Debra Laws

Last updated

Debra Laws
Birth nameDebra Renee Laws
Born (1956-09-10) September 10, 1956 (age 67)
Houston, Texas, U.S.
Genres Soul, R&B
Occupation(s)Vocalist
Years active1977–present
Labels Elektra

Debra Renee Laws (born September 10, 1956) is an American singer and actress from Houston, Texas. She is best known for her 1981 R&B/soul ballad "Very Special". In her music career, she works closely with her siblings, Eloise Laws, Hubert Laws and Ronnie Laws, who are producers. [1]

Contents

Biography

Born in Houston, Texas, Laws is the seventh of eight children to Hubert Laws, Sr. and Miola Luverta Donahue. [2] [3] [4] [5] She has performed throughout the US in such prestigious venues as Carnegie Hall, The Berkeley Jazz Festival and the Hollywood Bowl. She has also toured in Europe, Africa, and Southeast Asia. Her most recent album is entitled Moments, and she produced, wrote or co-wrote nine of the 12 songs contained in the album. The album is now in release in Japan and the first single, "Moments Like This", reached the number 18 spot in the Japanese charts.

Career

Her professional career started in 1977 when she was featured on her brother Ronnie's album entitled Friends and Strangers, on United Artists Records. In 1979, she was a lead vocalist on her brother Hubert's album, Land of Passion, on Columbia Records.

Laws made her debut as a solo recording artist in 1981 with the release of her album Very Special on Elektra Records. This album, produced by her two brothers sold in excess of 385,000 copies, while the two singles, "Very Special" and "Be Yourself" sold combined totals in excess of 260,000 copies. The third single, "Meant for You", [6] was written by Roxanne Seeman [7] and David Lasley. "Meant for You" appeared in the Paramount film Fighting Back featuring Tom Skerritt and Patti LuPone. [8]

From 1981 through 1990, Laws worked with her three siblings, recording and doing many live performances in the United States and abroad.

In 1985, she recorded "Crusin' Tonight," written and produced by George Duke, for The Heavenly Kid motion picture soundtrack.

In April and May 1991, she toured Europe with the Commodores for a 38 city tour. In November of that year, she performed with Kool and the Gang, Third World, Shabba Ranks, Rita Marley, the Commodores and many others at a benefit for the children of Africa held in Lagos, Nigeria.

In 1992, she toured Asia in January and February, performing in Thailand, Singapore, Taiwan and Japan.

She then began the writing and recording process for an album which was completed in October 1994. In November and December of that year, she toured Europe again.

In addition to The Heavenly Kid, she has also recorded soundtracks for Fighting Back [9] and Prison Dancer and is featured on Pamela Williams' album Eight Days of Ecstasy.

Lawsuits against Sony Music and Elektra Entertainment Group

In March 2003, Debra Laws sued Sony Music Entertainment/Epic Records in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, over the use of samples from "Very Special" in Jennifer Lopez's recording of "All I Have" on her album This Is Me... Then . Although Sony had been granted permission to use the samples by Elektra Entertainment Group, which held the copyright to the song, Laws claimed that the use of her voice without her consent nonetheless violated her statutory and common law right of publicity under California law. In November 2003, Judge Lourdes Baird granted Sony Music's motion for summary judgment on the ground that Laws's state law claims were preempted by Section 301 of the United States Copyright Act. In 2006, that decision was affirmed by the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. [10]

In 2004, after losing the lawsuit against Sony Music, Laws and her production company, Spirit Productions, Inc. (which is owned and controlled by her brother, Hubert), sued Elektra Entertainment Group (as well as Elektra's parent company, Warner Music Group, and former parent, Warner Communications, Inc.), claiming that Elektra was contractually obligated to obtain consent before agreeing to allow the "Very Special" sound recording to be used in "All I Have." Laws's claims were dismissed early in the case on res judicata grounds, and Spirit's claims settled in early 2007 on undisclosed terms.

Discography

Albums

YearAlbumChart positions
US
[11]
US
R&B

[11]
1981 Very Special 7013
1993Moments
"—" denotes releases that failed to chart

Singles

YearTitleChart positions
US
[11]
US
R&B

[11]
1980"Be Yourself"31
1981"Very Special"9011
"On My Own"
"Meant for You"47
"—" denotes releases that failed to chart or was not released.

Acting career

Theater

Film

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Whitney Houston</span> American singer and actress (1963–2012)

Whitney Elizabeth Houston was an American singer and actress. Nicknamed "the Voice", she is one of the best-selling music artists of all time, with over 220 million records sold worldwide. In 2023, Rolling Stone named her the second-greatest singer of all time. Houston influenced many singers in popular music, and was known for her powerful, soulful vocals, vocal improvisation skills, and use of gospel singing techniques in pop music. She had 11 number-one singles on the Billboard Hot 100 and is the only artist to have seven consecutive number-one singles on the chart. Her accolades include eight Grammy Awards, 16 Billboard Music Awards, two Emmy Awards, and 30 Guinness World Records. Houston's inductions include the Grammy Hall of Fame (twice), the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Rhythm and Blues Music Hall of Fame, the Georgia Music Hall of Fame, the New Jersey Hall of Fame, and the National Recording Registry at the Library of Congress.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Destiny's Child</span> American girl group (1990–2006)

Destiny's Child was an American musical girl group whose final line-up comprised Beyoncé Knowles, Kelly Rowland, and Michelle Williams. The group began their musical career as Girl's Tyme, formed in 1990 in Houston, Texas. After years of limited success, the original quartet comprising Knowles, Rowland, LaTavia Roberson, and LeToya Luckett were signed in 1997 to Columbia Records as Destiny's Child. The group was launched into mainstream recognition following the release of the song "No, No, No" and their best-selling second album, The Writing's on the Wall (1999), which contained the number-one singles "Bills, Bills, Bills" and "Say My Name". Despite critical and commercial success, the group was plagued by internal conflict and legal turmoil, as Roberson and Luckett attempted to split from the group's manager Mathew Knowles, citing favoritism of Knowles and Rowland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anita Baker</span> American singer-songwriter (born 1958)

Anita Denise Baker is an American singer-songwriter. She is known for her soulful ballads, particularly from the height of the quiet storm period in the 1980s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Amanda Marshall</span> Canadian singer (born 1972)

Amanda Meta Marshall is a Canadian pop-rock singer. She has released four studio albums; the first was certified Diamond in Canada, with the second and third certified 3× Platinum and Platinum respectively. She is best known for her 1996 single, "Birmingham", which reached number 3 in Canada and was her only song to reach the US charts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">How Will I Know</span> 1985 single by Whitney Houston

"How Will I Know" is a song recorded by American singer Whitney Houston for her self-titled debut studio album. The song was released on November 22, 1985, by Arista Records as the album's third single. Originally written and composed by George Merrill and Shannon Rubicam, the song was originally intended for R&B singer Janet Jackson, but she passed on it. Houston then recorded the song with altered lyrics and production from Narada Michael Walden. The lyrics speak about the protagonist trying to discern if a boy she likes will ever like her back.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Irresistible (Jessica Simpson song)</span> 2001 single by Jessica Simpson

"Irresistible" is a song by American recording artist Jessica Simpson that Columbia Records released in 2001, as the lead single from her second studio album of the same name. Its title and concept were proposed by singer-songwriter Pamela Sheyne, while Arnthor Birgisson, an acquaintance of Sony chief executive officer Tommy Mottola, and his partner Anders Bagge developed the melody and co-wrote the verses with Sheyne. It is more sexually suggestive than Simpson's previous songs.

<i>This Is Me... Then</i> 2002 studio album by Jennifer Lopez

This Is Me... Then is the third studio album by American singer Jennifer Lopez. It was released on November 25, 2002, by Epic Records. Prior to its release, Lopez began a high-profile relationship with Ben Affleck and a media circus ensued. Her relationship with Affleck served as her main inspiration for the album, which is dedicated to him. Initially scheduled to be released the following year, This Is Me... Then's release date was quickly pushed forward after its lead single, "Jenny from the Block", was purposely leaked by Tommy Mottola, the head of Sony Music Entertainment.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">All I Have (song)</span> 2002 single by Jennifer Lopez

"All I Have" is a song by American singer Jennifer Lopez, featuring American rapper LL Cool J. Written by Lopez, Makeba Riddick, Curtis Richardson, and Ron G and produced by Cory Rooney, Ron G, and Dave McPherson, it was released on December 14, 2002, as the second single from Lopez's third studio album, This Is Me... Then (2002).

<i>These Are Special Times</i> 1998 studio album by Celine Dion

These Are Special Times is the seventeenth studio album by Canadian singer Celine Dion, and her first English-language Christmas album. It was first released in Europe on 30 October 1998, by Columbia Records. In the United States, it was released on 3 November 1998 through Epic Records. The album features cover versions of popular Christmas songs and original material, including "I'm Your Angel" and "The Prayer". Dion worked with David Foster and Ric Wake, who produced most of the album. These Are Special Times was released after two of Dion's most successful albums, Falling into You (1996) and Let's Talk About Love (1997).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hubert Laws</span> American flutist and saxophonist

Hubert Laws is an American flutist and saxophonist with a career spanning over 50 years in jazz, classical, and other music genres. Laws is one of the few classical artists who has also mastered jazz, pop, and rhythm-and-blues genres, moving effortlessly from one repertory to another. He has three Grammy nominations.

<i>More</i> (Tamia album) 2004 studio album by Tamia

More is the third studio album by Canadian R&B recording artist Tamia. It was released by Elektra Records on April 6, 2004 in North America. Created over a period of three years, in which the singer gave birth to her first child, the album, initially titled Still, was bumped from its original August 2003 schedule after Tamia was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and forced to undergo treatment. With the illness in remission, she resumed work on the album later that year and arranged additional recording sessions with producers Poke & Tone, Spanador and R. Kelly to revamp parts of the album which saw her also reteaming with frequent partners such as Jermaine Dupri, Shep Crawford and Mario Winans.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">My Heart Is Calling</span> 1997 single by Whitney Houston

"My Heart Is Calling" is a song recorded by the American recording artist Whitney Houston for the 1996 film The Preacher's Wife. It was released on June 10, 1997, as the third and final single by Arista Records from the accompanying soundtrack. The song was written and produced solely by Babyface. Musically, the song is an R&B ballad, with gospel music and funk influences, and the lyrics speak about meeting someone special. "My Heart Is Calling" received mainly positive reviews from music critics, who commended Houston's soulful performance. It peaked at number 77 on the United States Billboard Hot 100, and number 35 on Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. There was no music video made for the song.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eloise Laws</span> Musical artist

Eloise Laws is an American singer and a member of the prominent Laws family of musicians from Houston, Texas.

<i>I Look to You</i> 2009 studio album by Whitney Houston

I Look to You is the seventh and final studio album by American singer Whitney Houston. It was first released on August 28, 2009, through Sony Music in Europe, then August 31, 2009 with Arista Records in the United States before being released by RCA Records in the United Kingdom on October 19, 2009. The album was Houston's first non-holiday studio album since 2002's Just Whitney. It received favorable reviews from music critics, based on an aggregate score of 66/100 from Metacritic and debuted on the US Billboard 200 at number one with sales of 305,000 beating her previous career best first-week sale of 205,137 units with Just Whitney (2002), and it was her first album to reach number one in the US since 1992's The Bodyguard. Additionally it became her fourth chart-topping album, thus extending her as the female artist with the most cumulative weeks at the number one position.

Raymond Lee Brown is an American trumpeter and flugelhornist. Brown was a longtime member of the Earth, Wind & Fire Horns.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Whitney Houston videography</span>

The videography of American recording artist Whitney Houston, nicknamed “The Voice”, consists of fifty-five music videos, four music video compilations, a concert tour video and three music video singles. In 1983, Houston signed a recording contract with Arista Records and two years later released her eponymous debut album. Houston's first music video was for the single "You Give Good Love", which was selected to establish her in the black marketplace first. Houston then released the video of her worldwide hit "Saving All My Love for You". The following video, for the song "How Will I Know", helped introduce the singer to a wider audience when it became one of the first videos by a black female singer to earn heavy rotation on MTV, and it won MTV Video Music Award for Best Female Video at its 3rd ceremony of 1986. "Greatest Love of All", the final single released from Houston's debut album, helped cement the M.O. for the classic Whitney video. In June 1986, Houston released her first video compilation The No. 1 Video Hits, containing her four music videos off the Whitney Houston album. It reached number-one on the Billboard Top Music Videocassettes chart and stayed there for 22 weeks, which remains the all-time record for a video collection by a female artist, it was also certified Platinum for shipments of 100,000 units by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on July 15, 1986. In 1987, Houston released the music video for "I Wanna Dance with Somebody ", the first single from her second album Whitney (1987), which depicts Houston in one of her iconic looks, the clip―towering curly wig, colorful dangly earrings and a series of going-to-the-club outfits. In 1988, the music video for the song "One Moment in Time", the title track off the 1988 Summer Olympics Album: One Moment in Time, was released.

<i>Very Special</i> (Debra Laws album) 1981 studio album by Debra Laws

Very Special is the debut album by Debra Laws, released in 1981 on Elektra Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Meant for You</span> 1981 single by Debra Laws

"Meant for You" is a song written by David Lasley and Roxanne Seeman and recorded by American singer Debra Laws. It was released in 1981 as the third single from Laws' Very Special album by Elektra Records. The song was produced by Hubert Laws and Ronnie Laws. “Meant For You” appears in the film Fighting Back starring Tom Skerritt, Patti LuPone and Michael Sarrazin.

Sylvia St. James is an American gospel and soul singer, recording artist, and entertainment host. She is best known for her time as the Mistress of Ceremonies of the House of Blues Sunday Gospel Brunch, and her appearances in her signature long, white embroidered dress with a wide, feathered hat.

References

  1. Cavalieri, Nate. "Debra Laws Biography". AllMusic . Retrieved September 8, 2022.
  2. aframnews (January 28, 2023). "Stevie Wonder Pays Respect to Miola Laws". African American News and Issues. Retrieved April 10, 2023.
  3. Romero, Jhair; Munce, Megan (January 30, 2023). "Stevie Wonder makes surprise performance at funeral of Third Ward matriarch Miola Donahue Laws". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved April 10, 2023.
  4. "Miola Donahue Laws 103rd Birthday Car Parade Celebration". stylemagazine.com. Retrieved April 10, 2023.
  5. Dellinger, Hannah (August 27, 2022). "Legendary Houston 'Matriarch' receives congressional honor as part of 103rd birthday celebration". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved April 10, 2023.
  6. Inc, Nielsen Business Media (September 5, 1981). Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc.{{cite book}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  7. Inc, Nielsen Business Media (August 14, 1982). Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc.{{cite book}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  8. "IMDbPro". pro-labs.imdb.com. Retrieved July 26, 2017.
  9. Teague, Lewis (May 21, 1982). "Fighting Back". IMDb . Retrieved April 11, 2016.
  10. "Debra LAWS, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. SONY MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT, INC., d/b/a Epic Records, a Delaware corporation, Defendant-Appellee". AltLaw . September 12, 2005. Archived from the original on September 7, 2008. Retrieved January 26, 2009.
  11. 1 2 3 4 "Debra Laws - Awards". AllMusic. Archived from the original on September 26, 2013. Retrieved September 8, 2022.