He was a singer-songwriter born David Eldon Lasley in Branch, Michigan, who began his professional career singing with his sister in a group called The Utopias who recorded “Welcome (Baby, To My Heart)” and “Good Friends Forever” and performed around Detroit.
Spreading his wings in 1970 he became a member of the cast of Hair, with which he toured and this saw him moving to New York where he would perform on Broadway in Dude and off-Broadway in other productions. At the same time he decided to take up session singing as a backing vocalist and this led him to working with artists and groups such as Stephen Bishop, Jimmy Buffett, Cher, Chic, Dr. John, Cissy Houston, Julio Iglesias, Janet Jackson, Elton John, Huey Lewis, Melissa Manchester, Michael McDonald, Joni Mitchell, Aaron Neville, Olivia Newton John, Odyssey, Poussette-Dart Band, Bobbie Raitt, Todd Rundgren, David Sanborn, Sister Sledge, Phoebe Snow, Ringo Starr, Luther Vandross, Jennifer Warnes and James Taylor who he has sung with over a period of 25-30 years. He also appeared with his own group, Rosie.
Hit singles he appeared on include “Native New Yorker” by Odyssey, “Take Me Home” by Cher, “I Really Didn’t Mean It”, “Stop to Love” and “So Amazing” by Luther Vandross, “From a Distance” by Bette Midler, “You’re My Choice Tonight” by Teddy Pendergrass, “Everybody Dance”, “I Want Your Love” and “Le Freak” by Chic, “Paradise” by Bionic Boogie and “He’s the Greatest Dancer” and “We Are Family” by Sister Sledge.
This would help pave the way to him being the third solo artist signed up to Geffen Records after Donna Summer and Elton John and appeared on countless albums that include his own such as Missin’ Twenty Grand, Soldiers on the Moon and Blue Eyed Soul and with other artists on One Particular Harbour by Jimmy Buffett, What a Feelin’ by Irene Cara, C’est Chic and Risqueby Chic, Nightline by Randy Crawford, Inside the Fire by Rita Coolidge, Fearless by Tim Curry, From Luxury to Heartache by Culture Club, Stay With Me by Kiki Dee, In My Lifetime by Neil Diamond, Love All the Hurt Away by Aretha Franklin, For the Boys by Bette Midler, Take It to the Heart by Michael McDonald, Love Language by Teddy Perndergrass, Rocket to Russia by The Ramones, Living in the U.S.A. by Linda Ronstadt, Better Late then Never by Rosie, Paris Rain by Brenda Russell, Too by Carole Bayer Sager, Middle Man by Boz Scaggs, Playin’ It Cool by Timothy B. Schmit, Ringo the 4th by Ringo Starr, Dad Loves His Work, That’s Why I’m Here and Never Die Young by James Taylor and Give Me the Reason and Any Love by Luther Vandross.
As a songwriter or co-writer with people such as his work included “Blue Side” “Close Enough”, “Cold, Cold Streets”, “Lead Me On”, “Come What May”, “Crazy Love”, “Jojo”, “This Time”, “There’s a Star for Everyone” and “Nightline” to name just a fraction of his songs and they have been recorded by singers such as Herb Alpert, Parri Austin, Anita Baker, Valerie Carter, Rita Coolidge, Natalie Cole, Norman Connors, Randy Crawford, Kiki Dee, Aretha Franklin, Crystal Gayle, Al Green, Whitney Houston, Jermaine Jackson, The Jets, Chaka Khan, Feargal Sharkey, Patti LaBelle, Maxine Nightingale, The Oak Ridge Boys, Peaches & Herb, Bonnie Raitt, Boz Scaggs, Dusty Springfield, Tina Turner, Luther Vandross and Dionne Warwick.
He died in December 2021 when he was 74 years old.
Sources:
- http://www.davidlasley.com/bio.html
- http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=39774194
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Lasley
- http://www.answers.com/topic/david-lasley-1?cat=entertainment
- http://www.james-taylor.com/features/lasley/
- http://www.soulwalking.co.uk/David%20Lasley.html