He was a singer born Lawrence Lloyd Brown in Philadelphia, often known as Larry, who started his life in music when he used to dance and sing while still a child.
In 1957 he put together his group called The Bingos and later became a founding member of Harold Melvin’s group The Blue Notes. He sang and performed with them throughout the many line-up changes for the rest of his life and appeared on hits such as “The Love I Lost”, “If You Don’t Know Me By Now”, Wake Up Everybody” and “Don’t Leave Me This Way”.
The albums his work features on with Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes include Black and Blue, To Be True, Wake Up Everybody and Now Is The Time among many others.
Following the death of Harold Melvin he continued as a member of “The Legendary Blue Notes” with ex-member Lloyd Parks and the addition of Salaam Love and Arthur Aiken. He became ill with respiratory problems when performing with them at a concert in Chester, Pennsylvania, in January 2008 and passed away that April. He was 63 years old.
Here he is with Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes singing “If You Don’t Know Me By Now”…
Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes recordings
Don’t Leave Me This Way (Kenneth Gamble/Cary Gilbert/Leon Huff)
Philadelphia International (S PIR 4909 A) (UK 45)
To Be Free To Know Who We are (Victor Carstarphen/Gene McFadden/John Whitehead)
Philadelphia International (S PIR 4909 B) (UK 45)
Sources:
- http://www.aaeg.com/bluebiography.html
- http://news.therecord.com/Wire/Entertainment_Wire/article/336026
- http://www.soulwalking.co.uk/Harold%20Melvin%20&%20Blue%20Notes.html
- http://www.contactmusic.com/news.nsf/story/blue-notes-brown-dies_1065536
- http://www.billyprice.com/Melvin_and_Bluenotes.php