Latimore (musician)

Benjamin "Benny" Latimore (born September 7, 1939) known professionally simply as Latimore, is an American blues and R&B singer, songwriter and pianist.

Early years

He was born in Charleston, Tennessee, and was influenced by country music, his Baptist church choir, and the blues.^[1] His first professional experience came as a pianist for various Florida-based groups including Steve Alaimo. He first recorded around 1965 for Henry Stone's Dade record label in Miami, Florida.^[2] In the early 1970s, he moved to the Glades label, and had his first major hit in 1973 with a jazzy reworking of T-Bone Walker's "Stormy Monday", which reached #27 on the R&B chart.

His first national hit was "If You Were My Woman," a gender-modified cover of "If I Were Your Woman" (written by Pam Sawyer and Gloria Jones and first popularized by Gladys Knight & the Pips), which reached #70 on the R&B chart. His biggest success came in 1974, with "Let's Straighten It Out", a #1 R&B hit which also reached #31 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. He followed it up with more hits, including "Keep The Home Fire Burnin'" (#5 R&B, 1975) and "Somethin' 'Bout 'Cha" (#7 R&B, 1976). The hits dissipated in the late 1970s.

Latimore moved to Malaco Records in 1982, releasing seven albums of modern blues music with that label. He briefly left the label in 1994 and released a song for the J-Town label, "Turning Up The Mood", before returning to Malaco in 2000 with: "You're Welcome To Ride". Next, Latimore recorded an album with Mel Waiters' label, Brittney Records, called Latt Is Back.^[3]

Later, Latimore collaborated with Henry Stone on a new record label called LatStone; which released his first new album in six years called: Back 'Atcha.

He has continued to work as a session pianist. He appeared most recently on Joss Stone's albums, The Soul Sessions (2003) and Mind Body & Soul (2004), along with fellow Miami music veterans Betty Wright, Timmy Thomas and Willie Hale, and made an appearance in May 2014 on Jimmy Fallon, The Tonight show.

Discography

Albums

1973 Latimore

1974 More, More, More Latimore, (Let's Straighten It Out), Black Albums #13

1975 Latimore III, Black Albums #49

1976 It Ain't Where You Been...It's Where You're Goin', Pop Albums #181, Black Albums #47

1978 Dig A Little Deeper, Black Albums #51

1980 Getting Down To Brass Tacks

1982 Singing In The Key Of Love, Black Albums 61

1983 I'll Do Anything For You, Black Albums 66, Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums 67

1985 Good Time Man

1986 Every Way But Wrong

1987 Slow Down

1991 The Only Way Is Up, Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums 34

1993 Catchin' Up

1995 Best Of Latimore: Sweet Vibrations

1995 Straighten It Out: The Best Of Latimore

1996 Turnin' Up The Mood

1998 All You'll Ever Need

2000 You're Welcome To Ride

2003 Latt Is Back

2004 Sweet Vibrations: The Best Of Latimore

2005 The Early Years

2007 Back 'Atcha

2009 All About The Rhythm And The Blues

2010 Live In Vienna

2011 Ladies Choice

2012 Henry Stones's Best Of: Latimore

2013 Latimore Remembers Ray Charles

Chart singles

1974 If You Were My Woman, Black Singles 70

1974 Let's Straighten It Out, Black Singles 1, Pop Singles 31

1975 Keep The Home Fire Burnin', Black Singles 5

1975 There's A Red-Neck In The Soul Band, Black Singles 36

1976 Qualified Man, Black Singles 43

1977 I Get Lifted, Black Singles 30

1977 Let Me Live The Life I Love, Black Singles 49

1977 Somethin' 'Bout 'Cha, Black Singles 7, Pop Singles 37

1979 Dig A Little Deeper, Black Singles 42

1979 Goodbye Heartache, Black Singles 82

1979 Long Distance Love, Black Singles 75

1980 Discoed to Death, Black Singles 68

1986 Sunshine Lady, Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks 76

References

The complete Latimore Story at Soul Express]

Latimore's full album discography at Soul Express]