Luqman Hamza

Luqman Hamza's last CD "Live at Pilgrim Chapel," was produced in 2012, concluding his recording career that began in the 1940s. At the age of 12, Luqman Hamza (formerly known as Larry Cummings (2)) was introduced to the world of music along the streets of the Historic 18th & Vine Jazz District in Kansas City. At age 17 in 1949, he became a member of Local 627, an African American musician's union founded in 1917; it is now known as the Mutual Musicians Foundation. Also, during that time he founded the vocal group Five Aces with the late Sonny Kenner, Eddie Saunders, Lucky Wesley, and Rico Kemp from New York. Luqman's experience with the Five Aces gave way to a delicate and smooth style of tenor vocalizing with influences of Nat King Cole, Charlie Brown, Billy Eckstine, and Bill Kenny of the Ink Spots. His talent did not go unnoticed and landed him in the studios of Chess Records' jazz division, Argo and Decca Records. Luqman played top venues across the U.S. and Canada, such as Kansas City's Playboy Club, Crown Center, the Muehlbach, Alameda Plaza, The Phoenix Piano Bar and Grill, Jardine's, Plaza III, and Antonio's Restaurant and many private and corporate gigs. In 2000, his recording opportunities surfaced again on the Catalyst label in Indianapolis with his compositions of "When A Smile Overtakes a Frown," "Expressing What She Means to Me," "K.C. Cutie" and "When You Surrender" accompanied by Count Basie guitarist Will Matthews. That same year Jay McShann made it possible for Luqman to record several numbers on the "With This Voice" CD for the Groove Note label. Additional accomplishments: 1992 Inductee Elder Statesman of Kansas City Jazz; 2008 American Jazz Museum Lifetime Achievement Award; a proclamation was recorded into the 2015 Library of Congress sponsored by Congressman Emmanuel Cleaver; 2016 Inductee Jazz Walk of Fame in the 18th & Vine Jazz District; and 2000-16 mentor/volunteer adjunct faculty for the Oliver School of Music. Hamza passed away on April 21, 2018.