Denise LaSalle was a legendary singer, songwriter, and record producer who was known as the “Queen of the Blues” after the death of Koko Taylor. She had a long and successful career that spanned over five decades and produced many hit songs, such as “Trapped by a Thing Called Love”, “Now Run and Tell That”, and “Down Home Blues”. She was also a pioneer in the soul blues genre, a fusion of blues, soul, and R&B that appealed to a wide audience. She died on January 8, 2018, at the age of 78, from complications of cardiovascular disease. In this article, we will explore the details of her life, career, and death, and pay tribute to her legacy.
Early Life and Career
Denise LaSalle was born Ora Denise Allen on July 16, 1934, near Sidon, Mississippi, in an area then known as The Island. She was the youngest of eight children of Nathaniel A. Allen Sr. and Nancy Cooper, who were sharecroppers. She had to pick cotton and do other paid labor to support her family. She was raised in Belzoni from age seven and sang in church choirs for local gospel groups. She was influenced by country music as well as the blues.
At age 13, she moved to Chicago to live with her oldest brother. She sat in with R&B musicians and wrote songs. She signed a one-year recording contract with Chess Records in 1963, but no recording sessions were done. She met Billy “The Kid” Emerson, who had his own label, Tarpon, and recorded her first single, “A Love Reputation”, in 1967. It was a modest regional hit. She established an independent production company, Crajon, with her then-husband Bill Jones. She also wrote songs for other artists, such as Z.Z. Hill, Barbara Carr, and Little Milton.
Breakthrough and Success
Her big break came in 1971, when she released her song “Trapped by a Thing Called Love” on Westbound Records, a Detroit-based label. The song reached #1 on the national R&B chart and #13 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. It sold over a million copies and earned her a gold disc award. It was also included on President Obama’s 2016 Summer Nights playlist. The song was a catchy and soulful expression of the dilemma of being in love with someone who does not treat you right.
She followed up with more hit songs, such as “Now Run and Tell That”, “Man Sized Job”, and “Married, But Not to Each Other”. She also released several albums, such as Trapped by a Thing Called Love, On the Loose, and Second Breath. She moved to ABC and MCA in the mid-1970s and continued to record funk-based R&B songs. She also experimented with disco and dance music, such as “I’m So Hot” and “My Toot Toot”.
Soul Blues and Malaco
In the early 1980s, she signed with Malaco Records, a Jackson, Mississippi-based label that specialized in soul blues, a genre that combined blues, soul, and R&B. She found a new audience and a new creative direction with this style of music. She released several acclaimed albums, such as Lady in the Street, Love Talkin, Still Bad, and Smokin in Bed. She also wrote and produced most of her songs, which often dealt with themes of love, sex, empowerment, and social issues. She was praised for her powerful and expressive voice, her witty and honest lyrics, and her charismatic stage presence.
She was recognized as the “Queen of the Blues” after the death of Koko Taylor in 2009. She was also inducted into the Rhythm and Blues Music Hall of Fame in 2015. She continued to perform and record until 2010, when she released her last album, 24 Hour Woman. She also founded the National Association for the Preservation of the Blues in 1984 to lobby for the music and give soul blues fans a connection to the artists.
Death and Legacy
Denise LaSalle had health issues in her later years. She suffered a fall in 2017 that led to her right leg being amputated at Vanderbilt hospital. She also had heart problems for two years before her death. She died on January 8, 2018, at the age of 78, from complications of cardiovascular disease, according to Music Times. She was survived by her third husband, James E. Wolfe Jr., who was a rapper and a minister, and her two children, Craig and Mary.
Denise LaSalle left behind a rich and diverse musical legacy that influenced many artists, such as Bobby Rush, Millie Jackson, Latimore, and Denise LaSalle. She was also a trailblazer for women in the music industry, as she was one of the few female singers who wrote and produced her own songs. She was also a mentor and a friend to many musicians and fans. She was admired for her talent, her passion, her humor, and her spirit. She was a true queen of the blues.
