Soulful blues singer-songwriter and producer known for her raw, emotive voice and hits like "Trapped by a Thing Called Love" and "Now Run and Tell That".
Known for her powerful, soulful voice and energetic live performances, Denise LaSalle is a legendary American blues, R&B, and soul singer, songwriter, and record producer. With a career spanning over five decades, LaSalle has earned the title of "Queen of the Blues" and has been recognized as one of the most influential blues singers of all time.
Born Ora D. Allen on July 16, 1934, in Sidon, Mississippi, LaSalle grew up in a sharecropping family and was exposed to music from a young age. She began singing in church choirs and local gospel groups around Leflore County, and by the time she was 13, she had moved to Chicago to live with her oldest brother.
In Chicago, LaSalle sat in with R&B musicians and wrote songs, influenced by country music as well as the blues. Her big break came in 1963 when she met Billy "The Kid" Emerson, who was working for Chess Records at the time. This led to a one-year recording contract with Chess, although no recording sessions were done. Later, Emerson started his own label, Tarpon, and in 1967, he recorded LaSalle on his label. The single "A Love Reputation" became a modest regional hit.
In 1971, LaSalle's song "Trapped By a Thing Called Love" was released on Detroit-based Westbound Records, and it reached number one on the national R&B chart and number 13 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The song ranked at 85 on the 1971 year-end chart, and LaSalle received a RIAA gold disc award on November 30, 1971, for selling over a million copies.
This success led to LaSalle establishing her own independent production company, Crajon, with her then-husband Bill Jones. Her debut album "Trapped By a Thing Called Love" was released in 1972, and it received critical acclaim, with Robert Christgau writing in "Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies" that "LaSalle seems to be a songwriter first and a singer second."
Throughout her career, LaSalle has released over 30 albums and has written songs for many other artists, including Fontella Bass and Z.Z. Hill. She has performed at numerous blues festivals and has won several awards, including the Blues Music Award for Soul Blues Female Artist of the Year in 2008.
LaSalle's impact on modern blues music is undeniable, and she has been an inspiration to many artists, including Bobby Rush and Bobby "Blue" Bland. Her music has also been featured in several films and television shows, including "The Commitments" and "Soul Food."
LaSalle has been married twice, first to Bill Jones, with whom she had her production company, and then to rapper Super Wolf. She has several children and grandchildren and has been known to involve them in her music and charitable activities.
LaSalle has always been an advocate for the blues and has worked tirelessly to promote the genre and its artists. She believes that the blues is a universal language that can bring people together and that it has the power to heal and uplift.
Despite her success, LaSalle has faced some controversy throughout her career, including a lawsuit against her former record label and some criticism for her strong personality and outspoken views. However, she has always maintained that she is a true artist and a trailblazer in the blues genre.
Denise LaSalle's legacy is cemented in the annals of blues history, and she continues to inspire new generations of blues artists and fans. Her music is a testament to her talent, perseverance, and dedication to the blues, and she will always be remembered as the "Queen of the Blues."
LaSalle passed away on January 8, 2018, but her music and legacy live on, and she will always be remembered as one of the greatest blues singers of all time.
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