(April 1, 2022) Today we say a sad goodbye R&B singer, keyboardist and “Atlanta’s Queen of Blues,” Lola Gulley. Her cause of death is unknown.
A winner of the Willie Mitchell Lifetime Award at the 2021 “Jus’ Blues Music Awards,” Gulley was a Wilbe Records recording artist who had a big following in both the blues and Southern Soul communities.
Raised in a military family in Mobile, Alabama, Gulley learned music at her father’s side, playing trumpet, drums and keyboard in his R&B band, and in local churches. Once she finished college, she joined Johnny Taylor’s band as a keyboardist.
With that real life education, Gulley went on to a career as a solo artist and bandleader. An unreleased album on Motown was a setback, but Gulley’s real strength was onstage, where she opened for or supported a “who’s who” of popular acts on tour.
She also won over fans with a series of strong albums on the Wilbe Records label. Lola Gulley was a true musical talent, and she will be missed.
