Music / Religion
Laura Lee
born 1945
· soul and gospel singer, songwriter
Detroit-raised soul singer of "Women's Love Rights" and "Rip Off" on Hot Wax, who began in the Meditation Singers gospel group in Della Reese's place.
- Born
Chicago, Illinois
age 81- Birth name
- Laura Lee Newton
- Also known as
- Laura Lee Rundless
- Detroit years
- childhood–1970s
01 / The Detroit story
The Detroit story
Born in Chicago, Laura Lee moved to Detroit as a child and was mentored by Ernestine Rundless, founder of the Meditation Singers, the first Detroit gospel group to perform with instrumental backing. As Laura Lee Rundless she replaced Della Reese in the group in 1956 and toured widely. In 1965 she began singing R&B in Detroit clubs, and her first solo record, "To Win Your Heart" (1966), came out on Ed Wingate and Joanne Bratton's Ric-Tic label; she later thanked Wingate for her first hit. At Chess she scored with "Dirty Man" (1967). In 1970 she joined Hot Wax, the Detroit label founded by Holland–Dozier–Holland after they left Motown, where "Women's Love Rights" (1971) and "Rip Off" (1972, R&B No. 3) made her a voice for women's experience in soul. After illness she returned to gospel, recording with Al Green, and was ordained a minister.
Highlights
- Member of Detroit's Meditation Singers from 1956
- "Dirty Man" (1967), Chess
- "Women's Love Rights" (1971) on Detroit's Hot Wax
- "Rip Off" (1972): R&B No. 3