Do you know where you can find one of the best training grounds for singing?

Church.

All those glorious harmonies, all that emotion, singing not just to sing but with a purpose, an intention. If you can learn those things …. you’re going to be hard to beat.

Laura Lee grew up in Detroit, where her mother was a member of The Meditation Singers, the first gospel group to use instrumental backing (quite radical at the time — churches aren’t exactly known for innovating — but also quite popular). When another member left, Lee replaced her and learned everything she could over the next 10 years. If the church served as her elementary school, the group and the road served as her high school, college, and grad school.

In the mid-1960’s, Laura went secular, performing in clubs, singing about freedom and feminism (innovative!) for a few different labels, and slowly climbing up the charts. She peaked in the early 70’s with a few moderate hits, and made her last appearance on the Hot 100 in 1972 with “If You Can Beat Me Rockin’ (You Can Have My Chair).” A few years later, her ill health forced her to retire, but eventually she returned to the Gospel game in the 1980’s.

Here’s Laura Lee, belting out what she was taught, and giving it all she’s got. Do you think you can take that chair?