Louisiana Red

by Ron Wynn
Louisiana Red (born Iverson Minter) is a flamboyant guitarist, harmonica player and vocalist. He lost his parents early in life through multiple tragedies; his mother died of pneumonia a week after his birth, and his father was lynched by the Klu Klux Klan when he was five. Red began recording for Chess in 1949, then joined the army. After his discharge, he played with John Lee Hooker in Detroit for almost two years in the late 50s. He maintained a busy recording and performing schedule through the 1990s, having done sessions for Chess, Checker, Atlas, Glover, Roulette, L&R and Tomato among others.