If you’re not familiar with the Mtume songwriting team James Mtume and Reggie Lucas, then it’s time you brush up on your Black music history.
Stephanie Mills, for example, had her biggest chart success under the stewardship of Mtume and Lucas, including the 1980 hit “Never Knew Love Like This Before,” which won the 1981 Grammy Award for Best RB Song and Best Female RB after decades of singing along to the hit, there’s a history behind the song that many did not know — including Lucas’ daughter herself.
Lucas’ daughter, Lisa Lucas—who’s the executive director of the National Book Foundation—took to Twitter on Father’s Day to reminisce on the hit, “My dad’s songs were very hard to listen to over the past two years, but I get so much comfort from them now.
Her mother, Kay Lucas, added a surprising comment that made the 1980 RB song even more poetic.
Mtume formed the group with Lucas after their tenure in Davis’ band.
