Lou Courtney facts for kids

Lou Courtney (born Louis Russell Pegues, August 15, 1943 – June 25, 2021) was an American soul singer and songwriter. He became famous in the 1960s and 1970s for his hit songs, both as a performer and as a writer for other artists.

Lou Courtney's Life and Music Journey

Early Life and First Steps in Music

Lou Courtney was born in Buffalo, New York, on August 15, 1943. He finished high school in 1962. Right after school, he started his music career. He first recorded songs under the name Lew Courtney for Imperial Records.

Besides singing, Lou was also a talented songwriter. He used his birth name, Louis Pegues, to write songs for other popular artists. He wrote for famous singers like Chubby Checker and helped write Mary Wells' 1964 hit song "Ain't It the Truth." He also teamed up with Dennis Lambert to write pop songs for bands like the Nashville Teens and Freddie and the Dreamers. Lou even helped produce the first song for Betty Mabry, who later became known as Betty Davis.

Finding Success with Dance Hits

In 1966, Lou Courtney signed with Riverside Records. This is when he started making a series of popular dance songs. His first big hit was "Skate Now" in 1967. This song became very popular, reaching number 13 on the R&B chart and number 71 on the pop chart. He followed this success with another hit called "Do the Thing."

During the late 1960s, Lou released many singles. Some of these, like "Me & You Doing the Boogaloo" and "If the Shoe Fits," became favorites in the British Northern soul music scene. He released an album called Skate Now - Shing-A-Ling. His music style included different types of songs, from slow ballads to upbeat soul and funk music. Many of his songs from this time were written and produced with Robert Bateman, who was known for his work with Motown artists.

Later Career and Collaborations

After leaving Pop-Side in 1968, Lou Courtney continued to release music on different record labels. He didn't have another chart hit until 1973, when he joined Epic Records. Working with producer Jerry Ragovoy, he had more R&B chart hits with his own songs, "What Do You Want Me To Do" and "I Don't Need Anybody Else." He also released an album called I’m In Need of Love.

Lou formed his own band called Buffalo Smoke. They released several singles, including a funk version of "Stubborn Kind of Fella," and an album in 1976. In 1978, Lou Courtney briefly joined the famous group The 5th Dimension. He was part of their Motown album High On Sunshine. After that, he made occasional live appearances.

Lou Courtney passed away in 2021 at the age of 77.

Lou Courtney's Albums

• Skate Now - Shing-A-Ling (1967)
• I’m In Need of Love (1974)
• Buffalo Smoke (1976)