L.T.D.

L.T.D. (which stood for Love, Togetherness and Devotion) was formed in Greensboro, North Carolina in 1968 by keyboardist Jimmie "J.D." Davis and saxophonist Abraham "Onion" Miller. Both were former backing musicians for soul duo Sam and Dave. The band was originally named Love Men, Ltd. Upon relocating to New York, the twosome recruited guitarist Johnny McGhee, horn player Carle Vickers, saxophonists Arthur "Lorenzo" Carnegie, Toby Wynn and trombonist Jake Riley, Jr. Vocalist/drummer Jeffrey Osborne also signed on before the group settled in Los Angeles, California, where Osborne's brother, keyboardist Billy Osborne joined the line-up as well. L.T.D. signed with the A&M label to issue their 1974 debut album, "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.

Original Trombone player Jake Riley died in 2000.

Original LTD Keyboard player and founding member James " Jimmie " Davis, died on May 1, 2008 of unknown causes. He was 66 years of age.

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.

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/rapper/producer Ryan Cooper, drummer Jay Nichols, and percussionist Mamadi Nyasuma.

The hits that came between 1974 and 1979 with Osborne out front. "(Every Time I Turn Around) Back In Love Again," "We Both Deserve Each Other’s Love," "Concentrate On You" and the sensuous "Love Ballad, " stopped when the singer took his baritone voice and went solo.

L.T.D. never really recovered. Of the funk/R&B groups cooking during that era, L.T.D. "was the only band that was produced as a one-vocal sound," said Greg Henneghan. And once Osborne left, L.T.D. was "unable to capture the original sound that had been so successful for them," Henneghan said.

Henneghan can be so candid because he’s the leader of th new L.T.D. Besides singing lead the baritone also owns the rights to the group’s name, he said. Now a resident of Manayunk, Henneghan relocated here in 1997 from the Washington, D.C. area. He wanted to "get things kicked off musically" in a city with a strong music tradition, such as Philadelphia International Records, and a world-famous recording studio, Sigma Sound.

The move worked. L.T.D.’s first new single in 10 years, "Marry You." Was released locally last month and is getting heavy play on urban adult-oriented WDAS-FM (105.3), especially during the "quite storm" evening hours. It’s expected to be released nationally by the end of the month.

"Marry You" (TownCrier Records), one of four songs on the group’s extended-play CD, is a honey-smooth, sentimental ballad copied straight from the old L.T.D. book. That was no mistake, Henneghan said. It was "consciously written" that way, he said, and has helped revive interest in L.T. D.L.T.D.’s music has always been a leader in the ballad area, specifically dealing with relationships," Henneghan said. "That’s what the new L.T.D. will do as well."

L.T.D. also will have to cater to youth, he said. The extended-play CD includes "Lay Down," a mid-tempo, bass-heavy tune with rap about providing sexual satisfaction ("If you’re looking for somebody to do you nasty baby, come to me."). And there’s also the hip-hip flavored ballad, "Curb" ("…you kicked me to the curb, and I was so very hurt…), which includes more vocal interaction between Henneghan and L.T.D. members.

This new L.T.D. will shy away from the one-voice lead. "That puts too much pressure on that one person," Henneghan said. "Even through [Osborne] had a solo career, people still associate him with L.T.D.," he said.

No one from the original L.T.D. remains with the band John McGhee and "Onion" Miller, the two original members who drafted Henneghan into the group in 1996, have left. The new band includes Philadelphians Rhonda Lancaster on keyboards and Terry Gamble, nephew of Philadelphia International’s Kenny Gamble, on bass and guitar.

Henneghan a singer/songwriter, was born on Florence, S.C., but grew up in Washington D.C. He’s been performing since he was 13, and studied with the late Donny Hathaway, Van McCoy and Angela Winbush. A licensed nondenominational evangelist, he has lived in England and Scotland and sings in 17 languages, from French to African dialects. He was also a soloist with the Mclean (Va.) Symphony, conducted by Dingwald Fleary.

While in the Washington-Baltimore area, Henneghan made a name for himself singing jazz at such clubs as One step Down and Tacoma Station, where he enjoyed a four-year stint. When he hooked up with L.T.D., it was another step toward a dream.

"It’s always been my objective to align myself with a classic [R&B] group," Henneghan said. Jazz was good, but enjoys a small following compared with R&B.

"Jazz is really the kind of music where you die, then become famous," he said. "I would like to see my career blossom in the same fashion as Linda Ronstadt," and defy categorization.

On Saturday January 19th 2008, in the City ofLong Beach, California, I saw something that wasnothing short of a spiritual event . It was theculmination of a parade and festivitiescelebrating the message of Dr. Martin LutherKing, Jr. In a park bearing his name, a group ofmen, who had disbanded twenty five years ago,who had lost their lead vocalist, once again cametogether with one voice, one rhythm and onemessage: Love Togetherness and Devotion.L.T.D. Took the stage with the chant, "WhenWe Party, We Party Hearty" and from thatmoment the audience who was already up ontheir feet was in the palm of their hands for therest of the show. It was, of course obvious thatthe brother singing lead wasn't JeffreyOsborne..The evidence of the strength of theirspirit and connection was that you didn't misshim! And that my friends, is very powerful!These brothers effortlessly went through theirclassic hits: Love Ballad, Back in Love,Holdin' On, with a passion that clearly stated,they are back, and right now. Trust me when youget the chance to see and hear them, you too willbe a witness that Love Togetherness andDevotion..L.T.D. is very much alive and well.

Now returning with 6 current original members, Henry Davis,director/bass/keys/guitar/flute/lead/bg vocals, Jimmy (JD) Davis/MD/keys,vocals,Arthur (Lorenzo) Carnegie/saxes/flute/guitar/vocals, Carle (Wayne) Vickers,trumpet/flute/saxes/vocals, and Billy Osborne/drums/keys/lead/bg vocals, Johnny McGhee/guitar/vocals, along with new members, Andre Ray/keys/lead/bg vocals, Richard Moorings, keys,lead/bg vocals/trombone, and Tefere Hazy/drums/vocals, have been touring since 1999, and now you can obtain LTD'S new CD "BRINGING IT HOME", online only at(Target.com, Best Buy.com, Barnes and Noble.com, Amazon.com, Circuit City.com, and Borders.com).

Discography

Albums

*1974: "Love, Togetherness & Devotion" (A&M) - US R&B #54
*1975: "Gittin' Down" (A&M) - US R&B #40
*1976: "Love to the World" (A&M) - US Pop #52, US R&B #1
*1977: "Something to Love" (A&M) - US Pop #21, US R&B #1
*1978: "Togetherness" (A&M) - US Pop #18, US R&B #3
*1979: "Devotion" (A&M) - US Pop #29, US R&B #5
*1980: "Shine On" (A&M) - US Pop #28, US R&B #6
*1981: "Love Magic" (A&M) - US Pop #83, US R&B #21
*1983: "For You" (Hot Productions) - US R&B #66
*1996: "Greatest Hits" (A&M)
*1997: "Marry You"(Philly Town Crier Records)

ingles

*1976: "Love Ballad" - US Pop #20, US R&B #1
*1977: "Love to the World" - US Pop #91, US R&B #27
*1977: "(Every Time I Turn Around) Back in Love Again" - US Pop #4, US R&B #1
*1978: "Never Get Enough Of Your Love" - US Pop #56, US R&B #8
*1978: "Holding On (When Love Is Gone)" - US Pop #49, US R&B #1
*1978: "We Both Deserve Each Other's Love" - US R&B #19
*1979: "Dance N Sing N" - US R&B #15
*1979: "Stranger" - US R&B #14
*1979: "Share My Love" - US R&B #69
*1980: "Where Did We Go Wrong" - US R&B #7
*1981: "Shine On" - US Pop #40, US R&B #19
*1982: "April Love" - US R&B #28
*1982: "Kickin' Back" - US R&B #10
*1983: "For You" - US R&B #50

References and external links

* [http://wm08.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&token=&sql=11:gifqxqe5ldde L.T.D. Profile on AMG]
* [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/bio/index.jsp?pid=5024 L.T.D. Profile on Billboard]
* [http://www.soultracks.com/l_t_d_.htm L.T.D. Profile on Soul Tracks]
* [http://www.4realltd.com/ L.T.D. Official Web Site]
* [http://www.myspace.com/ltdlovetogethernessanddevotion L.T.D. Myspace Page]