The Queen of the Blues Denise LaSalle
As a singer, songwriter, and record company executive, Denise LaSalle has made a lasting impact on R&B music. Her hit single, "Trapped by a Thing Called Love," was certified gold in 1971. She also wrote hits for Bill Coday, the Sequins, and Z.Z. Hill. With her husband, James Wolfe, Jr.,LaSalle continues to be an active part of the R&B and gospel music community. LaSalle was born Denise Allen on July 16, 1939, in LeFlore County, Mississippi, the youngest daughter of eight children born to Nathaniel and Nancy Allen. When she was seven years old, her family moved to Belzoni, Mississippi, in Humphreys County, where she helped the family pick cotton. Raised as a Baptist, she sang in the church choir and listened to Grand Ole Opry radio broadcasts. The family home in Belzoni was also across the street from a juke joint,& a roadhouse, where a lot of music was played.