Nicolette Larson
Her crystalline voice turned a Neil Young demo into a defining soft-rock anthem of the late 1970s.
1952–1997 (age 45)·American singer·Birthday: July 17·Baby Boomers
Biography
Nicolette Larson’s journey from Helena, Montana, to the heart of the California rock scene was fueled by a voice that was both sweet and sturdy. After moving to San Francisco and then Los Angeles, she became a sought-after harmony singer, lending her tones to records by Commander Cody and Hoyt Axton. Her big break came when Neil Young, impressed by her work, invited her to sing on his 'Comes a Time' album and later handed her his song 'Lotta Love.' Larson’s 1978 solo version became an instant smash, its gentle groove and her effortless delivery capturing the era's mellow vibe. While often labeled a one-hit wonder, she built a lasting career as a versatile vocalist, recording country albums and collaborating with icons like Linda Ronstadt and Emmylou Harris before her untimely death at 45. She is remembered as the woman who gave a tender, pop-perfect shape to a rocker’s raw material.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
Nicolette was born in 1952, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Nicolette Was Born
The biggest hits of 1952
#1 Movie
The Greatest Show on Earth
Best Picture
The Greatest Show on Earth
#1 TV Show
I Love Lucy
Nicolette's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1952Born
Queen Elizabeth II ascends the throne
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $8,350Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Blue Tango" — Leroy AndersonBest Picture: The Greatest Show on Earth
1957Started school
Sputnik launches the Space Age
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $10,550Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"All Shook Up" — Elvis PresleyBest Picture: The Bridge on the River Kwai
1965Became a teenager
US sends combat troops to Vietnam
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,600Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" — The Rolling StonesBest Picture: The Sound of Music
1968Could drive
Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy assassinated
Gas: $0.34/galHome: $14,950Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Hey Jude" — The BeatlesBest Picture: Oliver!
1970Could vote
First Earth Day; The Beatles break up
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $17,000Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Bridge over Troubled Water" — Simon & GarfunkelBest Picture: Patton
1973Turned 21
US withdraws from Vietnam; Roe v. Wade decided
Gas: $0.39/galHome: $22,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" — Tony Orlando & DawnBest Picture: The Sting
1982Turned 30
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1992Turned 40
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
1997Died at 45
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
Key Achievements
- Scored a top 10 pop hit with her 1978 cover of Neil Young's 'Lotta Love,' which also reached No. 1 on the Adult Contemporary chart.
- Provided distinctive backing vocals on Neil Young's acclaimed 1978 album 'Comes a Time.'
- Released a self-titled debut album in 1978 that was certified Gold by the RIAA.
- Successfully transitioned to country music in the 1980s, charting several singles on the Billboard country charts.
Did You Know?
She was married to drummer Russ Kunkel of The Section, who played on countless classic rock records.
The character of 'Nicolette' in the Doobie Brothers song 'What a Fool Believes' is said to be inspired by her.
She sang backing vocals on the hit 'You're the Only Woman' by Ambrosia.
Her final album, 'Sleep, Baby, Sleep,' was a collection of lullabies released in 1994.
“I just sang the songs I loved, and tried to put my own stamp on them.”
