Lowell Fulson; Blues Singer-Guitarist

Lowell Fulson, a blues musician whose songs were recorded by Elvis Presley, Otis Redding and Eric Clapton, has died from complications of pneumonia and kidney failure, a family spokeswoman said. He was 77.

Fulson died Sunday at Pacific Hospital in Long Beach.

The singer-guitarist, whose recordings were characterized by a raw style, scored nine Top 10 R&B; hits and three Top 100 pop hits in a career that stretched from the late ‘40s into the ‘90s.

Fulson’s widest exposure came through versions of his songs by more mainstream stars. Presley recorded Fulson’s 1954 R&B; hit “Reconsider Baby” on his 1960 album “Elvis Is Back!” while Redding’s version of the Fulson-Jimmy McCracklin composition “Tramp” reached the Top 30 of the pop chart in 1967. Clapton recorded “Reconsider Baby” and “Sinner’s Prayer” on his 1994 blues album “From the Cradle.”

“He always managed to stay contemporary without pandering,” said musician and blues historian Billy Vera, who collaborated with Fulson on “Room With a View,” a song that was recorded by Lou Rawls, Eric Burdon and others. “His style was not polished, but he was very direct in his singing, writing and playing.”

Fulson (whose name was often misspelled as “Fulsom”) was born in Tulsa, Okla., and played in area string bands and with blues singer Alger “Texas” Alexander in the ‘30s. He joined the Navy and was stationed in Oakland during World War II, then began recording for a series of small labels. His first hit was “Three O’Clock Blues” in 1948. In the early ‘50s his band included three future luminaries: pianist Ray Charles and saxophonists Stanley Turrentine and David “Fathead” Newman.

Fulson moved to Los Angeles in the mid-’50s and performed regularly into the mid-’90s. He received the Rhythm & Blues Foundation’s Pioneer Award in 1993, and his final album, “Them Update Blues,” was nominated for a 1995 Grammy in the traditional blues category.

Fulson, who moved from Los Angeles to Palmdale in 1991, scaled back his performing about two years ago because of declining health.

Fulson’s wife, Sadie, died in 1987. He is survived by five children: Richard Fulson and Edna Fulson of Los Angeles, Yvonne Pena of Inglewood, Lowell Fulson Jr. of San Jose and Juanita Fulson of Austin, Tex.

Funeral services will be held at noon Saturday at Angelus Funeral Home in the Crenshaw district.