Lynda Laurence
| Lynda Laurence | |
|---|---|
| Born | February 20, 1949 |
| Origin | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Genres | R&B, pop Jazz |
| Occupation(s) | Singer |
| Instruments | Vocals |
| Years active | 1969–present |
| Labels | Motown, Motorcity |
| Associated acts | Stevie Wonder, The Supremes Joe Cocker |
Lynda Laurence (also spelled Lawrence, born Lynda Tucker, February 20, 1949, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) is an American singer. She is best known for being a part of two Motown acts: Stevie Wonder's backup group The Third Generation, and one of the post-Diana Ross 1970's line-ups of The Supremes. She is the youngest daughter of Louise Tucker and Ira Tucker, gospel songwriter, producer, and lead singer of The Dixie Hummingbirds, and sister of Sundray Tucker and Ira Tucker Jr. She was a member of The Supremes from April 1972 through October 1973, replacing Cindy Birdsong, who left the trio to have a baby and begin raising her family.
Laurence began her career singing with a group named the Pendelles. Her sister, Sundray Tucker, was also in this group. She eventually made her way to Stevie Wonder's group Third Generation a predecessor to Wonderlove in 1969. At this time, her sister was going by the name Cindy Scott, and rejoined Laurence in the group. Laurence, Scott and third member, cousin Terri Hendricks, billed as "The Third Generation" toured with Wonder to promote his single "Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours", which featured Laurence on back-up vocals.
In 1972, Mary Wilson, who chose to continue the legacy of The Supremes after the departure of Florence Ballard in 1967 and lead singer Diana Ross in 1970, was about to lose another member of the group, Cindy Birdsong, who was expecting a baby. Birdsong originally replaced Tucker in the group The Ordettes, later to be named Patti LaBelle & the Bluebelles, so it was ironic that Tucker's sister, Laurence took Birdsong's place as a backing vocalist. At this time, Jean Terrell was the lead singer of The Supremes. Laurence joined the group around the time the group issued their Floy Joy album, and appeared on the cover with Terrell and Wilson, though Birdsong had sung on the album before her departure. Among the songs she recorded with the group included the Wonder produced single, "Bad Weather", and The Supremes Produced and Arranged by Jimmy Webb album plus The Supremes Live! In Japan album recorded in 1973.
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