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MEET THE LUCKY LOSERS
SHORT BIO - THE LUCKY LOSERS
The Lucky Losers are San Francisco’s award-winning six-piece blues-soul band, led by fiery vocalist Cathy Lemons and harmonica master/vocalist Phil Berkowitz. Winners of six Independent Blues Awards, they deliver a powerful blend of blues, soul, and Americana with soaring vocals, gritty harmonica, and a dynamic full-band sound.
BIO - THE LUCKY LOSERS
Winners of six Independent Blues Awards, including Artist of the Year (Cathy Lemons) and Song of the Year (“Godless Land”), The Lucky Losers are San Francisco’s premier six-piece blues-soul band. Fronted by fiery Dallas-raised vocalist Cathy Lemons and New Jersey harmonica master/vocalist Phil Berkowitz, the group delivers a throwback mix of blues, soul, rock, gospel, and Americana with impassioned vocals and electrifying interplay.
Praised as “the finest female blues vocalist in the U.S.” (Real Blues) and “one of the West Coast’s most distinctive harp players” (Living Blues), Lemons and Berkowitz bring striking contrast and chemistry to the stage, backed by a powerhouse ensemble that amplifies their soulful originals and dynamic performances. Cathy Lemons and Phil Berkowitz revive the vanishing art of the duet while pushing the American blues tradition forward.
Since 2015, The Lucky Losers have toured nationally across 46 states, released five critically acclaimed albums, and earned 6 national awards, 25 nominations, and two International Songwriting Competition finalist honors. Their discography includes A Winning Hand (2015), In Any Town (2016), Blind Spot (2018), Godless Land (2020), and Standin’ Pat (2022). Each has charted internationally and received praise from major outlets including Downbeat, Living Blues, Elmore, and Blues Music Magazine.
With a full band sound, raw authenticity, and undeniable chemistry, The Lucky Losers continue to captivate audiences and critics alike—cementing their reputation as one of the most compelling blues acts of their generation.
AWARDS | HONORS | CHARTS
AUSTRALIAN BLUES & ROOTS CHART (MOST PLAYED INTERNATIONAL RELEASES)
2022 —Standin’ Pat | #24 (October, November, December 2022)
NAAC (NORTH AMERICAN COMMUNITY COLLEGE RADIO CHART)
2022 —Standin’ Pat | #11 (October, November, December 2022)
ITUNES TOP BLUES U.S.
2020 Top Blues Albums — Godless Land | #7
LIVING BLUES
2022 TOP BLUES ALBUMS—Standin’ Pat (#14 peak) 25 Most Played Albums for October, November December 2022 & January 2023)
2020 TOP 50 BLUES ALBUMS — Godless Land #29 (ALL ALBUMS for year 2020)
2020 #2, #7 Top 25 Most Played Albums — Godless Land August & September 2020
2018 #10 Top 25 Most Played Albums Blind Spot | May 2018
2016 #6 Top 25 Most Played Albums In Any Town | July 2016
2015 #14 Top 25 Most Played Albums A Winning Hand | July 2015
INDEPENDENT BLUES AWARD
2023: Best Contemporary Band— The Lucky Losers | Nominee
Best Contemporary CD — Standin’ Pat | Nominee
Best Contemporary Song — Standin’ Pat | Phil Berkowitz & Danny Caron | Nominee
2022: Road Warrior— The Lucky Losers | Nominee
2021: Artist of the Year— Cathy Lemons | Winner
Best R&B Bluesl CD — Godless Land | Winner
Best R&B Blues Song — Godless Land | Winner
Song of the Year — Godless Land | Winner
Best Female Artist — Cathy Lemons | Winner
2019: Best Blues/Soul Artist — The Lucky Losers | Winner
Best Blues/Soul CD — Blind Spot | Nominee
Best Blues/Soul R&B Song — Take The Long Road | Nominee
Best Blues/Rock Song — Alligator Baptism | Nominee
Best Contemporary Blues Songs — The River | Nominee
2018: Best Blues/Soul Artist — The Lucky Losers | Nominee
Best Blues/Soul CD — In Any Town | Nominee
Best Blues/Soul R&B Song — It Ain’t Enough | Nominee
2017: Best Blues/Soul CD — In Any Town | Nominee
Best Blues/Soul Song — It Ain’t Enough | Nominee
INDEPENDENT BLUES BROADCASTERS | U.K.
2020: Top 40 Most Played Albums — Godless Land | #9
INTERNATIONAL SONGWRITING COMPETITION
2022: Blues Semi-Finalist |You Can’t Lose with a Winning Hand from Standin’ Pat | Cathy Lemons & Chris Burns
2022: Americana Semi-Finalist |Rich Strike from Standin’ Pat | Cathy Lemons
2020: Blues Finalist | Honorable Mention | Godless Land from Godless Land | Cathy Lemons & Kid Andersen
2018: Blues Finalist | The River from Blind Spot | Cathy Lemons (16 Blues Finalist out of 19k entrants)
2017: Blues Semi-Finalist |In Any Town from In Any Town | Cathy Lemons
TOP 10 ALBUMS 2022
Blues Music Magazine | Standin’ Pat, Dan Stevens — 19 editors compiled their favorite Top 10 from 2022.
KALW Fog City Blues | Standin’ Pat, #6
#1 KIOS | Standin’ Pat, Mike Jacops, “Blues in the Afternoon” | December 2022 (charted since release in October 2022)
TOP ALBUMS 2022
Top Blues Albums for 2022 (Roots Music Report)
TOP ALBUMS 2021
Top Blues Albums for 2021 (Roots Music Report)
TOP ALBUMS 2020
MAKING A SCENE | Richard Ludmerer’s Top Indie Blues Releases — Godless Land
MAKING A SCENE | Richard Ludmerer’s Top Indie Blues Releases — Godless Land
Rick Keyes Music Caravan Blues Show |Top Contemporary Blues Releases | December 2020, #17
Roots Music Report Top Blues Albums for the Year of 2020 — Godless Land
Bruce's Top 20 from 2020 (Caldonia’s Crossroads), Catch desire By The Tail, #6
#1 KIOS Mike Jacops, Blues in the Afternoon | August 2020
TOP ALBUMS 2018
DOWNBEAT MAGAZINE | The Year’s Top Rated Albums — Blind Spot | December 2018
MAKING A SCENE | Richard Ludmerer’s Top 40 Indie Blues Recordings — Blind Spot (listed at #1)
THE AQUARIAN | MIKE GREENBLATT’S RANT ‘N’ ROLL The Best of 2018 — Blind Spot #10
#1 KIOS Mike Jacops “Blues in the Afternoon” | May 2018
TOP ALBUMS 2016: Richard Ludmerer’s Top 50 Indie Blues Albums — In Any Town, #28
ROOTS MUSIC REPORT
2022 : Top 50 Blues Chart — Standin’ Pat, October, November, December of 2022, January 2023
5 singles charted for a period of 10 weeks — Standin’ Pat
2021 : Top Blues Albums for Year of 2021 — Godless Land
Top Contemporary Blues Albums for Year of 2021
2020: #5 Top Blues Albums — Godless Land [45 Weeks on chart|4 Weeks Top 10]
#2 Top Blues Single — Half A Nothing [12 Weeks on chart |4 Weeks |Top 10]
#2 California Chart |Top Albums [46 Weeks on chart|10 Weeks Top 10]
#1 Contemporary Blues Single Chart — Half A Nothing [8 Weeks on chart |6 Weeks Top 10]
10 singles charted for a period of 26 weeks — Godless Land
2018 :
#28 Top Blues Albums for Year of 2018 — Blind Spot
#17 Top Contemporary Blues Albums for Year of 2018
#9 Blues Album Chart — Blind Spot [26 Weeks on chart |4 Weeks/Top 10]
#5 Contemporary Blues Album Chart — Blind Spot [32 weeks on chart |19 Weeks Top 10]
#2 California Chart [32 Weeks on chart |18 Weeks Top 10]
2016:
#28 Roots Music Report | Top Blues Rock Albums for the Year of 2016 —In Any Town
#81 Roots Music Report | Top Blues Albums for the Year of 2016 — In Any Town
2015:
#48 Roots Music Report | Top Blues Albums for the Year of 2016 — A Winning Hand
#5 Top 50 Blues Album Chart — A Winning Hand
#1 on Blues 411's "A Baker's Dozen of Blues"
BLUES 411 JIMI AWARDS
Best Harmonica Player — Phil Berkowitz (2016)
Best Contemporary Blues Album — In Any Town (2016)
Best Traditional Album — A Winning Hand (2015)
GOLDEN GATE BLUES SOCIETY
2015
International Blues Challenge Finalist (Wild Card).