Biography
Harlan Lattimore gained some recognition within the black music scene of the mid-1930s as a capable vocalist linked to Don Redman's Orchestra. An operatic touch occasionally surfaced in his delivery despite his full immersion in popular music, a reflection perhaps of his mother's career as an opera singer. His regular radio performances began on WLW, followed by a year-long engagement at Chicago's Regal Theatre. A 1932 session with Fletcher Henderson preceded his steady association with Don Redman that lasted from 1932 until 1940, during which time he enjoyed moderate popularity without achieving widespread fame. Military service in the Army throughout World War II preceded his withdrawal from the music business. Beyond the tracks cut alongside Redman, Lattimore headed a single 1932 session comprising four songs, essentially leading Don Redman's Orchestra while contributing vocals to just two selections.