Lynda Laurence
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Lynda Laurence (also spelled Lawrence, born Lynda Tucker) is an American singer. She is best known for being a part of two Motown acts: Stevie Wonder's backup group Wonderlove and one of the post-Diana Ross versions of The Supremes. She is the daughter of Ira Tucker, gospel songwriter, producer, and lead singer of The Dixie Hummingbirds.
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[edit] Biography
[edit] Early years
Lynda began her career singing with a group named the Pendelles. Her sister, Sundray Tucker, was also in this group. She eventually made her way to Stevie Wonder's group Wonderlove. At this time, her sister was going by the name Cindy Scott, and rejoined Lynda in the group Wonderlove. Lynda, Sundray and third member, cousin Terri Hendricks toured with Stevie to promote his single 'Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I'm Yours)', which prominently features Lynda on vocals.
[edit] The Supremes
- Main entry: The Supremes
In 1972, Mary Wilson, who chose to continue the legacy of The Supremes after the departure of Florence Ballard in 1967 and lead singer Diana Ross in 1970, was about to lose another member of the group, Cindy Birdsong, due to expecting a baby. Cindy originally replaced Sundray Tucker in the group The Ordettes, later to be named Patti LaBelle & the Bluebelles, so it was ironic that Sundray's sister, Lynda, would be taking Cindy's place as a background singer. At this time, Jean Terrell was the lead singer of The Supremes. Lynda joined the group around the time the group issued their Floy Joy album and was featured on the cover though Birdsong sung on the album before her departure. Among the songs she recorded with the group include the Stevie Wonder produced single, "Bad Weather", and The Supremes Produced and Arranged by Jimmy Webb album. Laurence was even replaced by a returning Cindy Birdsong in the beginning of 1974.
[edit] Later career
In 1975 Lynda, along with sister Sundray Tucker and soon-to-be-Supreme Susaye Greene, together with numerous personnel added background vocals to Stevie Wonder's Songs In The Key Of Life album which was released in 1976. In 1976 Laurence teamed-up once again with her sister Sundray Tucker, this time under the name The Wilton Place Street Band, and under the leadership of Lynda's then-husband producer and musician Trevor Lawrence to record the disco single "Disco Lucy", which was a re-working of the theme-tune to the I Love Lucy show.
As a solo artist, Lynda recorded the songs "Give Me Back Just A Little Piece Of My Heart", "Love Is The Reason" and "Make You're Own Kind Of Music" among others under the name of Norma Lewis in the 1980s. In 1990 and 1991 Lynda recorded several solo tracks for the UK-based Motorcity Records label issuing the single, "Living With A Married Man", a firm favourite amongst her legions of fans. The label unfortunately folded before Laurence released an album however. In 1986, she joined fellow former Supremes Jean Terrell and Scherrie Payne to form the Former Ladies of the Supremes. The current lineup of the group include her, Payne and Freddi Poole as they recently celebrated their 20th anniversary together. In 2000, she and Payne joined Diana Ross in her Return to Love tour that she had tried promoting as a Supremes reunion despite the fact that it was supposed to be a reunion of Ross with fellow original Supreme Mary Wilson and Cindy Birdsong.
[edit] Discography
Over the years Lynda has recorded many tracks, of which only a few have been released as solo projects.
As Norma Lewis
- Give me Back Just A Little Piece Of My Heart
- Love Is The Reason
- Make Your Own Kind Of Music
Motorcity
- Forever
- Forever Came Today
- I'm Not Taking A Chance
- Right Around Midnight
- If This World We're Mine
- Outside Looking In
- The Man In My LIfe
- Living With A Married Man
- Fresh OUt Of Tears
Unreleased
- Don't Cross The Street
- Feed The Hunger
| The Supremes |
|---|
| Florence Ballard • Cindy Birdsong • Susaye Greene • Lynda Laurence • Barbara Martin • Betty McGlown • Scherrie Payne • Diana Ross • Jean Terrell • Mary Wilson |
| Singles: "Where Did Our Love Go" • "Baby Love" • "Come See About Me" • "Stop! In the Name of Love" • "Back in My Arms Again" • "Nothing But Heartaches" • "I Hear a Symphony" • "My World Is Empty Without You" • "Love Is Like an Itching In My Heart" • "You Can't Hurry Love" • "You Keep Me Hangin' On" • "Love Is Here and Now You're Gone" • "The Happening" • "Reflections" • "Love Child" • "I'm Gonna Make You Love Me" • "I'm Livin' in Shame" • "The Weight" • "Someday We'll Be Together" • "Up the Ladder to the Roof" • "Stoned Love" |
| Related articles: Discography |
