Lavine Hudson
Lavine Hudson was a prominent British gospel and soul singer known for her powerful vocals and trailblazing career in the 1980s UK gospel scene. Born in the 1960s as one of six children to Pastor Austin and Elaine Hudson, she grew up in South London and began singing solo in her father's Church of God in Christ (COGIC) congregation at age seven.
Hudson honed her skills in her family's church and with groups like The Harmonisers starting at age 14, as well as the COGIC Mass Choir and London Community Gospel Choir. Influenced by Aretha Franklin, Andrae Crouch, and the Clark Sisters, she faced early rejection from London's School of Music for her gospel lyrics and "too black" sound, which she refused to dilute.
In 1983, she moved to Boston, trained at Berklee College of Music with church support, and built her reputation through street busking and local performances. Returning to the UK, she featured on the TV series People Get Ready, caught Virgin Records' attention, and released her debut album Intervention in 1988, which peaked at No. 19 on the US Billboard Gospel Chart.
Hudson released a second album, Between Two Worlds, and earned praise as a super-confident songwriter from producer Nicky Brown. She remains the only UK female gospel artist signed to a major label, with admirers predicting her as "Christian music's answer to Whitney Houston," though mainstream stardom eluded her.
Hudson passed away on April 6, 2017, with limited media coverage despite her impact. Her memory endures through awards like the Lavine Hudson Award for Vocal Excellence, first given in 2024 to Lurine Cato MBE by her brother Tim Hudson.
Intervention
Producer – Nicholas Brown
Written-By – Lavine Hudson
4:37
A2 Flesh Of My Flesh (What I Want The World To Know)
Producer – Wayne Wilson
Saxophone, Soloist – Gary Barnacle
Written-By – Lavine Hudson, Leon Patillo
4:52
A3 Celebrate Salvation
Producer – Kelvin Broughton, Wayne Wilson
Written-By – Lavine Hudson
3:24
A4 Create In Me
Producer – Elbernita Clark Terrell
Written-By – Lavine Hudson, Nicholas Brown
4:49
A5 Can't You See
Producer – Nicholas Brown
Vocals [Duet With] – Derrick Brinkley
Written-By – Lavine Hudson, Nicholas Brown
5:14
B1 Material World
Producer – Lavine Hudson, Nicholas Brown
Written-By – Lavine Hudson
4:08
B2 Learning How To Love
Producer – Nicholas Brown
Written-By – Lavine Hudson
5:39
B3 Prodigal Boy
Producer – Nicholas Brown
Written-By – Lavine Hudson, Nicholas Brown
4:19
B4 Home
Producer – Marvin Winans
Saxophone, Soloist – Skip Pruitt
Written-By – Lavine Hudson
4:36
B5 Does Jesus Care
Producer – Kelvin Broughton
Written-By – Lavine Hudson
4:01
Label: Virgin – 7 90944-1
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: US
Released: 1988
Genre: R&B Soul
Style: Gospel-Soul
Lavine Hudson's 1988 debut album, Intervention, is widely regarded as a seminal work in British gospel music, blending soulful R&B sensibilities with deep spiritual themes.
udson was frequently compared to Whitney Houston due to her pure tone, incredible range, and soulful delivery. Critics and fans often highlight her "great elasticity" and ability to communicate raw emotion, drawing comparisons to Aretha Franklin.
Track Highlights:-
"Intervention": The title track is praised for its strong production and establishing the album's polished sound.
"Does Jesus Care": Noted for its "old school" gospel flavor, this track serves as a powerful closing to the album.
"Create In Me" & "Home": Both are cited as standout songs that showcase her unique artistry and sophisticated songwriting.
The album features high-profile production from industry veterans like Nicky Brown, Karl Edwards, and Twinkie Clark.
While her voice is universally acclaimed, some retrospective reviews on Amazon UK have noted that certain tracks may suffer from slightly "flat" late-80s production.
At the time of its release, it was seen as the bridge between traditional gospel and the pop/R&B charts, a feat rarely achieved by British gospel artists.
Intervention remains a cherished collection for soul and gospel enthusiasts, holding average user ratings between 3.8 and 4.5/5 on Discogs.