Hoagy Lands | en

Hoagy Lands ( born Victor Hoagland on May 4, 1936 in New Brunswick, New Jersey) was an East Coast based soul vocalist who recorded singles for a variety of labels from the early 1960's into the early 1970's. Lands never recorded a full LP, but issued singles for such New York City based labels as Judi, ABC-Paramount, Ivory MGM, Atlantic, Spectrum and Laurie. Lands is said to have contributed as a backing vocalist to The Drifters hit "Under The Boardwalk", as the songs' producer Bert Berns' thought of Hoagy as his personal favorite vocalist. A stellar balladeer, but with a dearth of charting hits, Lands was the only recording artist to consistently work with the influential Berns throughout his music career, from his very first sessions in 1960 to the last days of Bert's life in 1967. Lands was also used by popular New York radio DJ George Hudson in 1962 and 1963 as uncredited vocalist on his George Hudson Presents... series of budget top 40 hit exploitation LPs, where Hoagy sang silly songs and top 40 covers like "On Top Of Old Smoky", "The Roach", "Stand By Me" and "Stranger On The Shore" in the dance music styles of the day

With Berns at the helm penning and producing his best known tracks, Lands recorded the sides "My Tears Are Dry," "Lighted Windows," "Baby Come On Home," "It's Gonna Be Morning," "Cry Some Tears," and the sentimental tear jerker "White Gardenia". After Berns death, Lands continued to record for Laurie until 1972, and issued at least three 45s on the label featuring duets with Lily Fields. Despite his best efforts, with releases on both sides of the Atlantic ocean, and backing by crack session players like Bernard Purdie, Gordon Edwards, and Richard Tee, with no major music figures to champion him, Lands soon faded into obscurity. Hoagy's last known 45 release was in 1973, a cover of the Johnny Ace hit "Pledging My Love" on the Paramount.

After nearly a three decade break from the music biz limelight, Lands enjoyed a career boosting trip to the UK for concert appearances on the British Northern Soul circuit before his death on January 12, 2002. His grandson Jahiem , also born in New Brunswick, New Jersey has had success in the 21st century, releasing four albums on major labels, including Atlantic one of the imprints where his grandfather's career started. .