La Velle   (USA)

EuroDance member
Added : 17/06/2010
7619
† 04/02/2016

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Latest La Velle news

08/02/2016 : Gospel jazz diva La Velle, who did vocals for eurodance project B-one (and maybe also for Miranda) died on February 4th (thanks to Gabriel).

More news

La Velle albums

	Winter Mind	1977	BUY X
	Hooked, Liberty	1978	BUY X
	Brand New Start	1981	BUY X
	Straight Singin’ – Tribute to Nat King cole	1990	BUY X

La Velle singles

	Playgirl	1979	BUY X
	Right Now	1979	BUY X
	Rastafaris	1981	BUY X

Featurings and collaborations

	B-one - Can't Stop The Boogie	14th Dec 1995	BUY X
	B-one - It's A Shame	20th Jun 1996	BUY X
	B-one - The Future	10th Feb 1997	BUY X
	B-one - Voyage Voyage	1998	BUY X
	Miranda - Vamos A La Playa	Jun 1999	BUY X

La Velle biography

American jazz and gospel singer Lavelle McKinnie Duggan was born in Kankakee, near Chicago, in a musicians family. Her father was played the guitar in Nat King Cole's band, and her mother was a dancer and singer in the Cotton Club. Lavelle already sung gospel in choirs at the tender age of 3. As she was only 5, she started studying the piano. She entered Chicago's national Conservatory at the age of 11, being the youngest student. She did brilliant musical studies, earning many awards. She sung Haendel's Messiah as she was only 14. She continued her studies at the prestigious Julliard School of Music de New York.

After a carreer of lyric singer, she progressively went back to jazz and gospel. She apeared in the musical Hello Dolly in Broadway. She then toured across America, singing ryhthm and blues with the greatest names in soul music such as Ray Charles or Sammy Davis Jr. She also contributed to great jazz bands of Lionel Hampton, Buddy Rich, Maynard Ferguson and Quincy Jones.

In 1977, she moved to France, releasing her first album Winter’s Mind. She then released a disco single entitled Playgirl in 1979, followed by a second LP entitled Brand New Start.

In 1989, she did background vocals for Ray Charles & Dee Dee Bridgewater. The following year, she recorded and produced the album Straight Singin’ - Tribute to Nat King Cole. Apart form her own concert and tours, she ran singing masterclasses, sharing her passion and contributing to the creation of many gospel choirs in France. In 1992, she was awarded the decoration of Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres.

During the 90s, she was the female vocalist of the B-one project. She probably also did all vocals for Miranda. She also sung for some TV ads.

She then left France to settle in Saint-Cergue (Switzerland). She leads a gospel choir in Geneva, but also keeps on running masterclasses and touring in France.

La Velle biography was last updated Fri, June 4th 2021

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