Denise LaSalle: The Queen of Southern Soul and Real Talk Blues

When you talk about queens in the world of Blues and Southern Soul, one name demands respect across generations — Denise LaSalle.

Born Ora Denise Allen in Mississippi and raised in the Delta, she came up singing in church but quickly found her voice in the realest kind of rhythm and blues. Denise LaSalle was never afraid to say what other singers wouldn't say. She sang for the women who’d been cheated on, disrespected, and still held it together with class, sass, and a whole lot of soul.

Her biggest hit, “Trapped by a Thing Called Love” (1971), topped the R&B charts and landed her in the mainstream — but it was just the beginning. Denise carved out a legacy through truth-telling blues with a woman’s touch. Whether she was being raw, funny, or heartbreakingly real, every song was backed by her signature Southern charm.

🎶 Hits That Made Her a Legend:

• “Now Run and Tell That”

• “Married, But Not to Each Other”

• “Don’t Mess With My Man”

• “Man Sized Job”

• “A Lady in the Street”

Her lyrics were unapologetic, unfiltered, and unmatched. She spoke to women who knew their worth and wasn’t scared to let the men know what time it was. Even today, artists like Ms. Jody, Nellie “Tiger” Travis, and Karen Wolfe walk in Denise’s footsteps — delivering messages with boldness, blues, and feminine fire.

Beyond her music, Denise was a businesswoman and record label owner, and she even wrote for other artists. She stayed true to herself until her passing in 2018 — leaving behind a catalog that still gets played at grown-folk parties, hole-in-the-walls, and Sunday night blues hours across the South.

At LMB Network, we recognize Denise LaSalle not just as a singer — but as a pioneer, a boss, and the original Queen of Southern Soul. Her voice may be gone, but her truth still lives in every blues-loving heart.