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{{about|the musician|the surname|La Tour (surname)|and|Latour (disambiguation)#People{{!}}Latour (surname)|and|Tour (disambiguation)#People{{!}}Tour (surname)|other uses|La Tour (disambiguation)|and|Latour (disambiguation)}}
'''LaTour''' is the stage name of [[Lowell, Mass.]] born [[musician]] '''William LaTour''', best known for the [[1991]] hit "People Are Still Having Sex." LaTour was a [[Record producer|producer]] of [[house music]] when he released his first album ''LaTour''. He released a second album ''Home on the Range'', in [[1993]].
{{Infobox musical artist
|name = LaTour
|image = File:William_Bill_Latour.jpg
|caption = William "Bill" LaTour in 2011
|image_size = 200px
|background = non_vocal_instrumentalist
|origin = [[Lowell, Massachusetts]], U.S.
|birth_name = William LaTour
|instrument = Piano, keyboard, drums, guitar, bass, programming
|genre = [[Electronica]], [[Dance music|dance]], [[Industrial rock|industrial]], pop, [[punk music|punk]], [[parody music|parody]]
|occupation = Musician, composer, songwriter, voice-over actor, production director, voice-over producer and engineer
|years_active = 1987–present
|label = [[Polydor Records|Polydor]] <small>(1989–1993)</small><br />[[Smash Records]] <small>(1989 – 1996)</small>
|associated_acts =
|website =
}}


'''William LaTour''', better known by his stage names '''LaTour''' and '''Bud LaTour''', is an American musician, disc jockey and voice-over artist. His musical genres span electronic, house, glam, rock, dance, punk, and parody. LaTour is best known for the 1991 Number 1 ''Billboard'' electronic dance hit "[[People Are Still Having Sex]]".<ref name="Billboard">{{cite magazine|url={{BillboardURLbyName|artist=latour|chart=all}}|title=People Are Still Having Sex: Chart Listings|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|accessdate=July 9, 2010}}</ref> and for his instrumental [[deep house]] track, "Blue".
His initial [[single (music)|single]] climbed to [[Chart-topper|number one]] on the [[Hot Dance Music/Club Play]] chart, and became a [[Hot 100]] [[Top 40]] [[Chart-topper|hit]] (#35).


== Musical career ==
Although 'People Are Still Having Sex' is his only Hot 100 entry, he has had several follow-up hits on the US Dance chart including "Cold," "Blue," "Hypnomania," "Craziaskowboi" and "E". Nevertheless, in the [[United Kingdom|UK]], LaTour has true [[one-hit wonder]] status.
As a child, LaTour found a talent in writing parody songs.<ref>[http://www.gcast.com/u/kahnman/main?nr=1 Gcast.com]{{dead link|date=December 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Later, working at a radio station created the environment to record comedy songs and feature them on the air for skits. Like many parody songwriters, ''The [[Dr. Demento]] Radio Show'' played a large part in showcasing the early talents of LaTour.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bud LaTour |url=https://madmusic.com/artist_details.aspx?ArtistID=892 |access-date=2024-09-03 |website=madmusic.com}}</ref> A parody version of [[Falco (musician)|Falco]]'s "[[Rock Me Amadeus]]" entitled, "Rock Me [[Jerry Lewis]]" was credited to Bud Latour and fellow Phoenix, Arizona disc jockey, [[Mike Elliott (radio personality)|Mike Elliott]]. "Rock Me Jerry Lewis" reached Number 1 on The Dr. Demento's Funny Five chart.


LaTour was a member of Chicago [[Punk rock|punk]] band The Squids, formed in Chicago in 1989. He remained a member of the group until 1991, and played his final show with them at the [[Chicago Metro (venue)|Chicago Metro]].<ref name="CT01">{{cite news|title=3 more Chicago performers sign with Smash|last=Mark|first=Caro|date=March 8, 1991|work=Chuicago Tribune|page=N}}</ref> Upon leaving the band, he began producing [[house music]], signed with [[Smash Records]] and released his first eponymous LaTour album in 1991. "People Are Still Having Sex" reached number one on the [[Hot Dance Club Songs|Hot Dance Music/Club Play]] [[record chart|chart]], and became a [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] [[Top 40]] hit (number 35). The song reached number 15 in the [[UK Singles Chart]]<ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums">{{cite book| first= David| last= Roberts| year= 2006| title= British Hit Singles & Albums| edition= 19th| publisher= Guinness World Records Limited| location= London| isbn= 1-904994-10-5| page= 314}}</ref> after he performed on ''[[Top of The Pops]]''. "Blue" was featured during the club scene in the film ''[[Basic Instinct]]'', and appears on the film's soundtrack release. He released a second album, ''Home on the Range'', in 1993, and had other hits on the U.S. Hot Dance chart, including the songs "Cold," "Hypnomania," "Craziaskowboi," and "E."
==See also==

*[[List of number-one dance hits (United States)]]
During the busiest phase of LaTour's recording career, the 1990s, he joined fellow house music producer, Terry "Housemaster" Baldwin to create a number of [[Chicago House]] singles for the underground house scene under the name "The L&B Project". This was named for the letters of both artist's last names.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.discogs.com/artist/L+&+B |title=Discogs.com |publisher=Discogs.com |accessdate=May 4, 2012}}</ref>
*[[List of artists who reached number one on the US Dance chart]]

In 1997, LaTour formed another band, Muzloh.<ref>{{cite web |author=Centerstage Media, LLC |url=http://www.centerstagechicago.com/music/whoswho/Muzloh.html |title=Centerstagechicago.com |publisher=Centerstagechicago.com |accessdate=May 4, 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120415154320/http://www.centerstagechicago.com/music/whoswho/Muzloh.html |archivedate=April 15, 2012 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> The rest of the band included Chicago musicians Dave Hunt, Don Batryn, Pete Shorner, and Emery "Joe" Yost (who previously played with LaTour in The Squids). In the Chicago area, Muzloh played The [[House of Blues]], The Metro Chicago club,<ref>{{cite web |author=Centerstage Media, LLC |url=http://www.centerstagechicago.com/events/music/detail.cfm?ID=72853 |title=Centerstagechicago.com |publisher=Centerstagechicago.com |date=February 24, 1998 |accessdate=May 4, 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120229233448/http://www.centerstagechicago.com/events/music/detail.cfm?ID=72853 |archivedate=February 29, 2012 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> Gunther Murphy's, and The Chicago Free Fest. Muzloh released an album in 1997 titled ''Supersonic Gold'' on Spoon Records.

LaTour also performed as a [[studio musician]] for many [[House music]] record labels in Chicago during the '90s and musicians including Ralphie Rosario, White Knight, Terry Baldwin, Frankie Hollywood Rodriguez, DJ International Records, [[SOS Records]], Underground Construction Records, and [[Trax Records]].{{Citation needed|date=July 2010}}

== Radio career ==
LaTour's radio work began at an early age, spending many hours at [[Trevor G. Browne High School]]'s [[high school radio]] station in Phoenix, Arizona. The station was broadcast into the school's lunchroom and quad area. During those high school years, at the age of 16, LaTour became licensed by the [[Federal Communications Commission]] (FCC) and secured a job at KUPD 97.9 in Phoenix. He joined as their weekend on-air personality from 1979 to 1983 and would begin to hone his skills as a [[voice-over actor]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://mich.ideatown.com/mdemento.html |title=Mich.ideatown.com |publisher=Mich.ideatown.com |accessdate=May 4, 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141231071328/http://mich.ideatown.com/mdemento.html |archivedate=December 31, 2014 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> [[parody music]] songwriter,<ref>{{cite web|date=December 28, 1986|title=DRdemento.com|url=http://www.drdemento.com/playlists/funny25/funny25.86.html|url-status=dead|accessdate=May 4, 2012|publisher=DRdemento.com|archive-date=July 7, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120707233855/http://www.drdemento.com/playlists/funny25/funny25.86.html}}</ref> and musician.

From 1983, LaTour joined [[KZZP]] as their weekend on-air personality on the FM station and did the midday shift on their AM frequency until 1986. It was at this station that on-air personality, Chris Shebel<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.energychicago.com/chrisshebel.htm |title=Energychicago.com |publisher=Energychicago.com |accessdate=May 4, 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120426141137/http://www.energychicago.com/chrisshebel.htm |archivedate=April 26, 2012 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> coined him William "Bud" LaTour.

After leaving KZZP, LaTour, now known primarily as "Bud" LaTour went on to Mesa, Arizona's [[KDKB]] as their morning show personality while also the station's Production Director. Only there for the year, LaTour moved to Phoenix's KSLX as the evening personality and then joined Chicago's [[WCHI-FM|WRXR]]. Climbing the ranks of radio, LaTour secured a position at a larger station, [[WBBM-FM]] also known as B96 as their weekend personality and Production Director from 1987–1992.

From 1998 to 1999, LaTour joined [[WVIV-FM|WXXY]] as their evening personality using the name Bill LaTour. He later moved to one of Chicago's only dance-format radio station, [[WCPY|WKIE]] otherwise known as Energy 92.7/5<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.energychicago.com/latour.htm |title=Energychicago.com |publisher=Energychicago.com |accessdate=May 4, 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120426141142/http://www.energychicago.com/latour.htm |archivedate=April 26, 2012 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> The station released two full-length music CD's due to their popular format. He was their Production Director and midday personality, where he went only by the name LaTour.

When the station changed formats, LaTour joined Chicago's [[CBS Radio]] station [[WBMX (FM)|WJMK]], otherwise known as [[Jack FM]], and continued as their Production Director. In 2009, he moved to Los Angeles to pursue radio and voice acting while still handling voice-over spots for WJMK.

In January 2010, LaTour was offered the position of Production Director for [[KKLQ (FM)|KSWD]] 100.3, The Sound.

== Discography ==
===Albums===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" border="1"
|+ List of albums, with selected details
! Title
! Details
|-
! scope="row" | ''[[LaTour (album)|LaTour]]''
|
* Released: 1991
* Label: Smash
* Format: CD, cassette, LP
|-
! scope="row" | ''Home on the Range''
|
* Released: 1993
* Label: Smash
* Format: CD, cassette
|}

===Extended plays===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" border="1"
|+ List of EPs, with selected details
! Title
! Details
|-
! scope="row" | ''The Project E.P.''<br />{{small|(as LaTour & Baldwin)}}
|
* Released: 1996
* Label: Firm Music
* Format: CD
|}

=== Singles ===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+List of singles, with selected chart positions
! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Title
! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Year
! scope="col" colspan="6"| Peak chart positions
! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Album
|-
! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| [[Billboard Hot 100|US]]
! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| [[Billboard Dance Chart|US<br />Dance]]
! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| [[ARIA Charts|AUS]]<br /><ref name="ARIA">{{cite Ryan|page=162}}</ref>
! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| [[GfK Entertainment charts|GER]]
! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| [[Official New Zealand Music Chart|NZ]]
! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| [[UK Singles Chart|UK]]<br /><ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums" />
|-
! scope="row"| "[[People Are Still Having Sex]]"
|rowspan="3"| 1991
| 35 || 1 || 17 || 26 || 30 || 15
|rowspan="4"| ''LaTour''
|-
! scope="row"| "Involved"
| — || — || — || — || — || —
|-
! scope="row"| "Blue"
| — || — || — || — || — || —
|-
! scope="row"| "Cold"
| 1992
| — || 25 || — || — || — || —
|-
! scope="row"| "E"
|rowspan="3"| 1993
| — || — || — || — || — || —
|rowspan="3"|
|-
! scope="row"| "Craziaskowboi"
| — || — || — || — || — || —
|-
! scope="row"| "Hypnomania"
| — || — || — || — || — || —
|}

== See also ==
{{commons category}}
*[[List of artists who reached number one on the U.S. dance chart]]
*[[List of Billboard number-one dance hits|List of ''Billboard'' number-one dance hits]]
*[[Music of Chicago]]
*[[Culture of Chicago]]

== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}

== External links ==
* {{discogs artist|LaTour}}
*[https://www.youtube.com/user/LatourProductions LaTour YouTube Video Channel]
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2012}}

{{Authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Latour}}
[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]
[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:American dance musicians]]
[[Category:American dance musicians]]
[[Category:American electronic musicians]]
[[Category:American electronic musicians]]
[[Category:American punk rock musicians]]
{{US-electronic-musician-stub}}
[[Category:Musicians from Chicago]]

[[Category:Pop punk musicians]]

"blue" is featured the movie basic instinct

Latest revision as of 06:21, 3 September 2024

This article is about the musician. For the surname, see La Tour (surname), Latour (surname), and Tour (surname). For other uses, see La Tour (disambiguation) and Latour (disambiguation).
LaTour
William "Bill" LaTour in 2011
William "Bill" LaTour in 2011
Background information
Birth nameWilliam LaTour
OriginLowell, Massachusetts, U.S.
GenresElectronica, dance, industrial, pop, punk, parody
Occupation(s)Musician, composer, songwriter, voice-over actor, production director, voice-over producer and engineer
Instrument(s)Piano, keyboard, drums, guitar, bass, programming
Years active1987–present
LabelsPolydor (1989–1993)
Smash Records (1989 – 1996)

William LaTour, better known by his stage names LaTour and Bud LaTour, is an American musician, disc jockey and voice-over artist. His musical genres span electronic, house, glam, rock, dance, punk, and parody. LaTour is best known for the 1991 Number 1 Billboard electronic dance hit "People Are Still Having Sex".[1] and for his instrumental deep house track, "Blue".

Musical career

[edit]

As a child, LaTour found a talent in writing parody songs.[2] Later, working at a radio station created the environment to record comedy songs and feature them on the air for skits. Like many parody songwriters, The Dr. Demento Radio Show played a large part in showcasing the early talents of LaTour.[3] A parody version of Falco's "Rock Me Amadeus" entitled, "Rock Me Jerry Lewis" was credited to Bud Latour and fellow Phoenix, Arizona disc jockey, Mike Elliott. "Rock Me Jerry Lewis" reached Number 1 on The Dr. Demento's Funny Five chart.

LaTour was a member of Chicago punk band The Squids, formed in Chicago in 1989. He remained a member of the group until 1991, and played his final show with them at the Chicago Metro.[4] Upon leaving the band, he began producing house music, signed with Smash Records and released his first eponymous LaTour album in 1991. "People Are Still Having Sex" reached number one on the Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart, and became a Billboard Hot 100 Top 40 hit (number 35). The song reached number 15 in the UK Singles Chart[5] after he performed on Top of The Pops. "Blue" was featured during the club scene in the film Basic Instinct, and appears on the film's soundtrack release. He released a second album, Home on the Range, in 1993, and had other hits on the U.S. Hot Dance chart, including the songs "Cold," "Hypnomania," "Craziaskowboi," and "E."

During the busiest phase of LaTour's recording career, the 1990s, he joined fellow house music producer, Terry "Housemaster" Baldwin to create a number of Chicago House singles for the underground house scene under the name "The L&B Project". This was named for the letters of both artist's last names.[6]

In 1997, LaTour formed another band, Muzloh.[7] The rest of the band included Chicago musicians Dave Hunt, Don Batryn, Pete Shorner, and Emery "Joe" Yost (who previously played with LaTour in The Squids). In the Chicago area, Muzloh played The House of Blues, The Metro Chicago club,[8] Gunther Murphy's, and The Chicago Free Fest. Muzloh released an album in 1997 titled Supersonic Gold on Spoon Records.

LaTour also performed as a studio musician for many House music record labels in Chicago during the '90s and musicians including Ralphie Rosario, White Knight, Terry Baldwin, Frankie Hollywood Rodriguez, DJ International Records, SOS Records, Underground Construction Records, and Trax Records.[citation needed]

Radio career

[edit]

LaTour's radio work began at an early age, spending many hours at Trevor G. Browne High School's high school radio station in Phoenix, Arizona. The station was broadcast into the school's lunchroom and quad area. During those high school years, at the age of 16, LaTour became licensed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and secured a job at KUPD 97.9 in Phoenix. He joined as their weekend on-air personality from 1979 to 1983 and would begin to hone his skills as a voice-over actor,[9] parody music songwriter,[10] and musician.

From 1983, LaTour joined KZZP as their weekend on-air personality on the FM station and did the midday shift on their AM frequency until 1986. It was at this station that on-air personality, Chris Shebel[11] coined him William "Bud" LaTour.

After leaving KZZP, LaTour, now known primarily as "Bud" LaTour went on to Mesa, Arizona's KDKB as their morning show personality while also the station's Production Director. Only there for the year, LaTour moved to Phoenix's KSLX as the evening personality and then joined Chicago's WRXR. Climbing the ranks of radio, LaTour secured a position at a larger station, WBBM-FM also known as B96 as their weekend personality and Production Director from 1987–1992.

From 1998 to 1999, LaTour joined WXXY as their evening personality using the name Bill LaTour. He later moved to one of Chicago's only dance-format radio station, WKIE otherwise known as Energy 92.7/5[12] The station released two full-length music CD's due to their popular format. He was their Production Director and midday personality, where he went only by the name LaTour.

When the station changed formats, LaTour joined Chicago's CBS Radio station WJMK, otherwise known as Jack FM, and continued as their Production Director. In 2009, he moved to Los Angeles to pursue radio and voice acting while still handling voice-over spots for WJMK.

In January 2010, LaTour was offered the position of Production Director for KSWD 100.3, The Sound.

Discography

[edit]

Albums

[edit]
List of albums, with selected details
Title Details
LaTour
  • Released: 1991
  • Label: Smash
  • Format: CD, cassette, LP
Home on the Range
  • Released: 1993
  • Label: Smash
  • Format: CD, cassette

Extended plays

[edit]
List of EPs, with selected details
Title Details
The Project E.P.
(as LaTour & Baldwin)
  • Released: 1996
  • Label: Firm Music
  • Format: CD

Singles

[edit]
List of singles, with selected chart positions
Title Year Peak chart positions Album
US US
Dance 		AUS
[13] 		GER NZ UK
[5]
"People Are Still Having Sex" 1991 35 1 17 26 30 15 LaTour
"Involved" — — — — — —
"Blue" — — — — — —
"Cold" 1992 — 25 — — — —
"E" 1993 — — — — — —
"Craziaskowboi" — — — — — —
"Hypnomania" — — — — — —

See also

[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to LaTour.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "People Are Still Having Sex: Chart Listings". Billboard. Retrieved July 9, 2010.
  2. ^ Gcast.com[permanent dead link‍]
  3. ^ "Bud LaTour". madmusic.com. Retrieved September 3, 2024.
  4. ^ Mark, Caro (March 8, 1991). "3 more Chicago performers sign with Smash". Chuicago Tribune. p. N.
  5. ^ a b Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 314. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  6. ^ "Discogs.com". Discogs.com. Retrieved May 4, 2012.
  7. ^ Centerstage Media, LLC. "Centerstagechicago.com". Centerstagechicago.com. Archived from the original on April 15, 2012. Retrieved May 4, 2012.
  8. ^ Centerstage Media, LLC (February 24, 1998). "Centerstagechicago.com". Centerstagechicago.com. Archived from the original on February 29, 2012. Retrieved May 4, 2012.
  9. ^ "Mich.ideatown.com". Mich.ideatown.com. Archived from the original on December 31, 2014. Retrieved May 4, 2012.
  10. ^ "DRdemento.com". DRdemento.com. December 28, 1986. Archived from the original on July 7, 2012. Retrieved May 4, 2012.
  11. ^ "Energychicago.com". Energychicago.com. Archived from the original on April 26, 2012. Retrieved May 4, 2012.
  12. ^ "Energychicago.com". Energychicago.com. Archived from the original on April 26, 2012. Retrieved May 4, 2012.
  13. ^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 162.
[edit]

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