Lou Courtney

Lou Courtney (born Louis Russell Pegues, August 15, 1943) is an American soul singer and songwriter who had several hit records in the 1960s and 1970s, both as a performer and writer.

Lou Courtney
Birth nameLouis Russell Pegues
Also known asLouis Pegues
Lew Courtney
Born (1943-08-15) August 15, 1943
Buffalo, New York, United States
GenresSoul, pop, funk
Occupation(s)Singer, songwriter, record producer
Years active1962–1980s
LabelsImperial, Riverside, Pop-Side, Verve, Epic, RCA, others
Associated actsBuffalo Smoke
The 5th Dimension

Biography

Born in Buffalo, New York, he graduated from Hutchinson Central Technical High School in 1962.[1] As Lew Courtney, he first recorded for Imperial Records the same year. He also worked in New York City as a songwriter, using his birth name, Louis Pegues, and wrote for Chubby Checker as well as Mary Wells' 1964 hit "Ain't It the Truth". With Dennis Lambert, he co-wrote the pop songs "Find My Way Back Home" for the Nashville Teens, "Do the Freddie" for Freddie and the Dreamers, and "Up and Down" recorded by the McCoys.[2] He also worked as Lorraine Ellison's recording director,[1] and produced Betty Mabry's first single, "The Cellar".[3]

In 1966, he signed for Riverside Records, and as Lou Courtney recorded the first in a series of dance-based songs. His first chart hit came with "Skate Now", which reached number 13 on the Billboard R&B chart and number 71 on the Hot 100 in 1967, and was followed by "Do the Thing" (#17 R&B, #80 pop).[4][5] He released a series of singles on Riverside and its subsidiary Pop-Side label in the late 1960s, including two more R&B chart hits, "You Ain't Ready" and "Hey Joyce"; several tracks later regarded as classics on the British Northern soul scene such as "Me & You Doing the Boogaloo" and "If the Shoe Fits", together with an album, Skate Now - Shing-A-Ling. His recordings covered ballads and mainstream soul tracks, as well as funk.[6] Most of his songs of the period were co-written and produced with Robert Bateman, who had previously been the co-writer and co-producer of the Marvelettes' "Please Mr. Postman" at Motown.[7]

Courtney left Pop-Side in 1968 and released singles on various other labels including Verve ("Do the Horse", 1968), Buddah ("Let Me Turn You On", 1969), and Hurdy-Gurdy ("Hot Butter 'N All", 1971).[8] However, he failed to reach the charts until he joined Epic Records in 1973, when, working with producer Jerry Ragovoy, he had further R&B chart entries with "What Do You Want Me To Do" and "I Don't Need Anybody Else", both self-penned songs.[2][4][5] He also released an album, I’m In Need of Love,[6] and appeared on Bonnie Raitt's 1974 album, Streetlights, which Ragovoy produced.

He formed a band, Buffalo Smoke, who released several singles, including a funk version of "Stubborn Kind of Fella", and an album on RCA Records in 1976.[4][9] In 1978, Courtney briefly became a member of The 5th Dimension, replacing Danny Beard, and featured on their Motown album High On Sunshine.[6] Subsequently, he has made occasional one-off live appearances.[4]

In 2016 it was reported that Courtney was living in New York City, following a stroke.[10]

Discography

Chart singles
Year Single Chart Positions
US Pop[5] US
R&B[5]
1967 "Skate Now" 71 13
"Do the Thing" 80 17
"You Ain't Ready" - 46
"Hey Joyce" - 43
1973 "What Do You Want Me To Do" - 48
1974 "I Don't Need Nobody Else" - 67

Albums
  • Skate Now - Shing-A-Ling (Riverside, 1967)
  • I’m In Need of Love (Epic, 1974)
  • Buffalo Smoke (RCA, 1976)
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gollark: You are very fortunate.
gollark: I see.
gollark: I've seen things you people wouldn't believe. Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion. I watched C-beams glitter in the dark near the Tannhäuser Gate. All those moments will be lost in time, like tears in rain. Time to print.
gollark: As unofficial unwilling tech support person, I've seen things... horrible things.

References
  1. Bob Paxon, "Lou Courtney", Western New York Music. Retrieved 16 October 2016
  2. Songs written by Lou Courtney, MusicVf.com. Retrieved 16 October 2016
  3. "Rhino Recommends - Betty Davis - They Say I'm Different", AllAboutJazz.com. Retrieved 16 October 2016
  4. Biography, Allmusic.com. Retrieved 16 October 2016
  5. Whitburn, Joel (1996). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-1995. Record Research. p. 96.
  6. "Focus on Lou Courtney", Funky16Corners.com. Retrieved 16 October 2016
  7. Robert Bateman, Soulwalking.co.uk. Retrieved 16 October 2016
  8. Lou Courtney discography, 45cat.com. Retrieved 16 October 2016
  9. Buffalo Smoke LP, Discogs.com. Retrieved 16 October 2016
  10. Lou Courtney, Facebook.com. Retrieved 16 October 2016
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