R&B singer/musician Jeffrey Osborne is known for plenty of things.

Some know him as the drummer-turned-singer of '70s funk outfit L.T.D.

Many know him as the solo artist who penned the enduring hit "On the Wings of Love," and has five gold and platinum albums to his name.

Some remember him singing alongside Michael Jackson and Bruce Springsteen for super-single "We Are the World."

But it may surprise people to know that when the Los Angeles Lakers receive their 2009 championship rings, not only will Osborne get one, he'll have more rings than Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant.

"It's a traditional thing with me and the Lakers," Osborne said from his home in Los Angeles. "I started doing the National Anthem for them back in 1979. It was Magic's (Magic Johnson) rookie year, and before you knew it, every time I sang it, they won. I became a good-luck charm for them. Now I've opened the season 26 years in a row. I've done it over 100 times and I think they've only lost three or four of those games. My percentage is ridiculous."

In addition to the season-opener, Osborne has sung the anthem at the first game of most Lakers playoff series, including the championship rounds. Last year, he was bumped from the first championship game by the ABC network for "American Idol" winner David Cook. Osborne sang later, but the Lakers lost the series to the Boston Celtics.

This year, superstitious Lakers owner Jerry Buss made sure he sang the first game of the championship round, and the Lakers went on to win both the game and the series.

While the Lakers may see Osborne as a talisman, his musical upbringing had nothing at all to do with luck.

The youngest of 12 children in a Providence, R.I., family, Osborne was born into music.

"It was a very musical family," he said. "My father was incredible on trumpet and played with the likes of Duke Ellington and Count Basie. My older brother, Billy, played back then with some of the great jazz guys, like Wes Montgomery. So I really did grow up around amazing music. We listened to some of the best musicians ever in our house. I got a real education in my family. It was great."

Osborne started with the trumpet, but not by choice. By the time he was ready to play an instrument, none of his other siblings had chosen their father's favorite, so it was paired with him by default. Osborne later switched to drums and his true love, singing, but is grateful for the experience.

"It really helped me where singing is concerned," he said. "To play the trumpet you have to use that diaphragm, and it's the same if you want to sing correctly. You really need to push it out from there. And I think that's what has kept me going as a singer."

It was his drumming, not singing, that landed him a spot in the funk/R&B group L.T.D., although he ended up singing lead vocals for it later. His brother Billy joined the group for a while as well, and the band scored a handful of hit singles. When Osborne left the band in 1980 to pursue a solo career, it was not on good terms. Osborne continues to perform a number of songs from his time with L.T.D., but a reunion is unlikely.

"I don't think so," he said. "Other than my brother, all the people I loved in that group have passed away. I never say never, but so far it hasn't happened, and I can't see it happening any time soon. I don't have that strong of a tie to the guys that are there now, but they are the ones who really spearheaded it all."

Osborne's solo career has been going strong ever since he left the band, and he has garnered five gold and platinum albums along the way. He's released numerous hit singles and scored a No. 1 hit with 1988's "She's on the Left."

He has plans to release a live album -- his first release since 2005's "From the Soul" and his first-ever live recording -- sometime in July.

"I'll sing forever," he said. "Because if you don't use it, you lose it. If you don't make those vocal chords work, they'll go dormant on you. I've been very fortunate, and I'll keep doing it as long as I can."

Rhythm on the Vine

South Coast Winery, 34843 Rancho California Road, Temecula

6:30 p.m. June 27

$55 general admission, $200 VIP

213-368-3379