Larry Seibert

This is probably the rarest disc on Lionel Whitfield’s label – just pipping the brilliant Merle Spears.  Judging by the number I would guess this absolute unknown is his very first 45 release. You Said is a splendid deep soul offering with Seibert coming across strongly over a horn-rich backing, complete with some neat touched from the lead guitar. I don’t know of any other releases by this guy.

UPDATE ~ I’m delighted to report that I’ve been in touch with Larry himself via his charming daughter Stacey, who provided the lovely vintage picture. Larry himself has told me that he was born in Louisiana and raised in Mix, which is now called False River, near to New Roads, LA. He goes on to say that “I listened to music by Louie Jordan and Lloyd Price and i used to like Little Richard. I was singing in the late 40's solo. I got started with a guy that used to being me to different towns to sing by name of Noelle Gains we called him Woo Woo and I sung with different bands as well.” I asked him how he got together with Lionel Whitfield – “I met him in Baton Rouge, we was on the Ernie K-Doe show at one of the big hotels, I think the name was the Bellmont Hotel. Lionel had his own band at the time and told me he was starting a record label and asked me if I wanted to record on the label and I agreed. He asked me to write a few songs and we would put music to them. I wrote the songs and Lionel and I did the arranging on the songs. We recorded in New Orleans at Cosimo’s studios in the French quarters on Gov. Nichols St. I can recall two (of the musicians), one is Robert Milburn who was the brother of famous soul singer Amos Milburn, he played piano on both songs, the other guy name is Jon Pierre he was the bass player on both songs.”

Larry told me he played “with Raful (Neal) in the early 60's. I was in New Orleans when Bobby (Powell) signed with Whitfield. Merle Spears was on the label he was a nice guy. Also, I did shows with Joe Tex and Larry Williams. In the mid 60's I was living in New Roads, Louisiana after I got married June 17,1965 and my brother asked me to come and stay with him until I got a place of my own. While in New Orleans I did work with singer named Eddie Bo. I had music to record between 1966 and 1967 but we never had the chance to do it. I stayed in New Orleans where I am today. I sung with some local bands in the 1970's but never got back into music because I started a family and with young children with music would be too time consuming. Since then I was an entrepreneur in the city of New Orleans until 2005 when I retired."

"Also I have been preparing to put a cd together to be released within the next 2 or 3 months in the United States and will eventually be released online as well. On top of all that being a proud husband to my wife Evelyn, three children Larry James Seibert Jr., Kimberlana Seibert ,and the youngest Stacey Seibert, and a very proud grandfather of two Jamie Elkins, and the youngest Landon Elkins.”

 

I’m very grateful to Larry and Stacey for all their info and wish Larry all the best for his upcoming CD. Can’t wait to hear it!

 

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