Price, Lloyd,
1933-2021, b. Kenner, La. Price began his first band at age 18 while also
working in construction. Signed to Specialty Records, his first record was a
major chart hit,“Lawdy Miss Clawdy” (1952; #1 R&B), which
he also wrote. On the recording session were New Orleans musicians including
pianist Fats Domino, and the song helped popularize
the loping rhythm that would become one of the key ingredients of early rock
and roll. However, Price’s career was interrupted when he was drafted
into the Army (1953-54); on his discharge, he founded his own label but
struggled to repeat his initial success until recording his adaptation of
the folk ballad, “Stagger Lee” (#1 pop and R&B, 1959). He
followed that success the same year with his bests known hit,
“Personality” (cowritten with Harold Logan), which earned him
the nickname of "Mr. Personality." After his final charting song in 1963,
Price moved into running his own label and nightclubs, as well as promoting
prize fights, including the famous bouts “Rumble in the
Jungle” (1974) and the “Thrilla in Manila” (1975).
Price relocated to Nigeria from 1979-83, but then returned to the U.S.,
organizing and performing on several “oldies” tours along with
other ‘50s-era acts.
See his autobiography (2009).
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