R&B legend, Mississippi native Denise LaSalle dies

Legendary rhythm and blues singer Denise LaSalle has died in Jackson, Tennessee, on Tuesday at the age of 78, according to multiple media sources.

A native of Belzoni, LaSalle, born Ora Denise Allen in 1939, rose to stardom in the realm of blues after moving to Chicago and signing with Chess Records in the late 1960s.

She is known for her hit R&B songs "Trapped in a Thing Called Love" and "Now Run and Tell That." The former reached No. 1 on the R&B charts and No. 13 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. In 2015, she was inducted into the Rhythm and Blues Music Hall of Fame.

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LaSalle dealt with health issues in recent months and underwent a leg amputation at Vanderbilt hospital in Nashville after suffering a fall. She had also been dealing with heart problems over the past few years.

Before her death, LaSalle was planning on opening the Denise LaSalle Blues Academy of Performing Arts in Jackson, Tennessee.

A memorial tribute for La Salle will be held Friday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Multi-Purpose Building, 417 Silver City Road, in Belzoni. Friends, fans, musicians form all genres, political leaders and etc. are invited to pay tribute.