Sugar Pie DeSanto

Sugar Pie DeSanto ( born October 16, 1935 in Brooklyn, New York City as Umpeylia Marsema Balinton ) is an American R & B singer, dancer, entertainer and composer, who had in the 1950s and 1960s their greatest successes.

Biography

The daughter of an African American and a Filipino grew up in San Francisco, where she had moved as a child with her family.

1955 hired Johnny Otis, the young singer, who he had seen in a talent competition, for his revue. He was also the Sugar Pie DeSanto was her stage name. The same year she made ​​her first recording.

End of the 1950s she appeared in the great R & B theaters in the U.S., including the Apollo in New York, the Regal in Chicago and the Howard in Washington. 1959 and 1960 she was with James Brown on tour.

In 1960 she had with I Want to Know a hit, which made ​​it to # 4 on the U.S. R & B charts. It was followed by other successful publications, among others, along with Etta James, but was it especially as an outstanding stage performer. Appeared in 1997 with Classic Sugar Pie for the first time one of her appearances as a complete live recording.

In 1964, she was the only female participant in the American Folk Blues Festival, along with blues greats like Willie Dixon, Sleepy John Estes, Lightnin ' Hopkins and Sonny Boy Williamson II

Sugar Pie DeSanto has written many songs, many of which were recorded by other artists, including Fontella Bass, Little Milton and The Whispers.

1996 Sugar Pie DeSanto received a " Bay Area Music Award " as the best blues singer. In 2008 she received the Pioneer Award from the Rhythm and Blues Foundation.

Discography (selection)

Singles

  • "I Want to Know" ( with Pee Wee Kingsley Band) (1960 ) # 4 U.S. R & B
  • "Slip - In Mules (No High Heel Sneakers )" ( 1964) # 48 U.S. Pop
  • " Soulful Dress" (1964 )
  • "Use What You Got " (1964)
  • "Do I Make Myself Clear" ( with Etta James ) ( 1965) # 96 U.S. Pop
  • " In the Basement - Part 1 " (with Etta James ) ( 1966) # 37 U.S. R & B, # 97 U.S. Pop

Albums

  • "Sugar Pie" (1961 )
  • "Hello, San Francisco " (1984)
  • " Down In The Basement " (1989)
  • "Sugar Is Salty " (1993)
  • "Classic Sugar Pie " (1997)
  • " A Slice Of Pie " (1999)
  • " Refined Sugar" (2005)
Apollo Theater
232065
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