David Lasley

American singer, songwriter, and actor (1947–2021)

David Eldon Lasley (August 20, 1947 – December 9, 2021) was an American recording artist, singer, musician and songwriter. He was best known as a touring background singer for James Taylor, as a session singer on recordings by artists including Taylor, Bonnie Raitt, Luther Vandross, Chic, Aretha Franklin, Dionne Warwick, Bette Midler, Cher, Dusty Springfield and Boz Scaggs; as a songwriter for artists including Bonnie Raitt, Whitney Houston, Anita Baker, Maxine Nightingale, Rita Coolidge, Crystal Gayle, and Luther Vandross; and for his solo albums, albums with his 1970s vocal group Rosie, and for his early years in Detroit with his vocal group The Utopias. In 1980, David Lasley was signed by David Geffen to Geffen Records. At the time he was one of the chief staff writers at Irving Almo Music. In The Advocate, 1985 Adam Block described Lasley as “one of the most heard, least known, figures in pop”, with a “velvet falsetto” and "songwriting reminiscent of early Laura Nyro". Stephen Holden described Lasley as "the somewhat more refined white soul singer" in a comparison with the high tenor of Mick Hucknall of Simply Red. Lasley appears in the cast of 20 Feet from Stardom.

Lasley was born in Michigan, the son of Bernice and Roy Lasley. He grew up in Branch, Michigan on a farm north of Grand Rapids. He is the younger brother of Dean and Judy and had a younger sister, Julie Ann, a singer with his group The Utopias. Mabel McKenzie, his maternal grandmother, was the Custer Representative of The News. Lasley sang with his family in church. He participated in the school band playing cornet with Dan Shoup, the band president, including the annual concert crowning the Band Queen in the Mason County Eastern school gymnasium.

In his teens, Lasley put together an a cappella singing group called The Utopias with his sister Julie and Joan Hughes. As reported by Roger Bass in Billboard, The Utopias released their first recording, "Girls Are Against Me" on the LaSalle label, distributed by Solid Hitbounds Productions. The Utopias were signed by Fortune Records releasing songs written by Lasley, including "Good Friends Forever" and "Sally Bad". Music critic Dave Marsh, who referred Lasley to Fortune Records, says he was "compelled to mention Detroit roots". The Utopias' first manager, John Bosquely, booked frequent club dates for the group, whose appearances included the Webb Wood, gigs for the radio DJ Johnny Weems, Swingin' Time TV Show hosted by Robin Seymour, and the Driftwood Lounge at The 20 Grand nightclub, which they played forty Sunday nights in a row. Included in The Utopia's repertoire was Lasley's vocal performance of the Aretha Franklin song "Respect". At the Twenty Grand, Lasley befriended Roger Bass, keyboard player of the house band, who wrote The Utopias third single "Girls Are Against Me".

In 1970 he joined the cast of Hair, performing first in Detroit and then on tour. This led to a move to New York City, and performances on and off Broadway.

Lasley began his career as a back up singer in 1970. Along with Luther Vandross, he performed on many of Chic's and Sister Sledge's recordings. Darlene Love related in an interview with Hi Fi Magazine how she met Luther Vandross through Lasley. In Lenny Kravitz's book Let Love Rule, Kravitz describes meeting Lasley, his generosity offering him a couch to sleep on, being mentored by Lasley with invaluable songwriting advice, and an introduction to Almo/Irving Music which led to a publishing deal. Kravitz was privy to late night phone calls between Luther Vandross and Lasley, made from Vandross's hotel room after shows. Performers with whom Lasley worked include Todd Rundgren, Rita Coolidge, Melissa Manchester and Bonnie Raitt, who recorded a number of Lasley's compositions. In the 1980s Lasley was the radio voice of commercials including Miller Beer and Seagram's Cooler.

As the band Rosie, with Lynn Pitney and Lana Marrano also on vocals, Lasley released the albums Better Late Than Never (RCA, 1976), which featured "Roll Me Through The Rushes", and Last Dance (RCA, 1977).

Lasley's debut solo album Missin' Twenty Grand was named after The 20 Grand, a Detroit club where he and his sister used to sing for free. Lasley described the album: "it's a lot about my teenage years. I've often wanted to go back to Detroit". The single "If I Had My Wish Tonight" spent 10 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at No. 36 in May 1982. Billboards "First Time Around" section stated about "Missin' Twenty Grand": "Lasley, a session singer and writer, moves into the pop forefront with this collection of personal and sensitive songs. Lasley's unique falsetto vocal style works well on both pop and R&B accented tunes giving this LP broad appeal."

Raindance is the second solo studio album by Lasley, released on EMI Records. It was produced by Don Was. "It's A Cryin' Shame (Sha La La La)" was released as a single in 1984.

Soldiers On The Moon is the third solo studio album by Lasley, recorded live to 2 track and produced by Jeff Weber. It was reissued in Japan by Cool Sounds.

Billboard Reviews & Previews, wrote of his 2000 album Back to Blue Eyed Soul: "Lasley delves through his vast catalog, breathing new life into 21 of his finest tunes. ( ) Lasley neither mimics the original versions of his hits nor succumbs to the temptation to recast his material with trendy rhythms."

Lasley died on December 9, 2021, at the age of 74. Notable people that posted tributes included Bonnie Raitt, James Taylor, Bette Midler, Desmond Child, Roxanne Seeman, and the ASCAP organization, among others. Taylor tweeted a YouTube video of a David Lasley song that received over 24,000 views in 24 hours, that was shared in Billboard's obituary. Raitt spoke of Lasley as a "beautiful friend and bright light in our music world, golden voiced David Lasley.”

On December 10 at the James Taylor Jackson Browne concert in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Taylor paid homage to Lasley saying "we lost a really close friend last night", pointing out that Lasley had performed with the band since the mid 1970s. "We want to remember David Lasley a great, great singer and a great artist" and gave a gospel inspired tribute performance of "Shower the People".