Prince La La

Lawrence Nelson (1936 – October 27, 1963), who recorded as Prince La La, was an American singer, songwriter and guitarist. After a single R&B hit, "She Put the Hurt on Me", he died of a drugs overdose, aged 27.

Prince La La
Background information
Birth nameLawrence Nelson
Born1936
New Orleans, Louisiana, United States
DiedOctober 27, 1963 (age 27)
New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
GenresRhythm and blues
Occupation(s)Singer, songwriter
InstrumentsVocals, guitar
Years active1950s–1963
LabelsA.F.O.

Biography

He was born in 1936 in the Ninth Ward of New Orleans, Louisiana. His father, Walter Nelson, was a jazz and R&B guitarist who played with Smiley Lewis. His elder brother, Walter "Papoose" Nelson, played in the 50s and early 60s with Fats Domino and Professor Longhair, and was a session guitarist for New Orleans bandlander and producer Dave Bartholomew; he died in 1962. Sister Dorothy was married to the singer, songwriter and producer Jessie Hill.[1]

Nelson started as a songwriter. In 1961 Jessie Hill brought his latest discovery, 19-year-old Barbara George, in for a debut recording session with Harold Battiste's newly founded AFO (All For One) label. Hill proposed that she sing Nelson's song "She Put the Hurt on Me", and played Nelson's vocal demo for her and Battiste to hear. Battiste liked Nelson's version so much he decided to have Nelson sing the song instead. In 1962 it became the first release by the AFO label, b/w "Don’t You Know Little Girl (I'm In Love)".[1] Other musicians on the record included saxophonist Red Tyler and drummer John Boudreaux.[2] Issued in mid-1962, the record was credited to Prince La La – "La La" being Nelson's nickname – and rose to number 28 on the Billboard R&B chart.[3] It was promoted with images of La La in exotic robes, a style later adopted by fellow New Orleans musician Dr. John.[1]

Nelson followed up with a second single at the tail-end of 1962, the Charley Julien song "Gettin’ Married Soon", b/w "Come Back To Me". However, in October 1963 he died at the age of 27 in somewhat mysterious circumstances, most sources stating that it was the result of an accidental overdose of heroin, though there have been intimations of foul play.[2]

Nelson's death was the subject of his friend Oliver Morgan's 1964 song "Who Shot the La La?" A further two Prince La La recordings are extant: "Things Have Changed", and a Jessie Hill song, "Need You".

References
  1. Biography by Jason Ankeny, Allmusic.com. Retrieved 12 October 2016
  2. "How La La Became A Prince", Home of the Groove, August 12, 2005. Retrieved 12 October 2016
  3. Whitburn, Joel (1996). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-1995. Record Research. p. 359.
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