Lou Pride

Lou Pride
Birth name George Louis Pride
Born (1944-05-24)May 24, 1944
Chicago, Illinois, United States
Died June 5, 2012(2012-06-05) (aged 68)
Chicago, Illinois, United States
Genres Blues, soul[1]
Occupation(s) Singer, songwriter
Instruments Vocals
Years active 1960s–2012
Labels Various including Ichiban, Curtom and Severn
Website www.loupride.com

Lou Pride (May 24, 1944 - June 5, 2012)[2] was an American blues and soul singer and songwriter.[1] Some sources state his year of birth was 1950.[3] He is best known for his compositions "Long Arm Of The Blues" and "Love From A Stone".[3] Pride had a cult following amongst British Northern soul aficionados.[4]

Before his death, Allmusic noted that Pride had a "smooth, uptown southern voice,"[5] and was "more known for performances in blues clubs and festivals than his artistry in the studio."[6]

Biography

He was born George Louis Pride,[3] in Chicago, Illinois, United States.[1] Pride grew up on Chicago's north side and attended the First Baptist Church, where the pastor was Nat King Cole's father.[1][2]

After conscription in the United States Army,[2] Pride met and married a female singer and they settled in El Paso, Texas.[1] They performed as a singing duo before, after seeing B.B. King perform live, Pride concentrated his singing future around the blues and soul music genres.[7] Pride recorded his first two singles in the early 1970s. These were "I'm Com'un Home In The Morn'un" (1972) and "Your Love Is Fading," the latter released by Suemi Records.[1][8] After relocating to New Mexico, he recorded sporadically whilst constantly performing in blues clubs and at festivals on the chitlin' circuit.[9] Other tracks of his that were released over this period included "Look Out on Love," "We're Only Fooling Ourselves," "You've Got to Work for Love," and "Been Such a Long Time."[1]

Pride's debut album was entitled, Very Special (1979), which was released by Black Gold Entertainment. Several singles were issued before Gone Bad for a Very Special Reason (1988) was released, which had an almost an identical playlist to his debut effort.[1]

After returning to Chicago, he became acquainted with Curtis Mayfield, which saw Gone Bad Again (1990) being issued.[2] However, Pride's recordings remained second place to performing live. The WMB Records release, Love at Last (1995), contained re-recordings of several of Pride's earlier cuts. His 1997 Ichiban release was Twisting the Knife, followed by I Won't Give Up (2000).[1] Pride signed a recording contract with Severn Records in 2002, which preceded his first release for them, Words of Caution.[9] His early 1970s recordings were collected on the compilation album, The Memphis/El Paso Sessions 1970-1973, which Severn issued in June 2003.[10] Allmusic noted that the collection "remains a treasure trove of previously obscure soul music that spotlights one of the many great singers almost lost to history."[11]

In 2004, Pride undertook a brief tour in the UK. Alongside Darrell Nulisch, Pride was also the headline act at the Severn Records Soul and Blues Revue, in Chicago, in 2006.[8] Snippets of his composition, "Bringin' Me Back Home," were used in the 2007 film, Feast of Love.[7] Pride's appearance at the Severn Soul Review in 2010 was a significant comeback. He had been booked to appear in 2004, but he had had a heart attack before he could perform.[12]

Following a period of ill health, Pride died in Chicago in June 2012 of natural causes. He was aged 68.[2][13]

Discography

Albums

Year Title Label
1979 Very SpecialBlack Gold Entertainment
1988 Gone Bad for a Very Special ReasonBlack Gold Entertainment
1990 Gone Bad AgainCurtom/Ichiban
1995 Love at LastWMB Records
1997 Twisting the Knife[5]Ichiban
2000 I Won't Give Up[6]Icehouse Records
2002 Words of CautionSevern
2003 The Memphis/El Paso Sessions 1970-1973[14]Severn
2005 Keep on Believing[15]Severn

[16]

Selected singles

This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.
Year Title Label
1972 "I'm Com'un Home In The Morn'un"[17]Passion Music
N/K "Your Love Is FadingSuemi Records
1988 "I Found a Love"Black Gold
N/K "I Didn't Take Your WomanCurtom Records
N/K "Been Such a Long Time"Onyx Records
N/K "Phoney People"Gemco Records

[18]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Lou Pride | Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 2013-08-08.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "Lou Pride Obituary: View Lou Pride's Obituary by News Sun". Legacy.suburbanchicagonews.com. Retrieved 2013-08-08.
  3. 1 2 3 Doc Rock. "2012 January To June". The Dead Rock Stars Club. Retrieved 2013-08-08.
  4. ↑ Wilson, Andrew (2007). Northern Soul (1st ed.). Cullompton, Devon, England: Willan Publishing. p. 37. ISBN 9781-84392-208-7.
  5. 1 2 Andrew Hamilton (1997-10-21). "Twisting the Knife - Lou Pride | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 2013-08-08.
  6. 1 2 Andrew Hamilton (2000-06-27). "I Won't Give Up - Lou Pride | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 2013-08-08.
  7. 1 2 "Chicago singer Lou Pride 'was naturally soul blues' - Chicago Sun-Times". Suntimes.com. Retrieved 2013-08-08.
  8. 1 2 "Lou Pride Biography". OLDIES.com. 1950-05-24. Retrieved 2013-08-08.
  9. 1 2 "Soul-Blues Singer Lou Pride, R.I.P". Blues.about.com. Retrieved 2013-08-08.
  10. ↑ "Lou Pride's Biography – Free listening, concerts, stats, & pictures at". Last.fm. 2013-01-15. Retrieved 2013-08-08.
  11. ↑ Hal Horowitz (2003-06-24). "The Memphis/El Paso Sessions 1970-73 - Lou Pride | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 2013-08-08.
  12. ↑ "Lou Pride - All About the SOUL - Soul Source Rare and Northern Soul". Soul-source.co.uk. Retrieved 2013-08-08.
  13. ↑ "Chicago blues man Lou Pride dies at 68 | SoulTracks - Soul Music Biographies, News and Reviews". SoulTracks. Retrieved 2013-08-08.
  14. ↑ "Lou Pride". Soulbluesmusic.com. Retrieved 2013-08-08.
  15. ↑ Hal Horowitz (2005-10-18). "Keep on Believing - Lou Pride | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 2013-08-08.
  16. ↑ "Lou Pride | Discography". AllMusic. 2012-06-05. Retrieved 2013-08-08.
  17. ↑ "I'm Com'un Home In The Morn'un/I'm Com'un Home In The Morn'un Inst - Lou Pride,Southwind Symohony | Releases". AllMusic. Retrieved 2013-08-08.
  18. ↑ "Lou Pride Discography at Discogs". Discogs.com. 1950-05-24. Retrieved 2013-08-08.
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