LaLa (songwriter)
Encyclopedia
La Forrest Cope, professionally known as La La, is an American songwriter
and performer raised in the East Elmhurst neighborhood of Queens
, New York
, U.S.A.
She is best known for writing the BillBoard #3 hit song “You Give Good Love” recorded by Whitney Houston for her self-titled debut album in 1985 that sold over 15 million units.
aged nine.
After leaving New York's High School of Music and Art
she formed a band called Jack Sass, which played Top 40 cover versions on the club scene.
As the group's reputation grew, La La began introducing more of her own songs into the repertoire before she went to Juilliard to major in composition.
In 1981, she was invited to tour with Stacy Lattisaw
who opened for The Jacksons on a national tour.
Following this she sang with the group Change, along with Luther Vandross
, where her voice was heard on their tune 'The Glow Of Love', co-written by her childhood friend from East Elmhurst, Queens, Wayne K. Garfield.
She played one of her songs, 'Stone Love', to another neighborhood friend, Kashif
, who recorded it on his debut album in 1983.
('All Of You'), Melba Moore
('Living For Your Love' and 'It's Really Love'), Glenn Jones
('Show Me' and 'Stay'), Giorge Pettus ('My Night For Love') and a solo release Into The Night which was featured on the 'Beat Street' soundtrack album.
Through Kashif, she had a couple of her tunes recorded by Whitney Houston
('You Give Good Love' and 'Thinking About You') before signing to Arista
(both Kashif and Whitney Houston's label) as an artist. In 1987 she released a debut album, La La, including 'We'll Keep Striving' (a duet with Bernard Wright), but she left the label shortly afterwards.
La La also wrote for Carl Anderson
and Stephanie Mills
in addition to further songs for herself, after a move to Motown Records
in the early nineties. Her debut Motown album was La La Means I Love You in 1991.
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
and performer raised in the East Elmhurst neighborhood of Queens
Queens
Queens is the easternmost of the five boroughs of New York City. The largest borough in area and the second-largest in population, it is coextensive with Queens County, an administrative division of New York state, in the United States....
, New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, U.S.A.
She is best known for writing the BillBoard #3 hit song “You Give Good Love” recorded by Whitney Houston for her self-titled debut album in 1985 that sold over 15 million units.
History
La La took up the piano at the age of five and gave a piano recital at Carnegie HallCarnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall is a concert venue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, United States, located at 881 Seventh Avenue, occupying the east stretch of Seventh Avenue between West 56th Street and West 57th Street, two blocks south of Central Park....
aged nine.
After leaving New York's High School of Music and Art
The High School of Music & Art
The High School of Music & Art, informally known as "Music & Art", was a public alternative high school at 443-465 West 135th Street, New York, New York, USA that existed from 1936 through 1984, and then merged into the Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing...
she formed a band called Jack Sass, which played Top 40 cover versions on the club scene.
As the group's reputation grew, La La began introducing more of her own songs into the repertoire before she went to Juilliard to major in composition.
In 1981, she was invited to tour with Stacy Lattisaw
Stacy Lattisaw
Stacy Lattisaw is an American R&B, dance, and gospel singer. Since the 1990s, she has exclusively sung gospel music, as a callback to her Christian roots.-Career:...
who opened for The Jacksons on a national tour.
Following this she sang with the group Change, along with Luther Vandross
Luther Vandross
Luther Ronzoni Vandross was an American singer-songwriter and record producer. During his career, Vandross sold over twenty-five million albums and won eight Grammy Awards including Best Male R&B Vocal Performance four times...
, where her voice was heard on their tune 'The Glow Of Love', co-written by her childhood friend from East Elmhurst, Queens, Wayne K. Garfield.
She played one of her songs, 'Stone Love', to another neighborhood friend, Kashif
Kashif
Kashif is an Arabic word, commonly used as a male given name in the Muslim world. Its meaning is close to the English words 'revealer', 'discoverer', 'uncoverer' or 'pioneer'....
, who recorded it on his debut album in 1983.
Songs
La La has penned songs for many artists inclcuding Lillo ThomasLillo Thomas
Lillo Thomas. , is an American former Olympic-qualifying athlete and later a soul musician. He reached the peak of his success as a recording artist in the 1980s. His most famous songs include "Sexy Girl" and "I'm in Love."-Career:Prior to his recording career he was on the U.S. track and field team...
('All Of You'), Melba Moore
Melba Moore
Beatrice Melba Smith , known by her stage name, Melba Moore is an American disco, R&B singer and actress. She is the daughter of saxophonist Teddy Hill and R&B singer Bonnie Davis.-Early life:...
('Living For Your Love' and 'It's Really Love'), Glenn Jones
Glenn Jones
Glenn Jones, , is an American R&B/soul singer.-Career:He started his career as a gospel singer and has since, managed a successful move into the R&B field. He got his start in R&B in 1980 when Norman Connors featured Jones on a track on his album, Take It To The Limit...
('Show Me' and 'Stay'), Giorge Pettus ('My Night For Love') and a solo release Into The Night which was featured on the 'Beat Street' soundtrack album.
Through Kashif, she had a couple of her tunes recorded by Whitney Houston
Whitney Houston
Whitney Elizabeth Houston is an American singer, actress, producer and a former model. Houston is the most awarded female act of all time, according to Guinness World Records, and her list of awards include 1 Emmy Award, 6 Grammy Awards, 30 Billboard Music Awards, 22 American Music Awards, among...
('You Give Good Love' and 'Thinking About You') before signing to Arista
Arista Records
Arista was an American record label. It was a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment and operated under the RCA Music Group. The label was founded in 1974 by Clive Davis, who formerly worked for CBS Records...
(both Kashif and Whitney Houston's label) as an artist. In 1987 she released a debut album, La La, including 'We'll Keep Striving' (a duet with Bernard Wright), but she left the label shortly afterwards.
La La also wrote for Carl Anderson
Carl Anderson
Carl Anderson may refer to:*Carl Anderson , American college football coach*Carl Anderson , American art director*Carl Anderson , North Dakota State Treasurer...
and Stephanie Mills
Stephanie Mills
Stephanie Dorthea Mills is an American R&B and soul singer, and a former Broadway star.-Career:Mills began her career appearing in her first play at the age of nine. Two years later, Mills won Amateur Night at the Apollo Theater a record six times...
in addition to further songs for herself, after a move to Motown Records
Motown Records
Motown is a record label originally founded by Berry Gordy, Jr. and incorporated as Motown Record Corporation in Detroit, Michigan, United States, on April 14, 1960. The name, a portmanteau of motor and town, is also a nickname for Detroit...
in the early nineties. Her debut Motown album was La La Means I Love You in 1991.