LZ Love

Austin, Texas R&B artist born in Chicago, Illinois and raised in the San Francisco Bay area.

LZ Love spent the 1980s and 1990s performing and touring, recording hit dance singles in Europe, and making a name doing studio gigs. Her reputation for big vocals brought her to the attention of Michael Franti, who drafted her for two tracks on Spearhead's acclaimed Yellfire!. Yet Love found unexpected kinship with Austin musicians.

Times were quite different indeed for young Arnold Elzy. Born in Chicago and relocated to the Bay area at an early age, he found pleasure singing gospel in church, but other, decidedly feminine interests occupied his little-boy world. Though he was 16 before he told his mother, "I am different." "I was the fashionista in my family," she laughs. "My sisters were wearing my clothes, little things I was buying. I'd find them, and they'd be stretched out. I was wearing their things, too."

Before the origins of LZ Love, Arnold Marvin Elzy lived in Berkeley, CA. In 1975, using her fake ID, she would travel to San Francisco and perform at the Cabaret while drag queen Sylvester James performed in the basement – Show Room. Love would hear Sylvester performing when she’d go downstairs to use the bathroom, one time gathering the courage to pay respects.

Eventually the two would meet while dancing to the Supremes at the Cabaret. Before Sylvester's big break, they performed together with Leroy Davis and Jerry Kirby. Sylvester would eventually fire Leroy and Jerry, giving Love (still Arnold) the opportunity to stay on. Love declined the offer and went on to eventually become LZ Love.