Jeffrey Osborne Biography

Jeffrey Osborne, onetime front man for the band L.T.D., was born on March 9, 1948 in Providence, Rhode Island. Jeffrey Osborne is the youngest of 12 children and is part of a musical family – yes, we said 12 children. Jeffrey Osborne has five brothers and six sisters, some of whom went on to have music careers (his brother Billy was an L.T.D. bandmate).

Jeffrey Osborne's father, Clarence "Legs" Osborne, was a popular trumpeter who played with Lionel Hampton, Count Basie, and Duke Ellington. Osborne started his music career in 1969 with a band called Love Men Ltd., who would later become known as L.T.D. The band recorded memorable hits such as "Every time I Turn Around (Back In Love Again)" and "(Holdin' On) When Love Is Gone". At first, Osborne was a drummer, but then became the lead vocalist. After more than ten years with the band Jeffrey Osborne decided to pursue a solo career, which produced such Top 40 hits as "Don't You Get So Mad," "Stay With Me Tonight," and "Love Power," which he performed with Dionne Warwick.

Jeffrey Osborne eventually started a stunningly rarified solo career.

In 1982, Jeffrey Osborne released his eponymous debut, which spawned two smash hit singles, "On The Wings Of Love" & "I Really Don't Need No Light", peaking at #29 & #39 on the pop chart respectively. Jeffrey Osborne followed up his first rumpshaker, cuddle-maker the following year with "Stay With Me Tonight", his first gold album, which spawned two more hits, "Don't You Get So Mad" (#25) and the title track (#30).

Jeffrey Osborne had two more gold albums, "Don't Stop" & "Emotional", the latter of which had his highest charting pop hit, "You Should Be Mine (The Woo-Woo Song)", which peaked at #13 in 1986. Unfortunately, this was a turning point in his pop success, as his albums & singles began charting lower & lower on the pop charts. After 1990's disappointing performance, Osborne was unable to return to the album chart until 2000's "That's For Sure", which spent only 1 week on the Billboard 200 album chart at #191.

Jeffrey Osborne was destined for greatness. Back in the early '80s, Osborne looked to be climbing into the rarefied company of David Ruffin, Smokey Robinson, Ben E. King and other powerfully moving balladeers. Though his decade as the lead singer of L.T.D. hadn't promised much, Osborne blossomed as a solo act. Under the direction of producer George Duke, he turned out a handful of addictive singles and at least two classic albums, Jeffrey Osborne and Stay With Me. Osborne's silky-smooth voice caressed one like a long-lost lover, and was just as entrancing. But then Osborne slipped into a groove that too quickly became a rut, and throughout the '90s he's been vying with the likes of Ray Parker Jr. for soundtrack work (his voice graced Barney the Purple Dinosaur's movie debut) while leaving fans hoping he'll get back on track. Osborne still has that great voice, and a few dozen great songs to fall back on, but seeing him these days can be an exercise in frustration. You don't know whether to cheer for what was, or weep for what could have been.

Jeffrey Osborne's solo career has brought him five gold and platinum albums, including Stay With Me Tonight, Aymuk, and Only Human. He also recorded an album of duets with popular singer James Ingram, and scored an international hit with "On the Wings of Love" in 1982. Osborne's touring and recording continue to keep him busy much of the time, but he also devotes some of his time to charity work.

Jeffrey Osborne, hit-maker extraordinaire:
"You Should Be Mine (The Woo Woo Song)"
"On The Wings Of Love"
"Love Power"
"Stay With Me Tonight"
"Back In Love Again"
"Don't You Get So Mad"
"Only Human"