Denise LaSalle

Denise LaSalle was a legendary blues, R&B, and soul singer who earned the title "Queen of the Blues" after Koko Taylor's passing. Born Ora Denise Allen on July 16, 1934, in Sidon, Mississippi, LaSalle grew up singing in church choirs before moving to Chicago in her teens. Her breakthrough came in 1971 with the hit single "Trapped by a Thing Called Love," which topped the R&B charts and cracked the Billboard Hot 100.

Throughout her career, LaSalle released a string of successful albums and singles, becoming known for her frank, often risqué lyrics and powerful voice. She was also a talented songwriter, penning tunes for other artists. LaSalle continued performing and recording well into her later years, releasing albums like "Pay Before You Pump" and "24 Hour Woman" in the 2000s and 2010s. She was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in 2011 and passed away on January 8, 2018, leaving behind a rich musical legacy.

Genres

Blues

Soul Blues

Northern Soul

R&b

Soul

Funk

Gospel

Chicago Blues

Southern Soul

Related Artists

Etta James

Koko Taylor

Candi Staton

Ann Peebles

Betty Wright

Tina Turner

Mavis Staples

Bettye LaVette

Millie Jackson

Latimore

Irma Thomas

Barbara Lynn

Latest Release

Trapped By A Thing Called Love (2025 Remastered)

Denise LaSalle

Album - 11 Tracks - Released January 17, 2025