Lalomie (Lomie) Washburn (25 August 1941 – 18 December 2004) was an American R&B singer and songwriter.
She was born on August 25, 1941, in Memphis, Tennessee, and went on to sing backup with such legends as Ray Charles, Ike & Tina Turner and Chaka Khan. She wrote songs for and with Rufus & Chaka Khan, New Birth, Buddy Miles, The Brothers Johnson and Aretha Franklin. Career Washburn was the key figure in the band High Voltage, which also included members; singer-guitarist Tony Maiden, bassist Bobby Watson, and singer-songwriter Gavin Christopher. The group signed to Columbia and merged with a significant amount of members of the group Maxayn. High Voltage released their self-titled album in 1972.Jazz Rock Soul, 14 Jan 2021 - High Voltage It was one of the Special Merit Picks in the 26 August issue of Billboard where it was given a very good review.Billboard, August 26, 1972 - Page 74 Album Reviews, SPECIAL MERIT PICKS, POP, HIGH VOLTAGE -Columbia KC 31976
The single "Country Road" had a positive review in the 7 October issue of Record World. The reviewer wrote that the title gave no hint of the hard rocking horn sound in the grooves, but the advice was to "Get down and get with it".Record World, October 7, 1972 - Page 10 SINGLE PICKS, HIGH VOLTAGE-Columbia 45701 COUNTRY ROAD (Storybook, BMI) It was also a single with potential as shown in the 25 November issue of Billboard. It was a Soul Sauce Best New Single of the Week.Billboard, November 25, 1972 - Page 26 Soul Sauce By JULIAN COLEMAN, BEST NEW SINGLE OF THE WEEK: "COUNTRY ROAD" HIGH VOLTAGE (COLUMBIA) It was also one of the Radio Action and Pick Singles in the Pop section. The reviewer referred to it as a driving rocker loaded with pop and soul chart potential.Billboard, November 25, 1972 - Page 57 RADIO ACTION AND PICK SINGLES, Pop, HIGH VOLTAGE-COUNTRY ROAD (3:05)
In 1977, Washburn signed with the Parachute label,Billboard, July 30, 1977 - Page 36 Signings, Lalomie Washburn She worked with producer and engineer, Sye Mitchell, where she released her first album,Billboard, July 30, 1977 - Page Sound Business, Studio Track By JIM McCULLAUGH My Music is Hot. She went on to launch a solo career, which drew a large following in Germany in the 1970s and 1980s. In 1992, she released several 12" singles, and in 1997 a second (self-titled) solo album. She came back to Omaha, Nebraska, to do a small tour when in her mid-fifties.
She died on September 18, 2004, in Los Angeles, California.
In 2005, she was inducted into the Omaha Black Music Hall of Fame.
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