Hall of Fame 'Queen of Blues' Sings Final Tune. Passes Away at Age 78
Rhythm and Blues and Hall of Fame legend Denise LaSalle has passed away at the age of 78.
LaSalle first rose to stardom as a blues singer in the late 1960s. She continued through the 1970s and 80s with multiple successful singles.
Her 1971 song “Trapped By a Thing Called Love” reached the number one spot on R&B charts and the number 13 spot on the Billboard Hot 100.
In 2015, LaSalle was inducted into the Rhythm and Blues Music Hall of Fame.
More recently, LaSalle was forced to undergo surgery to have her leg amputated after a fall.
Her death comes after reports of heart and health problems spanning through the past few years.
Friends and family of the singer have asked for prayers as they go through this difficult loss.
LaSalle’s godson, Monte Quarles, took to Facebook asking for prayers feeling “hurt beyond understanding.”
Singer Bobby Rush spoke to the media regarding the passing of the beloved “best friend and little sister” he’d known since her teen years.
“It was a blessing to know her. She’s going to be missed, not only by me, but by many other people — her family and friends and fans around this country… she was one of my best friends.”
Rush also said LaSalle’s health had been in decline, and that she’d been “up and down for the last eight or nine years.”
According to Rush, she was also in “good spirits” the last time he saw her before her leg operation.
“She always wanted to do well by others,” he said. “She wanted to unite musicians and entertainers, and she wanted the blues to last forever.”
LaSalle had recently been nominated for the “Soul Blues Female Artist” category for the Blues Music Awards taking place in May.
She had also had future plans to open the Denise LaSalle Blues Academy of Performing Arts in Jackson, Tennessee.
Our thoughts and prayers are with LaSalle’s family during this time. Rest in peace, Denise LaSalle, you will be missed by us all.
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