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He
is a singer-songwriter born in Branch, Michigan, who began his professional
career singing with his sister in a group called The Utopias who recorded
"Welcome (Baby, To My Heart)" and "Good Friends
Forever" and performed around Detroit. Spreading his wings in 1970 he became a member of the
cast of Hair, with which he toured and this saw him moving to New York
where he would perform on Broadway in Dude and off-Broadway in other
productions. At the same time
he decided to take up session singing as a backing vocalist and this led
him to working with artists and groups such as Stephen Bishop, Jimmy
Buffett, Cher, Chic, Dr. John, Cissy Houston, Julio Iglesias, Janet
Jackson, Elton John, Huey Lewis, Melissa Manchester, Michael McDonald, Joni
Mitchell, Aaron Neville, Olivia Newton John, Odyssey, Poussette-Dart Band,
Bobbie Raitt, Todd Rundgren, David Sanborn, Sister Sledge, Phoebe Snow,
Ringo Starr, Luther Vandross, Jennifer Warnes and James Taylor who he has
sung with over a period of 25-30 years. He was also a member of his own group, Rosie. Hit singles he appeared on include
"Native New Yorker" by Odyssey, "Take Me Home" by Cher,
"I Really Didn't Mean It", "Stop to Love" and "So
Amazing" by Luther Vandross, "From a Distance" by Bette
Midler, "You're My Choice Tonight" by Teddy Pendergrass,
"Everybody Dance", "I Want Your Love" and "Le
Freak" by Chic, "Paradise" by Bionic Boogie and "He's
the Greatest Dancer" and "We Are Family" by Sister Sledge.
This would help pave the way to him being the third solo artist signed up
to Geffen Records after Donna Summer and Elton John and appearing on
countless albums that include his own such as Missin' Twenty Grand,
Soldiers on the Moon and Blue Eyed Soul and with other artists
on One Particular Harbour by Jimmy Buffett, What a Feelin' by
Irene Cara, C'est Chic and Risque by Chic, Nightline
by Randy Crawford, Inside the Fire by Rita Coolidge, Fearless
by Tim Curry, From Luxury to Heartache by Culture Club, Stay With
Me by Kiki Dee, In My Lifetime by Neil Diamond, Love All the
Hurt Away by Aretha Franklin, For the Boys by Bette Midler, Take
It to the Heart by Michael McDonald, Love Language by Teddy
Perndergrass, Rocket to Russia by The Ramones, Living in the
U.S.A. by Linda Ronstadt, Better Late then Never by Rosie, Paris
Rain by Brenda Russell, Too by Carole Bayer Sager, Middle Man
by Boz Scaggs, Playin' It Cool by Timothy B. Schmit, Ringo the 4th
by Ringo Starr, Dad Loves His Work, That's Why I'm Here and Never
Die Young by James Taylor and Give Me the Reason and Any Love
by Luther Vandross.
As a songwriter or co-writer with people such as his work includes
"Blue Side" "Close Enough", "Cold, Cold
Streets", "Lead Me On", "Come What May",
"Crazy Love", "Jojo", "This Time",
"There's a Star for Everyone" and "Nightline" to name
just a fraction of his songs and they have been recorded by singers such as
Herb Alpert, Parri Austin, Anita Baker, Valerie Carter, Rita Coolidge,
Natalie Cole, Norman Connors, Randy Crawford, Kiki Dee, Aretha Franklin,
Crystal Gayle, Al Green, Whitney Houston, Jermaine Jackson, The Jets, Chaka
Khan, Feargal Sharkey, Patti LaBelle, Maxine Nightingale, The Oak Ridge
Boys, Peaches & Herb, Bonnie Raitt, Boz Scaggs, Dusty Springfield, Tina
Turner, Luther Vandross and Dionne Warwick.
Sources:
- http://www.davidlasley.com/bio.html
- http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=39774194
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Lasley
- http://www.answers.com/topic/david-lasley-1?cat=entertainment
- http://www.james-taylor.com/features/lasley/
- http://www.soulwalking.co.uk/David%20Lasley.html
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