| The late Nicolette Larson first gained attention as part of the Commander Cody & The Lost Planet Airmen group. She toured and sang on three of their albums between 1975-1978. Around the same time as she began singing with Commander Cody, she also began singing as a studio musician. Over the next four years, she appeared on numerous albums by country and rock musicians, including records by Neil Young, Linda Ronstadt, Hoyt Axton, Guy Clark, Jesse Winchester, Emmylou Harris, Jesse Colin Young, John Stewart, the Doobie Brothers, Rodney Crowell, and Graham Nash. In 1978, she signed a record contract with Warner Brothers, releasing her first single, a cover of Young's "Lotta Love," at the end of the year. The song became a huge hit, reaching number eight on the pop charts, helping to send her debut album, "Nicolette," into gold status. Thanks to a "Jim Burgess Remix" the promotional-only 12 " single stormed the club charts and made her a disco contender. Further attempts at a pop career stalled with the release of her second and third albums. In 1983 Larson retreated from the mainstream and starred/toured in the country musical "Pump Boys and Dinettes." Larson received positive reviews for her performance, which led to a new recording contract with MCA Records. On the basis of her performance, the Academy of Country Music named her the Best New Female Vocalist in 1984, even though she had yet to have any country hits. Larson finally released a country album in 1985 with "...Say When." Though it was critically acclaimed, the album was far from a commercial success, yet the record was strong enough for Cash Box to name her the Best New Female Vocalist of the year. Larson finally broke into the country charts in 1986 when "That's How You Know When Love's Right," a duet with Steve Wariner, climbed into the Top Ten and stayed in the charts for five months. It was drawn from "Rose Of My Heart," which performed respectably. However, Larson didn't choose to follow the album up with another country record. In 1987, she recorded an album, "Shadows Of Love," in Italy, and the next year she began pursuing an acting career. In 1988, she appeared on "Family Reunion," a black gospel television show and the Arnold Schwarzenegger/Danny DeVito comedy "Twins," as well as the television series "Throb." During the early 1990's, she began touring with singers Valerie Carter and Lauren Wood, and the trio went on a USO tour. In 1994, she released a children's album titled "Sleep Baby Sleep." Larson died of cerebral edema on December 18, 1997. |
