Larry Hamilton (musician)
Encyclopedia
Larry Hamilton is an American
New Orleans blues
, rhythm and blues
and soul blues
singer and songwriter. Although he has been a professional musician since the mid 1960s, his solo debut album was not released until 1997.
, United States
. Playing drums, piano and learning to sing by the age of nine, Hamilton had written his first song by the age of 12. Three years later, in 1965, Hamilton began his professional career as lead singer with David Batiste and the Gladiators. His career there lasted until the mid 1970s, during which time he had toured with Curtis Mayfield
, Bettye Swann
, Jackie Wilson
, Percy Sledge
, David Ruffin
, Major Lance
, Z. Z. Hill and Al Green
. In his own name, Hamilton recorded two singles on Malaco Records
, "Gossip" b/w "Keep The News To Yourself" (1971), and "My Mind Keeps Playing Tricks On Me" b/w "Ain't Nothing Like That Funky Music".
His songwriting credits include Etta James
' "Get On Your Job"; "Feel Like Dynamite" and "Let Us Be" for King Floyd
; "She's Taking My Part" for Irma Thomas
; and "The Feeling" for Albert King
. He has also written for Oliver Morgan
("I Love Rhythm and Blues"); Jean Knight
(Save The Last Kiss For Me"); and Johnny Adams
("More Than One Way").
Hamilton met Allen Toussaint
in the late 1970s and accompanied his group on tour. In 1996, Toussaint signed Hamilton to his NYNO Records label, releasing Larry Hamilton in 1997.
Hamilton's second album, Love Is?, was released in September 2006.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
New Orleans blues
New Orleans blues
New Orleans rhythm and blues refers to a type of R&B music from the U.S. city of New Orleans, Louisiana, characterized by extensive use of piano and horn sections, complex syncopated "second line" rhythms, and lyrics that reflect New Orleans life....
, rhythm and blues
Rhythm and blues
Rhythm and blues, often abbreviated to R&B, is a genre of popular African American music that originated in the 1940s. The term was originally used by record companies to describe recordings marketed predominantly to urban African Americans, at a time when "urbane, rocking, jazz based music with a...
and soul blues
Soul blues
Soul blues is a style of blues music developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s that combines elements of soul music and urban contemporary music...
singer and songwriter. Although he has been a professional musician since the mid 1960s, his solo debut album was not released until 1997.
Biography
Hamilton was born in New Orleans, LouisianaLouisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Playing drums, piano and learning to sing by the age of nine, Hamilton had written his first song by the age of 12. Three years later, in 1965, Hamilton began his professional career as lead singer with David Batiste and the Gladiators. His career there lasted until the mid 1970s, during which time he had toured with Curtis Mayfield
Curtis Mayfield
Curtis Lee Mayfield was an American soul, R&B, and funk singer, songwriter, and record producer.He is best known for his anthemic music with The Impressions during the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960's and for composing the soundtrack to the blaxploitation film Super Fly, Mayfield is highly...
, Bettye Swann
Bettye Swann
Bettye Swann is an American soul music singer, best known for her 1967 hit song "Make Me Yours".-Career:...
, Jackie Wilson
Jackie Wilson
Jack Leroy "Jackie" Wilson, Jr. was an American singer and performer. Known as "Mr. Excitement", Wilson was important in the transition of rhythm and blues into soul. He was known as a master showman, and as one of the most dynamic singers and performers in R&B and rock history...
, Percy Sledge
Percy Sledge
Percy Sledge is an American R&B and soul performer who recorded the hit "When a Man Loves a Woman" in 1966.-Early career:...
, David Ruffin
David Ruffin
Davis Eli "David" Ruffin was an American soul singer and musician most famous for his work as one of the lead singers of the Temptations from 1964 to 1968...
, Major Lance
Major Lance
Major Lance was an American R&B singer. After a number of US hits in the 1960s, including "The Monkey Time" and "Um, Um, Um, Um, Um, Um", he became an iconic figure in Britain in the 1970s among followers of Northern soul.-Life:Major Lance was born in Winterville, Mississippi...
, Z. Z. Hill and Al Green
Al Green
Albert Greene , better known as Al Green, is an American gospel and soul music singer. He reached the peak of his popularity in the 1970s, with hit singles such as "You Oughta Be With Me", "I'm Still In Love With You", "Love and Happiness", and "Let's Stay Together"...
. In his own name, Hamilton recorded two singles on Malaco Records
Malaco Records
Malaco Records is an independent record label based in Jackson, Mississippi. Malaco is and has been the home of various major soul, blues and gospel acts, such as Johnnie Taylor, Bobby Bland, ZZ Hill, Denise LaSalle, Benny Latimore, Dorothy Moore, Little Milton, Shirley Brown, Marvin Sease, and the...
, "Gossip" b/w "Keep The News To Yourself" (1971), and "My Mind Keeps Playing Tricks On Me" b/w "Ain't Nothing Like That Funky Music".
His songwriting credits include Etta James
Etta James
Etta James is an American blues, soul, rhythm and blues , rock and roll, gospel and jazz singer. In the 1950s and 1960s, she had her biggest success as a blues and R&B singer...
' "Get On Your Job"; "Feel Like Dynamite" and "Let Us Be" for King Floyd
King Floyd
King Floyd was a New Orleans soul singer and songwriter, best known for his Top 10 hit from 1970, "Groove Me".-Early career:...
; "She's Taking My Part" for Irma Thomas
Irma Thomas
Irma Thomas is an American Grammy Award-winning soul and rhythm and blues singer from New Orleans. She is known as the "Soul Queen of New Orleans"....
; and "The Feeling" for Albert King
Albert King
Albert King was an American blues guitarist and singer, and a major influence in the world of blues guitar playing.-Career:...
. He has also written for Oliver Morgan
Oliver Morgan
Oliver Morgan was an American R&B singer.-History:Morgan was born and raised in the Lower Ninth Ward of New Orleans, Louisiana, alongside Fats Domino, Jessie Hill and Smiley Lewis....
("I Love Rhythm and Blues"); Jean Knight
Jean Knight
Jean Knight is an African-American soul/R&B/funk singer, best known for her 1971 Stax Records hit single, "Mr. Big Stuff".-Early years:...
(Save The Last Kiss For Me"); and Johnny Adams
Johnny Adams
Laten John Adams , known as Johnny Adams, was an American blues, jazz and gospel singer, known as "The Tan Canary" for the multi-octave range of his singing voice, his swooping vocal mannerisms and falsetto...
("More Than One Way").
Hamilton met Allen Toussaint
Allen Toussaint
Allen Toussaint is an American musician, composer, record producer, and influential figure in New Orleans R&B.Many of Toussaint's songs have become familiar through numerous cover versions, including "Working in the Coalmine", "Ride Your Pony", "Fortune Teller", "Play Something Sweet ", "Southern...
in the late 1970s and accompanied his group on tour. In 1996, Toussaint signed Hamilton to his NYNO Records label, releasing Larry Hamilton in 1997.
Hamilton's second album, Love Is?, was released in September 2006.
Discography
| Album title | Record label | Year of release |
|---|---|---|
| Larry Hamilton | Valley Entertainment | 1997 |
| Love Is? | LJH Records | 2006 |