Lynwood Slim

• Name — Lynwood Slim • Birth Name — Richard Dennis Duran • Born — 19 August 1953 • Birthplace — Los Angeles, California, United States • Died — 4 August 2014 • Years Active — 1970s–2014 • Instrument — Harmonica, flute, vocals • Genre — Blues • Label — Delta Groove • Website — www.lynwoodslim.com

Slim started playing the trumpet at age 18, and the harmonica when he was 15. His early influences included Jimmy Reed, Little Walter and Big Walter Horton. He played the Los Angeles music scene then moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1974. He became a major force on the music scene, winning awards for best blues band in 1986. Slim moved to Amsterdam, the Netherlands in 1988, returned to Los Angeles later that same year. He started working with Junior Watson, as well as Hollywood Fats Band alumni Larry Taylor, Fred Kaplan and Richard Innes. He started playing the flute after listening to James Moody and Herbie Mann. Recording credits included a number of solo albums as well as numerous as a guest performer, producer, engineer, arranger and songwriter. Slim was latterly currently signed to Delta Groove, an independent record label based in Van Nuys, California. He toured and recorded in the United States as well as Europe, South America and Australia. Slim's health declined from early 2011. Initially he was diagnosed with hepatitis C, which he overcame, but the damage to his liver caused cirrhosis. In late 2011, Slim was given news that without a liver transplant he would only survive for two years. In July 2014, he suffered a stroke and died from mounting health challenges on August 4, 2014. Slim did not have health insurance and his family accepted donations through his website.