Prince La La
Encyclopedia
Prince La La born Lawrence Nelson (1936 - 1963), from the Ninth Ward
of New Orleans, was a songwriter and vocalist who released a couple of classic R&B recordings before his death from a drug overdose at 27.
Lawrence Nelson was born into a family rooted in the rich musical tradition of New Orleans. His father, Walter Nelson, was a noted jazz
and R&B guitarist who played with R&B pioneer Smiley Lewis
. His elder brother, Walter "Papoose" Nelson Jr., played extensively in the 50s and early 60s with Fats Domino
and Professor Longhair
, and was a featured session guitarist for seminal New Orleans bandlander and producer Dave Bartholomew
. Sister Dorothy was married to the singer, songwriter and producer Jessie Hill
.
It was Jessie Hill
who was responsible for Nelson, who started out as a songwriter, becoming a recording artist. In 1961 Hill brought his latest discovery, 19-year-old Barbara George
, in for a debut recording session with Harold Battiste
's newly founded A.F.O. (All For One) label. Hill proposed that she sing Nelson's song "She Put the Hurt on Me", and played a demo with Nelson's vocal for her and Battiste to hear. Battiste liked Nelson's version so much he decided to
have Nelson sing the song instead and in 1962 it became the first release by the A.F.O. label, b/w "Don’t You Know Little Girl (I'm In Love)". (Barbara George
would have a R&B #1 with her own composition "I Know (You Don't Love Me No More)" when A.F.O. issued its second release a little later.)
"She Put the Hurt on Me" was a national hit, reaching #14 on the R&B charts. It was credited to Prince La La - "La La" being Lawrence's nickname, and "Prince" tying in with the African prince costume adopted by Nelson in P.R. photos.
Nelson followed up with a second single at the tail-end of 1962, the Charley Julien song "Gettin’ Married Soon", b/w "Come Back To Me".
And that was it, Nelson suffering a drug overdose in 1963. It's notable that earlier the previous year, on the 28th February, 1962, Lawrence's brother Papoose died aged 31 in New York
, also from a drug overdose.
A further two Prince La La recordings are extant: "Things Have Changed", and a Jessie Hill
song, "Need You".
, a childhood friend of Nelson, had a hit in 1963 with a song about Nelson, "Who Shot the La La?", suggesting his death wasn't an accident.http://homeofthegroove.blogspot.com/2005/08/hey-fellas.html
Bob Dylan
selected "Gettin’ Married Soon" for the "Weddings" edition of his Theme Time Radio Hour on XM Satellite Radio
, 21 June, 2006.
Ninth Ward of New Orleans
The Ninth Ward or 9th Ward is a distinctive region of New Orleans, Louisiana that is located in the easternmost downriver portion of the city. It is geographically the largest of the 17 Wards of New Orleans....
of New Orleans, was a songwriter and vocalist who released a couple of classic R&B recordings before his death from a drug overdose at 27.
Lawrence Nelson was born into a family rooted in the rich musical tradition of New Orleans. His father, Walter Nelson, was a noted jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
and R&B guitarist who played with R&B pioneer Smiley Lewis
Smiley Lewis
Smiley Lewis was an American New Orleans rhythm and blues musician. The journalist, Tony Russell, in his book The Blues - From Robert Johnson to Robert Cray, stated "Lewis was the unluckiest man in New Orleans...
. His elder brother, Walter "Papoose" Nelson Jr., played extensively in the 50s and early 60s with Fats Domino
Fats Domino
Antoine Dominique "Fats" Domino, Jr. is an American R&B and rock and roll pianist and singer-songwriter. He was born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana, and Creole was his first language....
and Professor Longhair
Professor Longhair
Professor Longhair was a New Orleans blues singer and pianist...
, and was a featured session guitarist for seminal New Orleans bandlander and producer Dave Bartholomew
Dave Bartholomew
Dave Bartholomew is a musician, band leader, composer and arranger, prominent in the music of New Orleans throughout the second half of the 20th century...
. Sister Dorothy was married to the singer, songwriter and producer Jessie Hill
Jessie Hill
Jessie Hill was an American R&B and Louisiana blues singer and songwriter, best remembered for the classic song, "Ooh Poo Pah Doo"....
.
It was Jessie Hill
Jessie Hill
Jessie Hill was an American R&B and Louisiana blues singer and songwriter, best remembered for the classic song, "Ooh Poo Pah Doo"....
who was responsible for Nelson, who started out as a songwriter, becoming a recording artist. In 1961 Hill brought his latest discovery, 19-year-old Barbara George
Barbara George
Barbara George was an American R&B singer and songwriter.Born Barbara Ann Smith, she was raised in New Orleans and began singing in a church choir. She was discovered by singer Jessie Hill, who recommended her to record producer, Harold Battiste...
, in for a debut recording session with Harold Battiste
Harold Battiste
Harold Raymond Battiste, Jr. , is an American music composer, arranger, performer and teacher.He attended New Orleans' Dillard University, earning a B.S. in music in 1953. His first success as a studio arranger was with Sam Cooke’s "You Send Me" in 1957...
's newly founded A.F.O. (All For One) label. Hill proposed that she sing Nelson's song "She Put the Hurt on Me", and played a demo with Nelson's vocal for her and Battiste to hear. Battiste liked Nelson's version so much he decided to
have Nelson sing the song instead and in 1962 it became the first release by the A.F.O. label, b/w "Don’t You Know Little Girl (I'm In Love)". (Barbara George
Barbara George
Barbara George was an American R&B singer and songwriter.Born Barbara Ann Smith, she was raised in New Orleans and began singing in a church choir. She was discovered by singer Jessie Hill, who recommended her to record producer, Harold Battiste...
would have a R&B #1 with her own composition "I Know (You Don't Love Me No More)" when A.F.O. issued its second release a little later.)
"She Put the Hurt on Me" was a national hit, reaching #14 on the R&B charts. It was credited to Prince La La - "La La" being Lawrence's nickname, and "Prince" tying in with the African prince costume adopted by Nelson in P.R. photos.
Nelson followed up with a second single at the tail-end of 1962, the Charley Julien song "Gettin’ Married Soon", b/w "Come Back To Me".
And that was it, Nelson suffering a drug overdose in 1963. It's notable that earlier the previous year, on the 28th February, 1962, Lawrence's brother Papoose died aged 31 in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, also from a drug overdose.
A further two Prince La La recordings are extant: "Things Have Changed", and a Jessie Hill
Jessie Hill
Jessie Hill was an American R&B and Louisiana blues singer and songwriter, best remembered for the classic song, "Ooh Poo Pah Doo"....
song, "Need You".
Trivia
Oliver MorganOliver Morgan
Oliver Morgan was an American R&B singer.-History:Morgan was born and raised in the Lower Ninth Ward of New Orleans, Louisiana, alongside Fats Domino, Jessie Hill and Smiley Lewis....
, a childhood friend of Nelson, had a hit in 1963 with a song about Nelson, "Who Shot the La La?", suggesting his death wasn't an accident.http://homeofthegroove.blogspot.com/2005/08/hey-fellas.html
Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan is an American singer-songwriter, musician, poet, film director and painter. He has been a major and profoundly influential figure in popular music and culture for five decades. Much of his most celebrated work dates from the 1960s when he was an informal chronicler and a seemingly...
selected "Gettin’ Married Soon" for the "Weddings" edition of his Theme Time Radio Hour on XM Satellite Radio
XM Satellite Radio
XM Satellite Radio is one of two satellite radio services in the United States and Canada, operated by Sirius XM Radio. It provides pay-for-service radio, analogous to cable television. Its service includes 73 different music channels, 39 news, sports, talk and entertainment channels, 21 regional...
, 21 June, 2006.