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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZORLEANSUSA soft rock/harmony group formed '72 by session guitarist/songwriter John Hall (worked with Taj Mahal, Louden Wainwright II, Al Kooper etc), Larry Hoppen on guitar, Wells Kelly on drums and keyboards (d 29 Oct. '84, London), both ex-Boffalongo. Made reputation in bars from Ithaca to Woodstock in NY state; LP Orleans '73 incl. all John/Joanna Hall songs laid out style of harmony pop with class. Switched from ABC to emergent Asylum label for Let There Be Music '75, with Lance Hoppen added on bass. Single "Dance With Me', attractive acoustic (and almost a cappella), was no. 6 hit '75. "Still The One' made top 5 '76, from Waking And Dreaming LP which added drummer Jerry Marotta, Hall and Hoppen now reinforcing added musical muscle with dual lead guitars in almost Allmanesque style. After Before The Dance '77 Marotta and Hall left together; third Boffalonga alumni Bob Leinback on keyboards, R.A. Martin on horns joined; Forever '79 had no. 11 single "Love Takes Time', but that was the last hit. One Of A Kind '82 saw Marotta return. Hall carried on with John Hall band, featured in film No Nukes '80, had minor hit with its theme "Power'. Hall and wife Joanna wrote for Janis Joplin ("Half Moon'), Tymes ("Ms Grace'), others; made solo LPs through early '80s. On demise of Orleans Kelly joined Meat Loaf, died of a drug overdose. |