David Lasley(1947-2021)

David Lasley's prolific career as a singer/songwriter spans more than 30 years. He is best-known for the hundreds of songs he has written for artists such as Anita Baker ("You Bring Me Joy"), Maxine Nightingale ("Lead Me On"), Patti LaBelle ("Come What May", "I Don't Go Shopping"), Aretha Franklin ("There's a Star for Everyone"), Boz Scaggs ("Jojo"), Tina Turner, Whitney Houston and many more. His work as a background vocalist is equally auspicious. Most familiar for his more than 24 years singing with pop/folk icon James Taylor, Lasley has also backed such artists as Bette Midler, Bonnie Raitt, Luther Vandross, Aretha Franklin, Jimmy Buffett, Ringo Starr, Cher, Chaka Khan, and countless others. Lasley's tremendous talent as a solo performer matches his stature as a songwriter, vocal arranger and background vocalist and in 2000, he issued Back to Blue-Eyed Soul, a retrospective of his work featuring rare recordings dating back to 1966.