posted 11-25-2008 10:04 AM                  

Lucas died Sunday at a friend's home in Long Beach. The cause of death was an apparent drug overdose, his former manager Skip Taylor said.

Lucas had two stints as lead singer, harmonica and bottleneck guitar player for Canned Heat, a Los Angeles-based blues and boogie band that formed in 1965 and wrote such hits as "Going up the Country" and "On the Road Again."

The band has had four frontmen in their more-than-40-year history, Taylor said.

He recently left the band to pursue his solo career and wrote and recorded seven solo albums.

Lucas also performed with Big Joe Turner, George Smith, Pee Wee Crayton, Lowell Fulsom, Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson, and Percy Mayfield.

"His unequaled fury and stage presence, together with his earth-shattering vocal delivery, gave him the ability to channel many of the blues masters through his words, songs and musical ability," Taylor said in a statement. "He has been recognized by blues fans and critics worldwide as one of the most inspired singer, player and songwriter talents of the past decade."

Lucas is survived by his parents, a sister and a teenage son.