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I believe the blues women of today should know about the foundation of women in blues and how

they as pioneers moulded its culture, industrialized its market, and added appeal to its art form. If
you don't want to learn its origins, then don't play it or sing it!

LL: Let’s talk about your latest release Put On Your Red Dress Baby. You co-penned 8 of the 13
tracks with your guitarist/producer Robert Hughes. Can you tell us about your and Robert’s
vision and concept for the album?

TT: In 2017 "Hi Heel Sneakers" written and performed by my father Tommy Tucker in 1964 was
inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame! Robert and I have written songs together for more than
twelve years. Our goal for this album was less about a theme this time and more about honouring
my father’s song “High-Heel Sneakers” has been recorded by many other artists including the
Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Elvis Presley, Janis Joplin, Ramsey Lewis and Stevie Wonder, etc. In his

honour of the 2017 BHOF induction, we used the title "Put On Your Red Dress Baby". Before then,
we were writing songs that we wanted
to feature, and because during my festi-
val performances I get multiple re-
quests to perform Etta James "I’d
Rather Go Blind", we included the short

and the long version on the CD. The
long version works the crowd into a
lover’s lane and teardrops. The CD lin-
ers notes explain the original concept
of each song.

LL: Track 7, the title track, you cover
your father’s famous “High-Heeled
Sneakers” under the title of “Put on
Your Red Dress Baby”. Was it a lot of

pressure to cover your father’s work
and make it your own?

TT: Well, one might feel that, but I
didn't feel that way. “High-Heeled
Sneakers” is one of the top 10 classic
songs in Blues music and perhaps the
most played song practiced by blues musicians to cut their teeth into the blues music world. I fig-
ure I could join them and especially since my father wrote and played the original. I was more con-

cerned about making it sound like me, with a touch of love and honour. I just needed to let the
women know it's exciting and fun to put on your red dress, go out with your man, and have a good
time for the night.

LL: Please tell us about the musicians contributing to this album.

TT: Robert Hughes is the producer, music arranger, and lead and rhythm guitar player on this CD.
He is also, I don't think many people know, is a blues music historian and has played with some of
the music legends in the early years of blues, and of other genres. Robert Blackburn is on bass. He’s
played with Robert and with other successful groups in the early days of music. Dwight Cartier also
plays bass on track #6. Ryan Pakervich, my longtime drummer is on drums, David Gastel, who

studied for many years Little Walter's harmonica techniques, is on harmonica … and he filled in on
some keyboard parts. Linda Dachtyl a well-studied and accomplished jazz pianist joined us on the