Introduction
Luke Faust (born 1935) is an American musician. In the early 1960s he played a five-string banjo and sang Appalachian ballads,at The Gaslight Cafe in Greenwich Village, New York City.For five or six years Faust performed with Jerry Rasmussen.One of his fellow entertainers at the Gaslight was Bob Dylan who described Faust as "Someone closer in temperament to me."
Faust moved to Hoboken, New Jersey in 1963. In the early 1960s he briefly played the jug performing with the Holy Modal Rounders. He would get on stage with a full gallon of red wine and unscrew the top, take a few chugs and start playing. His tone would get deeper as the gig went on.
In the late 1960s Faust was a founding member of the band The Insect Trust, he was the band's banjo, fiddle and harmonica player. Later in the 90's he went on to form 'The Jug Jam' an improvisational Jug band with Perry Robinson, Lou Grassi and Wayne Lopes. Faust also played with 90 proof - a band with Steve James.
Faust is currently performing with The Carolina Jug Stompers playing rags, blues and breakdowns in the old-time jug - stringband style. Luke’s contributions to music has been described in Bob Dylan's book Chronicles, and Dave Van Ronk's The Mayor of MacDougal Street.
Discography
With The Insect Trust
- 1969 The Insect Trust
- 1970 Hoboken Saturday Night
With Dave Van Ronk
- 2000 Dealin' With The Devil
Songs of Robert Johnson
WithThe Carolina Jug Stompers
- 2005 Rooster on a Limb
1. Money Never Runs Out2. Maybelle Rag3. Going to Germany4. Bum Bum Blues5. New Orleans Wiggle/ Somebody Stole My Gal6. Gin Done Done It7. Under the Chicken Tree8. Lonely One in This Town9. Cotton Picker’s Rag10. Central Georgia Blues11. Rooster on a Limb12. Please Baby13. Podunk Toddle14. K.C. Moan15. Georgia Pines16. Busted 17. Carolina Shout/ House Rent Rag