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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZLARSON, Nicolette
(b 17 July '52, Helena MT; d Dec. '97 of complications of cerebral edema) Country-rock styled singer, songwriter, guitarist, actress and self-proclaimed house-mother. Raised in Kansas, attended U of Missouri; moved to California '74, worked as secretary for Golden Gate Country/Bluegrass Festival; joined David Nichtern and the Nocturnes playing local bars; worked as backup singer for Hoyt Axton, Neil Young, Linda Ronstadt etc; joined Axton's road band, then linked up with Commander Cody and the Lost Planet Airmen as featured vocalist on tours and albums Tales From The Ozone, Rock'n'Roll Again and Flying Dreams; became in-demand session singer on albums by Guy Clark, Jesse Winchester, Emmylou Harris etc; contract with WB '78 led to top ten pop hit 'Lotta Love' and hit albums Nicolette '79, In The Nick Of Time '80. She toured with the hit musical Pump Boys And Dinettes '83; a fan of country music, she moved to Nashville '84, signed to MCA and hit the country top ten with 'That's How You Know When Love's Right' '86, a duet with Steve Wariner. She spent much of '87 in Italy; recorded soundtrack for Renegades; moved back to LA and appeared on black gospel show Family Reunion, made her film debut in Twins '88 followed by TV sit-com appearances including Throb. She married drummer/producer Russ Kunkel '89 and semi-retired to raise daughter Elsie May: 'I'm a mother you know, and being a mother is the hardest thing I've ever done in my life ... Don't get me wrong, rock'n'roll has deadlines, sessions have to be over by a certain time, but it's just not so hard.' But she occasionally sessioned, singing backup for Neil Young, David Crosby etc and also played the odd local concert. Albums included Radioland '80 and All Dressed Up And No Place To Go '82 on WB; Say When and Rose Of My Heart '85-6 on MCA. Her last album was inspired by her daughter, Sleep Baby Sleep '95 on Sony Wonder. |