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David Lasley

David Lasley
Background information
Birth nameDavid Eldon Lasley
Born(1947-08-20)August 20, 1947
Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, U.S.
DiedDecember 9, 2021(2021-12-09) (aged 74)
Genres
Occupations
  • Singer
  • songwriter
  • musician
  • actor
Labels

David Eldon Lasley (August 20, 1947 – December 9, 2021) was an American recording artist, singer, musician and songwriter.[1][2] He was best known as a touring background singer for James Taylor, as a session singer on recordings by artists including Taylor, Bonnie Raitt, Luther Vandross, Chic, Aretha Franklin, Dionne Warwick, Bette Midler, Cher, Dusty Springfield and Boz Scaggs; as a songwriter for artists including Bonnie Raitt, Whitney Houston, Anita Baker,[3][4][5] Maxine Nightingale, Rita Coolidge, Crystal Gayle, and Luther Vandross; and for his solo albums, albums with his 1970s vocal group Rosie,[6][7][8] and for his early years in Detroit with his vocal group The Utopias.

In 1980, David Lasley was signed by David Geffen to Geffen Records. At the time he was one of the chief staff writers at Irving Almo Music.[9]

In The Advocate, 1985 Adam Block described Lasley as "one of the most heard, least known, figures in pop", with a "velvet falsetto" and "songwriting reminiscent of early Laura Nyro".[10] Stephen Holden described Lasley as "the somewhat more refined white soul singer" in a comparison with the high tenor of Mick Hucknall of Simply Red.[11]

Lasley appears in the cast of 20 Feet from Stardom.

  1. ^ "David Lasley obituary". The Guardian. 2021-12-15. Retrieved 2021-12-21.
  2. ^ Mims, Taylor (2021-12-11). "David Lasley, Musician-Songwriter and Prized Backup Singer for Music Legends, Dies at 74". Billboard. Retrieved 2021-12-21.
  3. ^ "You Bring Me Joy - Norman Connors | Song Info". AllMusic. Retrieved 2021-12-02.
  4. ^ Holden, Stephen (1986-06-28). "JAZZ FESTIVAL; Anita Baker Debut At Avery Fisher Hall". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-12-02.
  5. ^ Holden, Stephen (1986-07-06). "BLACK FEMALE VOCALISTS BANISH FORMULA POP". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-12-02.
  6. ^ Radio Programming, New On The Charts, David Lasley "If I Had My Wish Tonight". Billboard. 1982-05-01. p. 36.
  7. ^ Reviews & Previews. Billboard. 2001-02-17.
  8. ^ Wikane, Christian John (2020-12-11). "He's the Leader: An Interview with Aretha's "Main Man" Fonzi Thornton, PopMatters". PopMatters. Retrieved 2021-12-03.
  9. ^ "Geffen Signs Three" (PDF). Cashbox. November 8, 1980. p. 41.
  10. ^ Block, Adam (May 14, 1985). "David Lasley, White Hot Soul" (PDF). The Advocate.
  11. ^ Holden, Stephen (1986-08-24). "Pop: Simply Red, With Soul". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2022-01-01.

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