Orleans (band)

Orleans
Orleans, singing the national anthem at Fenway Park in July 2006. Left to right: Charlie Morgan, Lance Hoppen, Larry Hoppen, Dennis "Fly" Amero, Lane Hoppen.
Background information
Origin	, United States
Genres	Pop rock,soft rock
Years active	1972–1997; 2001–present
Labels	ABC Dunhill, Asylum, Infinity, MCA Records, Radio Records, Spectra Records
Members	Dennis "Fly" Amero Lance Hoppen Lane Hoppen Charlie Morgan John Hall
Past members	Larry Hoppen Wells Kelly Jerry Marotta Bob Leinbach Peter O'Brien

Orleans is an American pop rock band best known for its hits "Dance with Me" (#6 in 1975); "Still the One" (#5), from the album Waking and Dreaming (1976); and "Love Takes Time" (#11 in 1979). The group's name evolved from the music it was playing at the time of their formation, which was inspired by Louisiana artists such as Allen Toussaint and the Neville Brothers. Orleans was formed in in January 1972 by vocalist/guitarist/songwriter John Hall, vocalist/guitarist/keyboardist Larry Hoppen and drummer/percussionist Wells Kelly. In October of that year, the group expanded to include Larry's younger brother, Lance, on bass. Drummer Jerry Marotta joined in 1976, completing the quintet.

Drummer Wells Kelly (son of Cornell's Dean of Architecture, Burnham Kelly) first met John Hall, an in-demand session player and member of the group Kangaroo, in the late 60s when he played with him in a group called Thunderfrog and later played on John's first solo album, Action, released in 1970.

In 1969 Wells joined the first incarnation of King Harvest, who would have a hit a few years later, in 1973, with the song "Dancing In The Moonlight", a song written by Wells' brother, Sherman Kelly, and first recorded by Boffalongo, a group Wells joined in 1970 after leaving King Harvest.

Hall and his wife, Johanna, had just gained notoriety when their song "Half Moon" had appeared on their friend Janis Joplin's posthumous album Pearl. Hall, who had recorded and toured with Taj Mahal and Seals and Crofts, at the request of producer/pianist John Simon, had decided to relocate to to be close to Bearsville Studios and the musical scene there.

Larry Hoppen, who grew up in Bay Shore, NY but relocated to Ithaca, NY to attend college in the late 60s, was also a member of Boffalongo with Kelly.