David Lasley

David Eldon Lasley (born August 20, 1947) is an American singer and songwriter, best known for his contributions as a background singer for such artists as Bonnie Raitt, James Taylor, Luther Vandross, Aretha Franklin, Dionne Warwick and Dusty Springfield.

Singing career

Lasley started his music career in his teens, forming a singing group with his sister and achieving some success in the Detroit area. 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 started his career as a back-up singer at this time. Along with Vandross, he performed on many of Chic's and Sister Sledge's recordings.

In 1977 he began touring and recording with James Taylor. Other performers that he has worked with include Todd Rundgren, Melissa Manchester and Bonnie Raitt, who has recorded a number of Lasley's compositions.

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

Lasley's only hit song as a recording artist, "If I Had My Wish Tonight" spent 10 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at No. 36 in May 1982.

Discography

Solo discography

• Demos – (1981)
• Missin' Twenty Grand – (1982)
• Raindance – (1984)
• Soldiers on the Moon – (1990)
• Back to Blue-Eyed Soul – (2000)
• Expectations of Love – (2001)
• Demos Volume 2 – Take a Look – (2005)

Selected songwriting credits

• "All the Things I Love" – Debra Laws on Very Special
• "Blue Side":
  • Crystal Gayle on Miss the Mississippi
  • Valerie Carter on Vanilla Grits
• "Change All of That" – Arnold McCuller on Exception to the Rule
• "Close Enough" – Dionne Warwick on Reservations for Two
• "Cold, Cold Streets" – Feargal Sharkey on Wish
• "Come What May" – Patti LaBelle on It's Alright With Me
• "Crazy Love":
  • Sheena Easton on My Cherie
  • Patti LaBelle on Burnin'
  • Luther Vandross on Your Secret Love
• "Dancin' on the Smooth Edge" – Whitney Houston on Exhale
• "Got You on My Mind" – Bonnie Raitt on Streetlights
• "I Ain't Gonna Let You Break My Heart Again":
  • Bonnie Raitt on Nick of Time
  • Tricia Tahara on Secrets
• "I Am Ready Now" – Jennifer Holliday on Feel My Soul
• "I Don't Go Shopping":
  • Peter Allen on Bi-Coastal
  • Patti LaBelle on It's Alright With Me
  • Patti LaBelle on Released
• "I Got a Groove On" – Peaches & Herb
• "I Wish That Love Would Last" – Dusty Springfield on Simply Dusty
• "Jojo" – Boz Scaggs on Middle Man
• "Lead Me On" – Maxine Nightingale on Lead Me On
• "Love Me Again":
  • Patti Austin on Body Language
  • Rita Coolidge on Love Me Again
• "Meant for You" – Debra Laws on Very Special
• "Naked Truth" – Leata Galloway on The Naked Truth
• "Nightline" – Randy Crawford on Nightline
• "Out of Pawn" – Tim Curry on Simplicity
• "Roll Me Through the Rushes" – Chaka Khan on Chaka
• "Somebody's Angel" – Peter Allen on Bi-Coastal
• "Talk to Me" – Kiki Dee on Stay with Me
• "There's a Star for Everyone" – Aretha Franklin on Love All the Hurt Away
• "This Christmas, This Year" – The Jets on Christmas with the Jets
• "This Time" – Chaka Khan on The Woman I Am
• "You Bring Me Joy" – Anita Baker on Rapture

Selected credits

• Stephen Bishop – Red Cab to Manhattan – (1980)
• Martin Briley – Dangerous Moments – (1984)
• Roy Buchanan:
  • You're Not Alone – (1978)
  • Guitar on Fire: The Atlantic Sessions — (1993)
• Jimmy Buffett – One Particular Harbour – (1983)
• Irene Cara – What a Feelin' – (1983)
• Valerie Carter:
  • Wild Child – (1978)
  • Way It Is – (1996)
• Chic:
  • Chic – (1977)
  • C'est Chic – (1978)
  • Risqué – (1979)
• Rita Coolidge – Inside the Fire – (1984)
• Randy Crawford:
  • Nightline – (1983)
  • Don't Say It's Over – (1993)
• Culture Club – From Luxury to Heartache – (1986)
• Tim Curry – Fearless – (1979)
• Kiki Dee – Stay with Me – (1979)
• Neil Diamond – In My Lifetime – (1996)
• Michael Feinstein – Nobody But You – (1998)
• Aretha Franklin – Love All the Hurt Away – (1981)
• Cissy Houston – Cissy Houston – (1977)
• Julio Iglesias – Crazy – (1994)
• Garland Jeffreys:
  • Ghost Writer – (1977)
  • One Eyed Jack – (1978)
  • Matador & More... – (1992)
• Chaka Khan – Chaka – (1979)
• Leah Kunkel – I Run with Trouble – (1980)
• Melissa Manchester:
  • Melissa – (1975)
  • Emergency – (1983)
  • O Heaven (How You've Changed to Me) (single) – (1974)
• Kate Markowitz – Map of the World – (2003)
• Arnold McCuller:
  • Back To Front – (2002)
  • Circa 1990 – (2003)
• Michael McDonald – Take It to Heart – (1990)
• Jimmy McGriff – Red Beans [Groove Merchant] – (1977)
• Bette Midler:
  • Songs for the New Depression – (1976)
  • Some People's Lives – (1990)
  • For the Boys – (1991)
  • Experience the Divine – (1993)
  • 3 for One – (2000)
  • Bette – (2000)
• Teddy Pendergrass – Love Language – (1984)
• Pousette-Dart Band:
  • Pousette-Dart Band 3 – (1979)
  • Never Enough – (1980)
• Bonnie Raitt:
  • Streetlights – (1974)
  • Nick of Time – (1989)
  • Luck of the Draw – (1991)
  • Longing in Their Hearts – (1994)
• Linda Ronstadt – Living in the U.S.A. – (1978)
• Brenda Russell – Paris Rain – (2000)
• Carole Bayer Sager – Too – (1978)
• David Sanborn:
  • Hideaway – (1979)
  • Time Again – (2003)
• Boz Scaggs:
  • Middle Man – (1980)
  • Other Roads – (1988)
• Timothy B. Schmit:
  • Playin' It Cool – (1984)
  • Tell Me the Truth – (1990)
• Phoebe Snow – Rock Away – (1981)
• Ringo Starr:
  • Ringo's Rotogravure – (1976)
  • Ringo the 4th – (1977)
• James Taylor:
  • Flag – (1979)
  • Dad Loves His Work – (1981)
  • That's Why I'm Here – (1985)
  • Never Die Young – (1988)
  • New Moon Shine – (1991)
  • Live – (1993)
  • Hourglass – (1997)
  • Greatest Hits Volume 2 – (2000)
  • October Road – (2002)
  • Before This World – (2015)
• Luther Vandross:
  • Busy Body – (1983)
  • Give Me the Reason – (1986)
  • Any Love – (1988)
  • Your Secret Love – (1996)
• Jennifer Warnes – Famous Blue Raincoat – (1987)

Filmography

Year	Film	Role
1993	Squibnocket	Himself
2013	20 Feet from Stardom	Himself

External links

• MySpace site