Annie Laurie

Annie Laurie (tentatively identified as Annie L. Page, August 11, 1924 – November 13, 2006)

Her singing career started by vocalising for two territory bands led by Dallas Bartley and Snookum Russell, on the Chitlin' Circuit. In 1945, she recorded a version of "Saint Louis Blues" with the Bartley led band for Cosmo Records. She relocated to New Orleans, Louisiana, and was engaged by Paul Gayten. In 1947, she was performing in concert in New Orleans with Gayten, when the latter asked the young Fats Domino to come and play "Swanee River Boogie" on stage. Recording for both the Regal and De Luxe labels between 1947 and 1950, Laurie sang on several sides backed by Gayten's orchestra. Her first success was with her version of "Since I Fell for You" (1947), of which recording studio owner Cosimo Matassa said: "Annie Laurie did the first really good record that I liked... [She] was just fantastic, I mean nobody will ever make another version like that." She followed its success up with "Cuttin' Out" (1949), "You Ought To Know" (1950), "I Need Your Love" (1950), "Now That You're Gone" (1950) and "I'll Never Be Free" (1950). Laurie also toured with Gayten's orchestra in 1951. Other releases with De Luxe included the Andy Gibson co-written track, "Hand in Hand" and "Love Is A Funny Thing (both 1957). In July 1960, Laurie appeared in concert, sharing the bill with Screamin' Jay Hawkins, the Five Satins, Joe Turner, Faye Adams, Ben E. King, and Nappy Brown, at Chicago's Regal Theater. The same month she had her final chart hit with "If You're Lonely."

|1947

— 3 |1949

— 6 |1950

— 4 |1957

61 3 |1960

104 17

Compilation albums Year Title Record label 1959 It Hurts to Be in Love Audio Lab/King Records 1979 Creole Gal with Paul Gayten Route 66 Records 1991 Regal Records in New Orleans with Paul Gayten Specialty Records 2012 Rhythm & Blues Greats 1951–1959 Master Classics 2020 Since I Fell for You: The Essential Annie Laurie Jasmine Records 2022 The Annie Laurie Collection 1945–62 Acrobat Records