Lawrence E. Birdsong (June 15, 1934 – August 7, 1990) was an American R&B singer who recorded between the 1950s and 1970s. His biggest hit was "Pleadin' For Love", which reached the ''

Billboard A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertise ...

'' R&B chart in 1956.

Life and career

He was born in Pulaski, Tennessee, into a musical family; all his brothers and sisters also sang. As a teenager, he was sent to Pikeville Reformatory School, but was discovered by Nashville music promoter

Ted Jarrett Theodore Roosevelt "Ted" Jarrett Jr. (October 17, 1925 – March 21, 2009) was an American singer-songwriter and producer of country, gospel, and soul music. Early life Jarrett was born into a prosperous African-American family in Nashville, Tenne ...

, who later claimed that he managed to secure Birdsong's release from probation by signing him to a recording contract for Excello Records. He first recorded with

Louis Brooks Louis Brooks, born Louie O'Neal Brooks (March 19, 1911 – May 5, 1993) was an American R&B saxophonist and bandleader, whose recording of "It's Love Baby (24 Hours a Day)", featuring vocalist Earl Gaines, reached no.2 on the US ''Billboard' ...

and his Hi-Toppers in 1955, and his second record, "Pleadin' For Love", reached no.11 on the R&B chart the following year. It was his only chart hit.Biography of Larry Birdsong at Black Cat Rockabilly
Retrieved 5 February 2014 Birdsong then recorded for the Calvert label owned by Jarrett; one of his records, "Let's Try It Again", was leased to

Decca Records Decca Records is a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis (Decca), Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934 by Lewis, Jack Kapp, American Decca's first president, and Milton Rackmil, who later became American ...

without success. In 1957 he signed for Vee-Jay Records, together with another of Jarrett's protégés,

Gene Allison Gene Allison (born Versie Eugene Allison; August 29, 1934 – February 28, 2004) was an American R&B singer. Allison was born in Pegram, Tennessee, and he grew up in Nashville, Tennessee singing in the church choir with his brother Leevert. ...

. Although Allison found some success, Birdsong's records for Vee-Jay failed to sell. Several of his recording sessions took place at

Cosimo Matassa Cosimo Vincent Matassa (April 13, 1926 – September 11, 2014) was an American recording engineer and studio owner, responsible for many R&B and early rock and roll recordings. Life and career Matassa was born in New Orleans in 1926.Komorowsk ...

's studio in New Orleans, with musicians including

Lee Allen Lee Allen may refer to: *Lee Allen (wrestler) (1934–2012), wrestler and coach * Lee Allen (baseball) (1915–1969), baseball historian *Lee Allen (musician) (1927–1994), saxophone player *Lee Allen (artist) Lee Allen (1910 – May 5, 2006), bor ...

and Red Tyler. After he left Vee-Jay, several of his earlier recordings were issued by Jarrett in 1958 and 1959 on another of his labels, Champion. He has been described as "a very versatile singer, who recorded blues, doowop, jazz, gospel, rock n roll, smooth crooning and soul." In 1961, Birdsong recorded for the Home of the Blues record label in Memphis, where he was produced by Willie Mitchell. On some recordings his backing group was credited as the Larryettes. However, commercial success still eluded him, and he did not record again until signing for the Sur-Sound label owned by Red Wortham in 1966. In the late 1960s he recorded for the Ref-O-Ree label, again owned by Ted Jarrett. His only recording after 1973 was a gospel single, "I Felt Alright", in 1981.Discography at WangDangDula.com
Retrieved 5 February 2014
Retrieved 5 February 2014 He died in Nashville in 1990, at the age of 56.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Birdsong, Larry 1934 births 1990 deaths 20th-century African-American male singers People from Pulaski, Tennessee 20th-century American singers 20th-century American male singers