Orleans Biography
This US soft rock outfit was formed in 1972 by John Hall (Baltimore, Maryland, USA; guitar/vocals), Larry Hoppen (guitar/vocals) and Wells Kelly (d. 1984; drums/keyboards/vocals). Drawing from a variety of sources - country, rock, soul and calypso - Orleans acquired a cult following as one of the more intelligent mainstream bands of their era. With Larry Hoppen's brother Lance (b. Bayshore, New York, USA; bass/vocals) added to the line-up, Orleans signed with ABC Records in 1973, but were dropped after two albums and picked up by Asylum Records. Success for their new label came immediately with "Dance With Me" a US Top 10 hit in 1975. Drummer Jerry Marotta was added to the line-up as Orleans continued from strength to strength, enjoying their biggest US hit with the number 5 single "Still The One".
Hall left to pursue a solo career in 1977, and Marotta departed soon afterwards. The duo were replaced by Bob Leinback (keyboards/vocals) and R.A. Martin (keyboards/brass/vocals), and although the new-look Orleans were less well regarded, they enjoyed a US Top 20 hit in 1979 with "Love Takes Time'. Orleans perserved with their increasingly dated style of music into the following decade, with the Hoppen brothers the only mainstays. In 1984, founding member Wells Kelly died in London of a heroin overdose. Hall rejoined the Hoppens to help record 1986"s Grown Up Children. Hall and the Hoppen brothers have continued to work as an acoustic trio, with several albums appearing on the band's own Major Record label.
Source: The Encyclopedia of Popular Music by Colin Larkin. Licensed from Muze.
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