Lonnie Hill
Lonnie Hill (born October 10 in Tyler, Texas) is an American soul, R&B, and gospel singer-songwriter best known for his 1980s cult classic album You Got Me Running.
Hill's musical foundation was rooted in the church; his father was a Pentecostal minister. By age 17, Lonnie became a member of his family's spiritual group, The Gospel Keynotes.
During his time in the gospel circuit, he performed alongside legendary acts such as Stevie Wonder, The Staple Singers, James Cleveland, The Mighty Clouds of Joy, and Isaac Hayes. After five years with The Gospel Keynotes, Hill grew disillusioned with the group due to a perceived lack of recognition for his songwriting and left the band.
In 1976, Hill ventured into secular music as a member of the group Topazz, which released the 45 single "Sitting On The Mountainside". His solo breakthrough came in the mid-1980s:- "Galveston Bay": His most enduring hit, "Galveston Bay," reached the UK Top 75 in 1986. The song remains a staple in the modern soul and "boogie" scenes. He recorded his debut solo album, You Got Me Running, in Denver, Colorado, for the Urban Sound label.
Hill has continued to release music across the gospel and soul genres into the 2000s and 2020s:- You Got Me Running (1986) – featuring "Galveston Bay" and "Could It Be Love"; No Games (2002) – featuring the single "Step On Out," released through Hill's own labels, Hill's Hideaway Music and Sparkle Productions; Back On the Scene (2008) – includes a remake of "Galveston Bay"; The Gospel in Me (2017) – includes tracks like "Joy" and "Waiting on You Lord"; The Whole World Needs to Pray (2025) – a recent gospel-focused release;
Hill’s vocal style is heavily influenced by soul legends like Johnnie Taylor, ZZ Hill, and LeRoy Hutson. Users generally praise the album as a high-quality soul and R&B masterpiece with lasting appeal.
You Got Me Running
A2 Hard Times 4:11
A3 Keep On Dancing 3:28
A4 Step On Out 4:40
A5 Mr. Music Man 4:17
B1 Something Special To Me 5:08
B2 Galveston Bay 4:03
B3 Could It Be Love 5:19
B4 My Sweet Love 3:59
B5 Close To You 3:40
B6 Cold Winter In The Ghetto 3:37
Label: Urban Sound – US-777
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: US
Released: 1984
Genre: R&B Soul
Style: Eighties Soul, Funk
You Got Me Running is the 1984 debut solo album by American singer Lonnie Hill, recorded after he transitioned from gospel and group projects to secular R&B. The album features Philip Bailey (of Earth, Wind & Fire) on backing vocals.
The album was first released in the United States in 1984 on the Urban Sound label. It later gained wider international recognition when it was released in the United Kingdom in 1986 by Virgin / 10 Records.
It is characterized as a blend of Soul, Funk, and Soft Rock. The most acclaimed song on the album is "Galveston Bay," which became a UK Top 75 hit. Other notable tracks include the title song, "You Got Me Running," and "Cold Winter In The Ghetto."
The album was recorded at Colorado Sound Recording Studios in Denver, Colorado, produced by Dik Darnell and co-produced by Larry Thompson. Horn arrangements were handled by Dik Darnell, Jerome Gilmer, and Lonnie Hill.
It is frequently cited as a standout example of 1980s independent soul, blending smooth R&B with subtle funk elements. "Galveston Bay" is widely considered the album's masterpiece, often described by listeners as a "perfect" track that appears once in a decade.
Contemporary reviews from the mid-80s noted that while it might not have had mass chart appeal at the time, its specialized material resonated deeply with urban soul fans. On community platforms like Discogs, the album consistently averages between 3.6 and 4.0 out of 5 stars across various pressings.
The album has seen several reissues over the years due to its rarity and high demand, including UK pressings on the Ten label. You can find various versions of the record on marketplaces such as Discogs or MusicStack by clicking the images below. Note: "Cold Winter In The Ghetto" is a bonus track not on the original album.