"I am very sad about my friend Red leaving us. He was the very first blues artist I got to meet in person and the first blues concert I ever promoted when I was 19. Louisiana Red was one of the last giants in blues that constantly and spontaneously spoke his mind with a new line, a new melody every day. On stage, as well as off stage, he was a permanent spring of pure blues and a very generous man. My thoughts are with his lovely wife Dora, who kept him together the last 30 years, as well as his children and family. If you are a lucky person who owns a record of this blues giant, this is a good time to play it and appreciate the man we just lost."

Louisiana Red's last two CD releases on Ruf Records were Back to the Black Bayou, in 2009, and Memphis Mojo, released September, 2011. Both CDs showcased Louisiana Red in a classic blues atmosphere, backed by producer Little Victor's hand picked band, along with such special guests as Kim Wilson and Bob Corritore on harmonica and Dave Maxwell on piano. Memphis Mojo was recorded in Memphis right after Red was awarded for his achievements as "Acoustic Artist of the Year" at the Blues Music Awards in May, 2010.

Born Iverson Minter in Bessemer, Alabama on March 23, 1932, Louisiana Red had been living in Germany since 1981. His music was strongly influenced by Muddy Waters, Lightnin' Hopkins and Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup. It was blues master Muddy Waters, himself, who picked him up at the Chicago station when Red first arrived in 1950 to record for Chess Records. That night, Muddy took him to the Zanzibar club to hear the Waters' band play, which inspired the song, "At the Zanzibar" on his first Ruf CD.

In a career that spanned six decades, Louisiana Red also recorded for Atlantic, Roulette, Glover and Tomato Records, among many others. In 1983, he won the W.C. Handy (now Blues Music) Award as "Best Traditional Blues Artist," and toured consistently until his recent illness.