Beginning his musical career in his teens, he formed a band with his little sister Julie Lasley called The Utopias. They saw local success in Detroit, Michigan.

He later went on as a background singer for such artists as Bonnie Raitt, James Taylor, Luther Vandross, Aretha Franklin, Dionne Warwick and Dusty Springfield.

He also went on to release 7 albums, one of them being a compilation that includes his early work.