Latimore

Biography

Benjamin William Lattimore (September 7, 1939 – August 22, 2026), known professionally as Latimore,
was an American blues and R&B singer, songwriter, and pianist. In 2017, Latimore was inducted in to the Blues Hall of Fame.

Life and career

Latimore was born in Charleston, Tennessee, on September 7, 1939, and was influenced by country music, his Baptist church choir, and the blues. His first professional experience came as a pianist for various Florida-based groups including Steve Alaimo. He first recorded around 1965 for Henry Stone's Dade record label in Miami, Florida. In the early 1970s, he moved to the Glades label, and had his first major hit in 1973 with a jazzy reworking of T-Bone Walker's "Stormy Monday", which reached No. 27 on the R&B chart.
His first national hit was "Stormy Monday," which reached #27 on the R&B chart in 1973. He followed it with "If You Were My Woman," a gender-modified cover of "If I Were Your Woman" (written by Pam Sawyer, Clay McMurray, and Gloria Jones and first popularized by Gladys Knight & the Pips), which reached No. 70 on the R&B chart. His biggest success came in 1974, with "Let's Straighten It Out", a No. 1 R&B hit, which also reached No. 31 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart. He followed it up with more hits, including "Keep The Home Fire Burnin'" (No. 5 R&B, 1975) and "Somethin' 'Bout 'Cha" (No. 7 R&B, 1976). His hits dissipated in the late 1970s.

Latimore moved to Malaco Records in 1982, releasing seven albums of modern blues music with that label. He briefly left the label in 1994 and released a song for the J-Town label, Turning Up The Mood, before returning to Malaco in 2000 with You're Welcome To Ride. Next, Latimore recorded an album with Mel Waiters' label, Brittney Records, called Latt Is Back×Latt is Back11 March 2003 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1Gin and Juice4:092Around the World4:123Plain Jane3:554Chivalry4:575Man's Job4:246You're the Reason4:287Keys to My Door3:298What Good Is Love5:449Jump Suit Judy3:3510If She's Gonna Leave4:3511Everyday4:06.
Later, Latimore collaborated with Henry Stone on a new record label called LatStone; which released his first new album in six years, Back 'Atcha×Back 'Atcha2007 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Edna Mae4:322Ghetto Girl5:153'Nanna Puddin'4:394I See Love5:255In The Mist Of Making Love4:396My Give A Damn Gave Out (A Long Time Ago)4:067Honeymoon5:048Love Hit Me6:009Wake Up America6:1110Miami5:06.
He continued to work as a session pianist. He appeared most recently on Joss Stone's albums, The Soul Sessions (2003) and Mind Body & Soul (2004), along with fellow Miami music veterans Betty Wright, Timmy Thomas, and Willie Hale, and made an appearance in May 2014 on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.
In 2017, Latimore was inducted in to the Blues Hall of Fame.
Latimore died on August 22, 2026, at the age of 86. His place of death is reported variously as Tampa or Riverview, Florida.

Albums

1973 Latimore
1974 More, More, More Latimore, (Let's Straighten It Out) - Black Albums No. 13
1975 Latimore III - Black Albums No. 49
1976 It Ain't Where You Been...It's Where You're Goin' - Pop Albums No. 181, Black Albums No. 47
1978 Dig a Little Deeper - Black Albums No. 51
1980 Getting Down to Brass Tacks
1982 Singing in the Key of Love - Black Albums No. 61
1983 I'll Do Anything for You - Black Albums No. 66, Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums No. 67
1985 Good Time Man
1986 Every Way But Wrong
1987 Slow Down
1991 The Only Way Is Up - Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums No. 34
1993 Catchin' Up
1995 Best of Latimore: Sweet Vibrations
1995 Straighten It Out: The Best of Latimore
1996 Turnin' Up the Mood
1998 All You'll Ever Need
2000 You're Welcome to Ride
2003 Latt Is Back
2004 Sweet Vibrations: The Best of Latimore
2005 The Early Years
2007 Back 'Atcha
2009 All About the Rhythm and the Blues
2010 Live in Vienna
2011 Ladies Choice
2012 Henry Stones's Best Of: Latimore
2013 Latimore Remembers Ray Charles

Charted singles

1973: "Stormy Monday" - Black Singles No. 27, Pop Singles No. 102
1974: "If You Were My Woman" - Black Singles No. 70
1974: "Let's Straighten It Out" - Black Singles No. 1, Pop Singles No. 31
1975: "Keep the Home Fire Burnin'" - Black Singles No. 5
1975: "There's a Red-Neck in the Soul Band" - Black Singles No. 36
1976: "Qualified Man" - Black Singles No. 43
1977: "I Get Lifted" - Black Singles No. 30
1977: "Let Me Live the Life I Love" - Black Singles No. 49
1977: "Somethin' 'Bout 'Cha" - Black Singles No. 7, Pop Singles No. 37
1979: "Dig a Little Deeper×Dig A Little Deeper1978 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 7 tracksA1Long Distance Love3:48A2Out To Get 'Cha5:38A3We Got To Hit It Off4:00A4Ain't Nothing Like A Sweet Woman's Love4:37B1Too Hot To Handle5:40B2Dig A Little Deeper5:40B3Tonight's The Night6:16" - Black Singles No. 42
1979: "Goodbye Heartache" - Black Singles No. 82
1979: "Long Distance Love" - Black Singles No. 75
1980: "Discoed to Death" - Black Singles No. 68
1986: "Sunshine Lady" - Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks No. 76