Bio

INTRODUCING L. A. YOUNG

The Steel Mill Blues reverberate in L. A. Young's musical roots, marked at the crossroads of the decline of American steel manufacturing, the struggles of racial integration, and the broken dreams of the working class in post 1960s Ohio. Working alongside her father and brother, a second generation steel worker, L. A. became the first female crane operator in the steel industry by age 18. L. A.'s gut level love of blues, R&B, funk and Soul was forged in the 3,000 degree heat blasting out of a steel furnace. You can feel it in the way she cuts through peoples' emotions, belting out vocals from her soul.

What musical genre defines L. A.? L A grew up in a musical household as the youngest child surrounded by 6 siblings. L. A.'s dad steeped in American Roots music spent endless Sundays tutoring her in Bluegrass, Delta Blues, Chicago Blues, Classic Rock, Soul, Funk, Alternative and Jazz--you name it. L. A.'s desire to become a vocalist started early drawing inspiration from her first cousins, The Staple Singers. Her parents encouraged her to play every wind instrument and percussion and illustrating her talent and diversity, she played high school basketball and is in the Woman's Basketball Hall of Fame.

L. A. also grew up in the midst of a musical revolution in 1980s Ohio; the epicenter of Funk--a fusion of R&B, Rock and Blues--Funk defines so much of L. A.'s core raised on bands including Cameo, the Ohio Players, Lakeside and Dazzband. But it was not just Funk, she was heavily influenced by MoTown and Pop. L. A. has been described as Chaka Kahn meets Phylis Hyman. Phyllis, however, is L. A.'s alter ego; a contralto, L. A. possesses a haunting similarity to her alto range, timbre and love of ballads with lyrics that tug at your heart.

L. A. is complex like the environment she grew up in. As a toddler L. A. already felt the sting of racism. Her parents, born poor Southerners, wanted every opportunity for their children so they literally moved across the tracks into a white middle class neighborhood. A toddler standing on her porch, L. A. vividly remembers white neighbors approaching her mother with a petition, asking her why they would want to live where they are not wanted. But her parents taught her understanding and the twin lessons of race and social class moved her not to hate but to a lifelong love of people--all people--at the center of L A's bond with every audience and with all of her fans.

As American manufacturing moved off shore, Elkem Metals, where L. A. had worked from her late teens to adulthood, closed its doors. In 1993, confronted with a life of factory labor in a dying town, L A went with her heart and embarked on a career as a vocalist, leaving Ashtabula, Ohio for Maryland with her two young children. Longing to sing with a band, L. A. went to every open mic night all over Maryland winning every contest she entered, earning over $100,000. Auditioning several times, L. A. finally hooked up with Dublin Soul, renamed Joy Ride. By 2001 it was time to move on--L. A. formed her own band, The Unusual Suspects, playing at festivals, private gigs and clubs in the mid-Atlantic region.

L. A.'s immense talent hasn't gone unnoticed; she was invited to sing at President Clinton's second inaugural, for the Mayor of Baltimore and Governor of Maryland and at the Baltimore Marathon. L. A. sang at the Annapolis Blues Festival with the legendary Koko Taylor. L. A. has been headlining music festivals and has opened for After 7, Eric Roberson and Kayla Waters. She has appeared at the Horseshoe Casino on several occasions, and a 2018 two night New Years Eve performance at the Hollywood Casino, Charlestown Races L. A. is a frequent guest lead vocalist on other band's projects. In 2018, L A was the only vocalist nominated in three categories at the Maryland Music Awards--Artist of the Year, Best R&B vocalist and Best Jazz Vocalist

L. A. has recorded in the studio with members of the great jazz band, Pieces of A Dream. L. A. is currently recording original tracks written and produced by multiple Grammy nominee, Jonathan Lesane with the Grainger Brothers, Greg and Gary. Her new original, No One Can Love You More has been released simultaneously throughout the UK, the EU and N America October 10, 2018 charting at #12 on the UK Jazz and Soul charts and 15 straight weeks at #2 followed by 43 weeks at #1 on multiple UK FM global affiliates. She now has a second #1 hit for twelve weeks on UK FM radio, The Woman in Me and the #2 hit Dr Feelgood. She is nominated on Connecticut radio 89.5 FM for "Live Performance of the Year" and for "Artist of the Year." L A is recording several original songs for a forthcoming CD including songs by multi Grammy nominee, Vinnie Barrett. In addition, L. A. is touring to rave reviews for her her acclaimed musical biography--The Phyllis Hyman Experience.

LA Young recently opened for Frederick Anthony Jackson, an American singer. Originally from New York, Jackson began his professional music career in the late 1970s with the California funk band Mystic Merlin. Among his well–known R&B/soul hits are "Rock Me Tonight (For Old Times Sake)" (1985), "Have You Ever Loved Somebody" (1986), "Jam Tonight" (1986), "Do Me Again" (1990), and "You Are My Lady" (1985).[4] He contributed to the soundtrack for the 1989 film, All Dogs Go to Heaven with the Michael Lloyd-produced duet "Love Survives" alongside Irene Cara. He also appeared in the movie King of New York.

Also for 2021, LA Young will be recording original music with the legendary Norman Connors. Connors is an American jazz drummer, composer, arranger, and producer who has led some influential jazz and R&B groups. He also achieved several big R&B hits of the day, especially with love ballads. He is possibly best known for the 1976 hit, "You Are My Starship" on which lead vocals were sung by Michael Henderson.

Grammys are on the horizon