Laura Lee

LAURA LEE knew at age seven she wanted to be a singer. By the time she was in her teens she had directed gospel choirs and was making a name for herself in and around Detroit. While still in her teens, she joined the Meditation Gospel Singers, replacing Della Reese. By 1965, LAURA decided to change over and sing R&B. She recorded her first single in 1966. The classic "To Win Your Heart" her first recording, written by L. Bursten and J. Bratton, and produced by Ed Wingate, was well received by the public.
Lord Have Mercy
The Meditations - Ernestine Rundless
THE DETROIT NEWS - Oct 28, 1977
“LAURA LEE'S A CROWD MOVER - by Chuck Bennett (News Special Writer) Singer LAURA LEE has all the potential to be a superstar. She has the talent, the charisma and the class - from the 10-caret diamond on her pinky finger to the $200 shoes on her feet. LAURA, reluctant to quote years, began singing in her father’s church when she was 9. At 15, she was musical director for five different Detroit-area choirs. In 1956, her mother (ERNESTINE RUNDLESS) organized the MEDITATION GOSPEL SINGERS, the group with which Laura launched her professional career as a background vocalist for the choir’s lead singer, DELLA REESE. When DELLA left the group, which is still in existence, LAURA replaced her as lead singer. It wasn’t until the late 1960’s that LAURA decided to pursue a career as an R&B artist. She soon had a gold single, “YOU'RE A DIRTY MAN.” LAURA'S biggest national hit was “WOMENS LOVE RIGHTS.” “The response to that song was phenomenal.” says LAURA. “I was invited to speak to all kinds of women’s liberation groups and every television talk show in the country wanted to hear what I had to say” … LAURA'S voice is harsh and soulful. Her versatility allows her to sing country western, rock, jazz and ballads as well as gospel……..”
DISC-O-TECH NEWS, Vol 1 - August, 1979 - “LAURA LEE - SHE DOES IT ALL” - Seldom, if ever, can you find within a single performer so many polished artistic talents. So polished, in fact, that each one, if observed singularly, would destine the performer for the “Super Star” classification. MS. LAURA LEE does it all!! It is no wonder, however, to thousands, perhaps millions of her fans world wide, who are familiar with her background and who have followed her through the various developmental phases of her career. But, to the unfamiliar, a complete state of wonder may indeed be the norm having just witnessed a performance by this very talented lady. During some of the ballads she sings, as she does a complete show, one hears sounds which are so soulful; so mournful that religious feelings tend to surface. One wonders how she can project such feelings.."