guitar Gable, Lightnin’ Slim and Lonesome Sundown. Not only does Lester cook up some hot blues with the Austin “A Team,” but also showcases his abilities as a one-man band — playing guitar, harmonica and percussion all at once on such tracks as “Mary Lee” and “My Home Is A Prison.”

Born Leslie Johnson in Louisiana in 1933, Lester was weaned on the music of country pioneer Jimmie Rodgers. He started to play guitar at an early age, and by his teens had also become a distinctive harmonica player, inspired by his harp hero Little Walter along with the records of Jimmy Reed and Sonny Boy Williamson (Rice Miller.) Tagging along with Lightnin’ Slim to Jay D. Miller’s recording studio in Crowley, Louisiana, Lester volunteered his talents when a scheduled harmonica player failed to show, initiating a fertile, creative relationship with Miller that helped pioneer the Louisiana swamp music style.

Throughout the ‘50s and into the ‘60s, Lester recorded at Excello, including such tracks as “I’m A Lover, Not A Fighter” (covered by The Kinks), “Sugar Coated Love” (covered by the Fabulous Thunderbirds), “I Hear You Knockin’,’ “Strange Days” and “I’m Gonna Leave You Baby.” He also played on sessions by Slim Harpo, Katie Webster, Carol Fran, Lonesome Sundown and Tabby Thomas.

Lester never quit his day job, and toiled as a construction worker, lumberjack and truck driver. In fact, he retired from music altogether in 1968, and, on moving to Chicago, worked at Greyhound Van Lines and Capitol Furniture Co., only occasionally jamming at the city’s South Side blues joints.

In 1987, he was coaxed out of retirement to cut Lazy Lester Rides Again on Mike Vernon’s Blue Horizon label, which proceeded to win a Handy Award for “Best Contemporary Blues Album — Foreign Release.” He soon after Harp & Soul for Alligator Records. Around that time, he made his first appearance at the legendary Antone’s nightclub in Austin, Texas, where he began a long relationship with Antone’s Records. Clifford Antone has fondly said of Lester, “He ain’t lazy, he’s just crazy.”

Now, with his first album in 10 years, Lester once again proves that he’s anything but idle, and in fact one of the most exciting and distinctive blues artists on the scene today.

Lazy Lester’s All Over You is the third release of Antone’s new pact with Sire Records Group and Warner-Elektra-Atlantic Distribution.