Laura Lee (singer-songwriter) facts for kids

Laura Lee, whose real name is Laura Lee Newton, was born on March 9, 1945, in Chicago, Illinois. She is an American singer and songwriter known for her soul and gospel music. Laura Lee became very popular in the 1960s and 1970s. Her songs were special because they often talked about and celebrated the experiences of women.

Laura Lee's Music Journey

Laura Lee was born in Chicago. When she was a child, she moved to Detroit with her mother. In Detroit, she met Ernestine Rundless. Ernestine was the leader of a famous gospel group called The Meditation Singers. This group was special because they were the first gospel group in Detroit to use musical instruments.

Starting in Gospel Music

In 1956, Laura Lee joined The Meditation Singers. She took the place of another singer, Della Reese. For the next few years, Laura Lee traveled all over the country with the group. They recorded music for different record labels.

Moving to Solo Career

In 1965, Laura Lee decided to start her own solo career. She began singing R&B music in clubs in Detroit. Even though she was a solo artist, she still sometimes recorded with The Meditation Singers. Her first solo song was "To Win Your Heart" in 1966.

Big Hits and Famous Studios

In 1967, Laura Lee signed with Chess Records. She recorded a song called "Dirty Man." This song became her first big hit. It reached number 13 on the R&B music charts. She also recorded other popular songs like "Up Tight, Good Man" and "As Long As I Got You."

Joining Hot Wax Records

In 1970, Laura Lee moved to a new record label called Hot Wax Records. This label was started by former Motown producers. One of her first songs with Hot Wax was "Women's Love Rights." This became one of her biggest hits, reaching number 11 on the R&B chart. In 1972, her song "Rip Off" became her highest-charting R&B hit, reaching number 3. She also released an album called Two Sides of Laura Lee.

Later Years and Gospel Return

Laura Lee left Hot Wax in 1975. After that, she became very sick and took a break from music for several years. She returned to music in 1983 with a gospel album. It was called Jesus Is The Light Of My Life. By 1990, she had recovered from her illness. She also became an ordained minister. Since then, she has mostly continued to record gospel music.

Other Appearances

A Swedish rock band was named Division of Laura Lee as a tribute to her. Laura Lee also appeared in a movie. She was a singer in the opening scenes of the 1973 film Detroit 9000.

Laura Lee's Music Albums

Laura Lee's Chart Singles

See also

In Spanish: Laura Lee para niños