You've Got To Reach

One thing I loved about broadcasting and my career, was the chance to discover music weeks even months before anyone else. The Rise of the Eagles, Bad Company, Poco, Souther - Hillman - Furay Band and Orleans,

Orleans is best known for "Dance With Me", Still the One and "Love Takes Time".

Formed in Woodstock, New York by guitarist/songwriter John Hall, additional members in 1972 included Wells Kelly and Larry Hoppen. In late 1972 Larry’s younger brother Lance was added on bass. Drummer Jerry Marotta joined, also in 73 completing the quintet.

Orleans found its core audience in the clubs and college circuit of the Northeast US.

Quoting Rolling Stone magazine from 1972 Orleans is "the best unrecorded band in America".

Their constant touring lead to a recording contract with ABC Dunhill Records and the release of the debut album in 1973.

But it was not until early 1975 when Chuck Plotkin,then head of A&R for Asylum Records heard Orleans and later produced their Asylum LP, that Orleans achieved their first hit"Let There Be Music" in early 1975. Receiving a promotional copy of their first LP, we put "Let There Be Music in heavy Rotation (it peaked at #55 on Billboards charts).

Almost immediatly they followed-up that single with "Dance With Me" which landed right smack dab in the middle of the mainstream of American pop music.
"Dance With Me" cast the band in a more "soft-rock" light and landed them for a time on tour with Melissa Manchester.

Earthy, R & B, Country-Rock in the vein of The Eagles, The Souther-Hillman-Furay Band, Jackson Browne and Poco.



The release of "Reach" brought them back to their roots. Plus the smash hit "Still the One" cemented Orleans' relationship with the American public.
While the single was climbing the charts a major cross-country tour with label-mate Jackson Browne was started.

However, within a year (1976) stress within the band prompted guitarist/songwriter Hall to leave the band in search of a solo career.

Orleans reunited without John Hall in 1979, producing the #11 hit "Love Takes Time". Also continuing to tour with the likes of Stephen Stills and Chicago.

"Still the One" was used by the ABC television network as the theme song for their 1977 promotional campaign.

Collectively, Orleans' hits have been aired over 8 million times.

Wells Kelly's untimely death in 1984 while on tour with Meat Loaf was the catalyst for a reunion of Hall and the Hoppen brothers.

Two tours of Japan, an appearance at Woodstock'94, opening the "Can’t Stop Rockin'" Tour (Fleetwood Mac, REO Speedwagon and Pat Benatar) in 1995 were Orleans' highlights in the 1990s.

Approaching their 35th anniversary, Orleans continues to play live and record. Their latest studio album, Dancin’ in the Moonlight, was released in late 2005.

The current lineup includes Lance and Larry Hoppen, youngest brother Lane Hoppen on keyboards, Dennis "Fly" Amero (replacing John Hall) on guitar and, on drums, Charlie Morgan (best known for his 14-year stint with Elton John).

During his 2006 bid for a US Congressional seat, Hall appeared with the group on rare occasions.

On November 7, 2006 Hall was elected as a Democrat to the United States House of Representatives from the state of New York.

A popular myth suggests that the band posed nude for the cover of the Waking and Dreaming album. In fact, they were wearing jeans but the photo was cropped above their waists

As Always

Peace