Song:He's Got The Whole World In His Hands
Album:100 Hits: 50s
According to my research, this record was the biggest selling one hit wonder of the 50s. British singer Laurie London recorded it when he was 13 years old. By age 19, he was out of the music business. I guess his career peaked early...or something. London was born Jan. 19, 1944 in East London. It's not clear how he got into a recording studio while still in grammar school. But he recorded the gospel standard He's Got The Whole World In His Hands for the EMI label Parlophone with the Geoff Love Orchestra. Love led the house band at EMI Studios in London and he recorded as Manuel and the Music of the Mountains. He worked as an arranger and producer for a lot of EMI artists. Of course He's Got The Whole World In His Hands is closely associated with gospel music legend Mahalia Jackson...as it should be. Capitol Records released London's recording in the US and it reached #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1958. It was the most successful recording by a British male artist in the 50s. You can get it on this 5CD various artists budget box set from EMI. London continued to record. Apparently he was very popular in Germany and therefore he recorded a lot in German. But none of these recordings went anywhere and Laurie London retired from music at age 19. After a failed mid-60s comeback, London retired for good. He owned a hotel for many years and currently manages The Ship and Castle pub in Portsmouth. Here's Laurie London performing He's Got The Whole World In His Hands 1958.
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