Biography
The Lost Generation, a Chicago-based soul vocal ensemble, scored their signature success via the mellow ballad “The Sly, Slick and the Wicked,” which reached number 14 on the R&B chart and number 30 on the pop chart during summer 1970. Its lineup consisted of lead singer and songwriter Lowrell Simon, Fred Simon, Jesse Dean, and Larry Brownlee. Brownlee had previously sung with the C.O.D.’s, whose Kellimac single “Michael (The Lover)” climbed to number five R&B in 1965. Lowrell, born March 18, 1943, on Chicago’s south side, had forged an early bond with Gus Redmond. During his teenage years he performed with the vocal group the LaVondells. After shortening their name to the Vondells, they scored a local hit with “Lenore” on the Marvello label before the lineup soon dissolved. Former member Glen Murdock later shared lead vocals with Joyce Kennedy in the funk/rock band Mother’s Finest.
Once Dean finished his Army service he linked up with Lowrell, Fred, and Brownlee to form the Lost Generation. Redmond, by then director of promotion and marketing at Brunswick Records, arranged an introduction to producer Carl Davis in 1969. Lowrell, Brownlee, and Redmond jointly wrote “The Sly, Slick and the Wicked.” The track shared Record World’s 1970 Record of the Year honor with the Jackson 5’s “ABC,” and its sales enabled Brunswick to purchase its freedom from parent company Decca Records. The B-side carried “You’re So Young but You’re So True.” Their follow-up, “Wait a Minute,” came from the Chi-Lites’ Eugene Record, while the Simon-Brownlee-Redmond team supplied “Someday” and “Talking the Teenage Language.” All four songs appeared on the fall 1970 album The Sly, Slick and the Wicked.
Following their final chart entry, “Your Mission (If You Decide to Accept It) Part 1,” the group disbanded. Brownlee and Simon next joined the Curtom roster in Mystique, fronted by Ralph Johnson, formerly of the Impressions. Under Bunny Sigler’s production the act placed three singles: “Is It Really You?,” “What Would the World Be Without Music?,” and “It Took a Woman Like You.” Lowrell co-wrote and co-produced “Keep on Playing the Music” for the group’s self-titled debut LP. Dropping his surname, he moved to entertainer Liberace’s AVI Records, where “Mellow Mellow Right On” backed with “You’re Playing Dirty” reached number 32 R&B in 1979. He also produced and co-wrote material for the Gemigo/Curtom act the Notations, one of whose singles, “Think Before You Stop,” charted in 1985. Larry Brownlee passed away in Chicago in 1978.
Once Dean finished his Army service he linked up with Lowrell, Fred, and Brownlee to form the Lost Generation. Redmond, by then director of promotion and marketing at Brunswick Records, arranged an introduction to producer Carl Davis in 1969. Lowrell, Brownlee, and Redmond jointly wrote “The Sly, Slick and the Wicked.” The track shared Record World’s 1970 Record of the Year honor with the Jackson 5’s “ABC,” and its sales enabled Brunswick to purchase its freedom from parent company Decca Records. The B-side carried “You’re So Young but You’re So True.” Their follow-up, “Wait a Minute,” came from the Chi-Lites’ Eugene Record, while the Simon-Brownlee-Redmond team supplied “Someday” and “Talking the Teenage Language.” All four songs appeared on the fall 1970 album The Sly, Slick and the Wicked.
Following their final chart entry, “Your Mission (If You Decide to Accept It) Part 1,” the group disbanded. Brownlee and Simon next joined the Curtom roster in Mystique, fronted by Ralph Johnson, formerly of the Impressions. Under Bunny Sigler’s production the act placed three singles: “Is It Really You?,” “What Would the World Be Without Music?,” and “It Took a Woman Like You.” Lowrell co-wrote and co-produced “Keep on Playing the Music” for the group’s self-titled debut LP. Dropping his surname, he moved to entertainer Liberace’s AVI Records, where “Mellow Mellow Right On” backed with “You’re Playing Dirty” reached number 32 R&B in 1979. He also produced and co-wrote material for the Gemigo/Curtom act the Notations, one of whose singles, “Think Before You Stop,” charted in 1985. Larry Brownlee passed away in Chicago in 1978.
Albums
