The Luca Family Singers were an African-American singing group, originally from

New Haven, Connecticut New Haven is a city of the U.S. state of Connecticut. It is located on New Haven Harbor on the northern shore of Long Island Sound. With a population of 135,081 as determined by the 2020 United States census, 2020 U.S. census, New Haven is List ...

, in the 19th century, the most famous such singing family modeled after the popular Hutchinson Family Singers. Like the Hutchinsons, the Lucas were active in

abolitionism Abolitionism, or the abolitionist movement, is the political movement to end slavery and liberate enslaved individuals around the world. The first country to fully outlaw slavery was France in 1315, but it was later used in its colonies. ...

, and began performing in 1850 at abolitionist meetings.Southern, pg. 106 The Luca Family consisted of Alexander C. Luca Sr. (1805–85), a Congregationalist choir director, and his sons, Alexander C. Luca Jr. (second tenor), Simeon G. Luca (first tenor)(1836–54), John W. Luca (bass or baritone) (1834-1910) and Cleveland O. Luca (soprano) (1827–72). In addition to singing as a quartet, they were also instrumentalists. Alexander Sr.'s wife, Lisette Lewis Luca (1810–56), and his sister Diane Luca also performed with the group on some occasions. Cleveland Luca was a well-known pianist who left the family after being hired by

Liberia Liberia, officially the Republic of Liberia, is a country on the West African coast. It is bordered by Sierra Leone to Liberia–Sierra Leone border, its northwest, Guinea to Guinea–Liberia border, its north, Ivory Coast to Ivory Coast–Lib ...

to teach music there.Averill, pg. 28

References

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Notes

African-American history of Connecticut American vocal groups 1850 establishments in Connecticut {{US-singing-group-stub