Born in Tallahassee, Florida, Lavoie was raised by his mother in Winter Haven, Florida with his six siblings. He began his musical career in 1961 as a member of a local band, The Rumours. The band included Gram Parsons and Jim Stafford, as well as drummer Jon Corneal, who later joined Parsons' International Submarine Band.
In 1964, while attending the University of South Florida, Lavoie joined a band called the Sugar Beats and met producer Phil Gernhard. He recorded a regional hit for the band, a cover of Johnny Rivers' song, "What Am I Doing Here".
During the 1960s, Lavoie performed with many other bands, including US Male, The Uglies, and Me and the Other Guys. It was in the latter band that he met musician Billy Aerts, who became a member of Lobo's touring band in the early 1970s and produced Lobo's comeback album in 1989.
Again working with Gernhard, his first solo record was released in 1969, the single "Happy Days In New York City" backed with "My Friend Is Here". Both were original tracks. It was released on Laurie Records.
By 1971, Lavoie had started calling himself Lobo (Spanish for wolf). Gernhard was an executive for Big Tree Records, and the company released his first single, "Me and You and a Dog Named Boo". The first major hit for the label, it reached number 5 in the US and launched a successful series of singles. The song also reached number 4 in the UK.
His debut album, Introducing Lobo, followed that May. In June his second single, "She Didn't Do Magic", was released. In September, "California Kid And Reemo" was released. Another single was The Albatross. It was around this time that Big Tree Records was merged with Bell Records. In the confusion, Lobo's second album Close Up was lost and never released.
Maintaining the Lobo alias, he released Of a Simple Man in 1972, which yielded back-to-back Top 10 hits, including "Don't Expect Me To Be Your Friend", which reached #8 in the US charts, and "I'd Love You to Want Me". "I'd Love You To Want Me" was Lobo's biggest hit, climbing to #2 on the Billboard charts in 1972, and later reached #1 in Germany and in mid-1974, #5 in the United Kingdom.
With the release of Calumet in 1973, Lobo had three more Top 40 hits: "It Sure Took a Long, Long Time," "How Can I Tell Her" and "Standing at the End of the Line." He made an appearance on American Bandstand that year and also released a fourth single from Calumet, "There Ain't No Way." A fifth, "Standing At The End Of The Line" was released in 1975.
In June 1974 Lobo's fourth album Just A Singer. It was the first album by Lobo to contain tracks not written by Lobo. The only single from the album was "Rings".
His last Top 30 single for Big Tree, "Don't Tell Me Goodnight", was released in 1975. Lobo also released the album, A Cowboy Afraid Of Horses and his last single for Big Tree, "Would I Still Have You", was released. The label followed up with a compilation that year, "The Best Of Lobo".
In 1976, Lobo started to break from Big Tree and Phil Gernhard, releasing the album Come With Me in Europe on the Philips label. "At First Sight" was the single. Neither were released in US.
1977 Lobo signed with Curb Records in 1977 and released the single "Afterglow", which was co-produced by Lobo and Gernhard. Another single, "You Are All I Ever Need" was released in 1978. It was last single to have Gernhard as producer.
In 1979, Lobo resurfaced on MCA Records, where he was paired with producer Bob Montgomery and released the single "Where Were You When I Was Falling In Love", which reached #23. He also released his first US album in four years, Lobo. Other singles for Curb were "Holding On For Dear Love", "With A Love Like Ours" and "Fight Fire With Fire".
Dissatisfied with the production of his records, Lobo sought a release from his Curb contract. He moved to Nashville and in 1981 he started his own label, Lobo Records, and released several singles including "I Don't Want To Want You", written by his brother, Roger Lavoie, "Come Looking For Me" and "Living My Life Without You". All making the country charts.
NOTE: The 1981 Disco Single by LOBO - "The Caribbean Disco Show" (Mercury - 1981) is not the same person as this Lobo.
Lobo Records became Evergreen Records in 1985. It released two singles, "Am I Going Crazy" and "Paint The Town Blue", a duet with Robin Lee.
Meanwhile, Lobo's popularity was growing in Asia, fanned by the release of his greatest hits compilations in 1987 and 1988.
In 1989, Lobo released his first new album in 10 years, Am I Going Crazy, made in Taiwan on UFO/WEA records and produced by Billy Aerts.
With his popularity in Asia sustained by the reissue of all his albums on CD, he signed a multi-album deal with PonyCanyon Records in Singapore, releasing Asian Moon (repackaging of tracks from Am I Going Crazy along with newly recorded tracks) in 1994, Classic Hits (re-recorded Lobo hits and some cover versions other artists' hits) in 1995 and in 1996 Sometimes (all new original songs). On another Asian label, Springroll Entertainment, he released You Must Remember This in 1997, an album of pop standards that was released in two formats, one with vocals and the other with instrumental tracks.
The East Asian financial crisis in 1997 drove his record labels out of business and Lobo retired to his home in Florida.
Retirement was short-lived, however, as in 2000 Lobo signed with a German record company, Gmbh Entertainment, and recorded a few tracks for various Hits CD's. He also co-wrote two Christmas songs with Billy Aerts, "A Big Kid's Christmas" and "Late Christmas Eve", which have been released on various Christmas compilations from 2000 to present.
Singles recorded during this period include "Caribbean Disco Show", "Let It Be Me", "Who'll Stop The Rain" and "Different Drum". These were all available on different "Greatest Hits" releases.
His popularity in Asia is having a resurgence, and in 2006 he toured in Southeast Asia.
Strangely, his music has been sampled by Melbourne experimental band Kooties, although they paid little respect to Lobo's original intentions.
In 2008 Lobo released his first new album in over 10 years. Out of Time features some new songs as well as the old favorites. Out of Time represents a step back to the original era of these recordings, revisiting his old songs the same way he wrote them; by doing all the instruments himself, they are Out of Time. It refers to the classic nature of the old songs, how they are still favorites, even though they don’t follow the norm of today’s songs.
My Momma Had Soul
Lobo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Now son don't you listen
To that Rock and Roll
'Cause I was brought up by my Momma
And we were poor as dirt
And the music made us feel better
Everytime our stomachs hurt
My Momma had soul
We may've not had a lot to eat
In the house
But we always had some music
That was playing real loud
My Momma had soul
My Momma had soul
When things were going bad
And the house got dark
Me and Momma'd sit on a bench
Out in the park
We'd hear the jukebox playing
In the corner bar
And the music made us dance and
Sing underneath the summer stars
You know my Momma got older as
The years went along
But she never got so old
She couldn't dance
To a Rock and Roll song
The song "My Momma Had Soul" by Lobo is a heartfelt tribute to the singer's mother who raised him in poverty but filled their lives with the joy of music. In the opening lines, the singer reflects on being warned against Rock and Roll as a child, which suggests a more conservative upbringing. However, it becomes clear that his mother's love of music was a saving grace, giving them a sense of community and camaraderie, especially during difficult times. Despite their economic struggles, the music they shared was central to their lives, providing a necessary escape from everyday difficulties.
The chorus provides a rallying cry for the song, with the repeated refrain "My Momma had soul," emphasizing the strength, resilience, and independent spirit of the singer's mother. The image of listening to music out in the park, dancing and singing under the stars, provides a sense of release, both from the burdens of their daily lives and from the restrictions of societal expectations. The singer expresses gratitude and admiration for his mother's love of music and the positive impact it had on their lives, even as she aged.
Overall, "My Momma Had Soul" is a powerful reflection on the role that music can play in our lives, particularly during times of struggle. The song emphasizes the transformative effect of music, how it can bring people together, create a sense of community and belonging, and provide solace and inspiration in difficult times.
Line by Line Meaning
When I was just a boy I was never told
As a child, nobody warned me about the supposed dangers of Rock and Roll music.
Now son don't you listen to that Rock and Roll
My upbringing taught me to avoid listening to Rock and Roll music.
'Cause I was brought up by my Momma, And we were poor as dirt
I was raised by my Mother who struggled financially to provide for us.
And the music made us feel better Every time our stomachs hurt
Despite our financial difficulties, music provided us with an escape and a source of comfort.
We may've not had a lot to eat In the house
Our household did not have an abundance of food.
But we always had some music That was playing real loud
Although we lacked material comforts, there was always music playing, loud and proud.
When things were going bad And the house got dark
During tough times, when things got bleak and gloomy.
Me and Momma'd sit on a bench Out in the park
My mother and I would find solace outside, often in public spaces like parks.
We'd hear the jukebox playing In the corner bar
The sound of a jukebox playing from a nearby establishment provided the perfect backdrop.
And the music made us dance and Sing underneath the summer stars
The music was so powerful that it inspired us to dance and sing even on the darkest of nights.
You know my Momma got older as The years went along
As the years passed, my Mother aged as expected.
But she never got so old She couldn't dance To a Rock and Roll song
But even in her later years, she still had a youthful spirit that allowed her to dance to the beat of Rock and Roll.
Contributed by Eva T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.