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Born Marie McDonald McLaughlin Lawrie in Glasglow, Scotland, at age 15 Lulu belted out a raspy cover of The Isley Brother’s “Shout” that started her long and enduring entertainment career in 1964 in the U.K.
In addition to her singing career, Lulu began acting in 1967 in the Sidney Poitier British film “To Sir With Love”. Lulu performed the title song that zoomed to #1 on the U.S. pop chart and #9 on the U.S. R&B chart and brought her to the attention of the American audience. “Shout” was also then re-released in the U.S. but it only charted #96. This is the song that Lulu will always be remembered for.
But I simply fell in love with Lulu after I heard “Oh Me Oh My”. Written by Jim Doris and released on the Atco label, this one went to #22 on the U.S. Pop charts (and IMHO it should have been even higher) but only #47 in the U.K. (things that make you go Hmm). Lulu’s voice had matured and the “rasp” was now in all the right places. 
Even soul brother number one, James Brown, was quoted as saying: “Lulu, you and I were born in the same pool. Honey, you got soul!”
Apparently the soul came through loud and clear when Aretha Franklin heard the cut because she covered the tune herself in 1971 on her “Young, Gifted & Black” LP.
Here is Lulu in a vintage performance video of “OMOM”. You go blue-eyed soul sister!
Lulu Kennedy-Cairns is still rockin’ today and as gorgeous as ever. I recently saw her on a PBS special singing here signature song, “To Sir With Love”" and here voice sounds better today than it did in the sixties — if you can believe it. Still performing, check out Lulu’s Official Website for touring information and other news.
As always, I appreciate you taking time to stop in to read and enjoy the music.
Musically Yours,
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Filed under: Atco, Blue Eyed Soul, British Blue Eyed Soul, British Invasion, Fabulous Female Vocalists, Jim Doris, Lulu, Oh Me Oh My (I'm A Fool For You Baby), Pop/Soul, Sixties
