Biography All Music GuideWikipedia
Group Members: Jeffrey Osborne
All Music Guide:
Long-running funk outfit L.T.D. -- Love, Togetherness and Devotion -- was formed in Greensboro, NC in 1968 by keyboardist Jimmie "J.D." Davis and bassist Abraham "Onion" Miller, both former backing musicians for the great Sam and Dave. Upon relocating to New York City, the twosome recruited guitarist Johnny McGhee, horn player Carle Vickers, saxophonists Arthur "Lorenzo" Carnegie, Toby Wynn and Abraham Miller, and trombonist Jake Riley, Jr. Vocalist/drummer Jeffrey Osborne also signed on before the group settled in Los Angeles, where Osborne's brother, keyboardist Billy Osborne joined the lineup as well. L.T.D. signed with the A&M label to issue their 1974 debut Love, Togetherness and Devotion. On their third LP, 1976's Love to the World, the group scored their first Top 20 pop hit, "Love Ballad." The follow-up, 1977's Something to Love, included the Top Five smash "(Every Time I Turn Around) Back in Love Again," and four years later L.T.D. returned to the Top 40 once again with "Shine On." However, Osborne then exited to pursue a solo career, and despite the additions of vocalists Leslie Wilson and Andre Ray, the band's commercial fortunes dimmed. In the wake of 1981's Love Magic, L.T.D. disbanded, but during the early '90s McGhee reformed the group, with 1999's Marry You featuring vocalists Greg Henneghan, Nakeisha Turner and Ronnie Henson, bassist Terry Gamble, keyboardist Ryan Cooper, drummer Jay Nichols and percussionist Mamadi Nyasuma.
Wikipedia:
L.T.D. is an American R&B/funk band best known for their 1977 hit single, "(Every Time I Turn Around) Back in Love Again" and "Holding On (When Love Is Gone)", as well as their many ballads, such as "Love Ballad", "We Both Deserve Each Other's Love", and "Where Did We Go Wrong?".
Career [edit]
L.T.D. (which stands for Love, Togetherness, and Devotion), was formed in Greensboro, North Carolina, in 1968, when Arthur "Lorenzo" Carnegie (alto and tenor saxes, flute, guitar), Jake Riley (trombone) Carle Wayne Vickers (trumpet, flute, soprano sax) and Abraham "Onion" Miller (tenor sax, vocals), who had been working as members of the 15 piece "Fantastic Soul Men Orchestra" backing the ever popular duo of Sam & Dave, along with Jimmy "J.D." Davis (keyboards, vocals), formed their own band named Love Men Ltd. Then they drove to New York City, in a car that they purchased together (a 1956 Chevy), and lived in the Hamilton Heights section of Harlem on 149th and Broadway, where Toby Wynn (baritone sax) joined them. While performing on a gig in Providence, Rhode Island, Jeffrey Osborne (drums, lead vocals) was recruited by them.
After two years in New York, they drove two cars and a trailer to Los Angeles, California, where Jeffrey's brother, Billy Osborne (organ, drums, keyboards, co-lead vocals), Celeste Cole (vocals), Henry E. Davis (bass, vocals) and Robert Santiel (congas, percussion) joined them. 1974 found them signing with A&M Records as L.T.D. (Love Togetherness & Devotion). In 1976, Johnny McGhee (guitar) joined the band. Jeffrey was moved out front as the lead vocalist, and Alvino Bennett replaced him on drums in 1978.
The group then went on to produce songs such as "Love Ballad", "(Every Time I Turn Around) Back in Love Again", "Concentrate On You", "Holding On (When Love Is Gone)", and many others. Soon after the band's 1980 album Shine On, Jeffrey and Billy Osborne departed to start solo careers. Andre Ray and Leslie Wilson (formerly of New Birth) were then chosen as lead vocalists their next album Love Magic which produced two more hits, "April Love", and "Kicking Back". Leslie Wilson left to continue his solo career and L.T.D. stayed busy in the music industry by recording for small independent record labels, and doing their own personal music projects.
In 1999, a L.T.D. copycat band lost a federal court battle with the current three original members of L.T.D. retaining the rights, and ownership of the name L.T.D. The three original members, Arthur "Lorenzo" Carnegie (saxes,flute, guitar,vocals), Carle Wayne Vickers (trumpet,flute,saxes,vocals), Johnny McGhee (guitar, vocals), along with new members, Bob Henley III, (lead vocals,keys), Aya Iwata, (keys, bg vocals), and Tefere Hazy (drums, vocals) have been touring all over the U.S. since 1999.
Jake Riley (original trombonist), died in 2000, and James "JD" Davis (keyboards, vocals), died on May 22, 2008. Henry E. Davis died January 18, 2012 in Los Angeles, CA.
