Denise LaSalle (born 16 July 1939, Belzoni, Mississippi) is an American urban, R&B/soul singer, songwriter, and record producer. Career
Most sources give her name at birth as Denise Craig,[1] although it has also been stated that she was born Denise Allen, and that the name Craig derives from an early marriage.[2] Raised in Belzoni, Mississippi, she sang in local churches before moving to Chicago in the early 1960s. She sat in with R&B musicians and wrote songs, influenced by country music as well as the blues, before winning a recording contract with Chess Records in 1967. Her first single, "A Love Reputation" was a modest regional hit.[3]
After establishing an independent production company, Crajon, with her then husband Bill Jones,[3] her first major success came in 1971 when her self-penned song, "Trapped By A Thing Called Love", released on Westbound Records, made #1 on the national R&B chart and #13 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The song ranked at #85 on the 1971 year end chart. The RIAA gold disc award was made on 30 November 1971 for a million sales.[4] Follow-ups "Now Run And Tell That" and "Man Sized Job" also made the R&B Top Ten, and she continued to have hits on Westbound and then on ABC Records through the mid 1970s. She also carried on as a record producer and live performer. Her co-penned song "Married, But Not to Each Other" was included in the 1979, The Best of Barbara Mandrell, compilation album.
In 1980 she signed as a singer and songwriter with Malaco Records, for whom she released a string of critically acclaimed albums through the 1980s and 1990s, starting with Lady in the Street (1986) and Right Place, Right Time (1984). Both albums became major successes among soul blues, R&B and soul fans and on urban radio stations. In 1985 she enjoyed her only recognition in the UK Singles Chart, when her cover version of Rockin' Sidney's, "My Toot Toot", reached #6.[5]
LaSalle appeared at the 1984 and 1993 versions of the Long Beach Blues Festival, and also in 1993 she performed at the San Francisco Blues Festival. Her 1997 album Smokin' In Bed was an unexpected commercial success.[3]
She continues to work as a live performer, particularly at festivals, and more recently has issued more gospel-tinged material. 2011 she was inducted to the Blues Hall of Fame.[6]
LaSalle now resides in Jackson, Tennessee with her husband, James E. Wolfe, where they participate in the community.
Albums 1967 Love Reputation 1972 Trapped By A Thing Called Love 1973 On The Loose 1975 Here I Am Again 1976 Second Breath 1977 The Bitch Is Bad 1978 Under The Influence 1978 Shot Of Love 1979 Unwrapped 1980 I'm So Hot 1981 Guaranteed 1983 A Lady In The Street 1984 Right Place Right Time 1985 Love Talkin' 1985 My Toot Toot 1986 Rain And Fire 1987 It's Lying Time Again 1989 Hittin´ Where It Hurts 1989 Holdin’ Hands With The Blues 1990 Still Trapped 1992 Love Me Right 1994 I'm Here Again ... Plus 1995 Still Bad 1997 Smokin’ In Bed 1999 God’s Got My Back 2000 This Real Woman 2001 I Get What I Want – The Best Of 2001 There’s No Separation 2002 Still The Queen 2003 My Toot Toot: Definitive Anthology 2004 Wanted 2007 Pay Before You Pump
Singles 1967 "Love Reputation" / "One Little Thing" 1970 "Trying To Forget" / "We’ve Got Love" 1971 "Trapped By A Thing Called Love" / "Keep It Coming" 1972 "Man Size Job" / "I’m Over You"* 1972 "Deeper I Go Better It Gets" / "Now Run And Tell That" 1972 "Heartbreaker Of The Year" / "Hung Up Strung Out" 1972 "Too Late To Check Your Trap" / "Heartbreaker Of The Year" 1972 "Right Track" / "Too Late To Check Your Trap" 1973 "Don't Nobody Live Here" / "Good Goody Getter" 1973 "What Am I Doing Wrong" / "Your Man And Your Best Friend" 1973 "Make A Good Thing Better" / "What It Takes To Get A Good Woman" 1974 "Get Up Off My Mind" / "Best Thing I Ever Had" 1975 "Any Time Is The Right Time" / "My Brand On You" 1975 "Here I Am Again" / "Hung Up Strung Out" 1975 "Count Down" / "A Promise Is A Promise (And Fly Me To The Moon)" 1976 "Married But Not To Each Other" / "Who's The Fool" 1976 "Hellfire Loving" / "Versions" 1977 "One Life To Live" / "Before You Take It To The Street" 1977 "Love Me Right" / "Fool Me Good" 1977 "Freedom To Express Yourself" / "Second Breath" 1977 "Before You Take It To The Street" 1978 "P.A.R.T.Y. (Where Is It?)" / "Under The Influence" 1978 "Working Overtime" / "No Matter What They Say" 1979 "Think About It" / "Versions" 1980 "Try My Love" / "May The Funk B With You" 1980 "I’m So Hot" / "Versions" 1981 "I’m Trippin’ On You" / "I’ll Get Some Help (& Satisfaction)" 1983 "Down Home Blues" / "X-Rated Versions" 1983 "Lady In The Street" / "I Was Not The Best Woman" 1983 "Lay Me Down" / "I Was Telling Him About You" 1983 "Come To Bed" / "Keeps Me Running Back" 1983 "Come To Bed" / "I Was Not The Best Woman" 1984 "Right Place Right Time" / "Come To Bed" 1984 "Right Place Right Time" / "Bump And Grind" 1984 "Treat Your Man Like A Baby" / "Come To Bed" 1984 "He’s Not Available" / "Right Place Right Time" 1985 "My Toot Toot" / "Give Me Yo Most Strongest Whisky" 1985 "Santa Claus Got The Blues" / "Love Is A Five Letter Word" 1986 "Let The Four Winds Blow" / "Sometimes" / "Right Time, Right Place" 1986 "What’s Going On In My House" / "Learnin' How To Cheat On You" 1989 "Bring It On Home To Me" / "Write This One Off" 1989 "I Forgot To Remember" / "Caught In Your Own Mess" 1989 "Don’t Cry No More" / "Eee Tee" 1990 "Drop That Zero" / "Trapped 1990" 1992 "Don’t Pick It Up" / "Don't Jump My Pony" 1992 "When We’re Making Love" / "Don't Pick It Up" 1992 "Don't Jump My Pony" / "Juke Box Strip" 1992 "Fool Me Good" / "Love Me Right" 1995 "Right Side Of The Wrong Bed" 1995 "Do Ya Think I'm Sexy" 2001 "There's No Separation"
