MUSIC HISTORY 101 SEPTEMBER 9, 1945 - Born on this day as Dione LaRue in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: R&B singer DEE DEE SHARP Dee Dee began singing in her grandfathers church. Answering a newspaper ad at age 13 for a girl who could read music, play piano and sing, she was soon singing background vocals uncredited on records by Frankie Avalon, Freddie Cannon and Chubby Checker on Slow Twistin (which rose to #3). In 1962 she took center state at Cameo Parkway Records when she was asked to record her first solo record, Mashed Potato Time. The record soared up the pop and R&B charts to reach #2 and was followed by a string of more hits including Gravy (For My Mashed Potatoes) (#9), Ride (#5) and Do the Bird (#10) and I Really Love You among them. Both Mashed Potato Time and Ride each sold over one million copies, and were awarded gold discs. Do the Bird provided her only entry in the UK Singles Chart, where it peaked at #46 in April 1963. Only in her teens, DEE DEE SHARP became an international star. She toured the U.S. and Europe quite often as part of Dick Clarks Caravan of Stars, working with just about every major act in the golden age of rock and roll. In 1967, she married record producer Kenny Gamble and has since recorded under the name Dee Dee Sharp-Gamble. She had a brief career resurgence during the disco era and hit the charts again with her version of 10 CCs Im Not In Love. She also joined Lou Rawls, Billy Paul, Teddy Pendergrass, The OJays and Archie Bell) as a member of the Philadelphia International All Stars, who had a minor hit with Lets Clean Up the Ghetto. During this time she was married to Philadelphia International co-founder Kenny Gamble, and was known professionally as Dee Dee Sharp Gamble. The couple later divorced. In 1980 she spent four weeks at number one on the Hot Dance Club Play chart with Breaking and Entering / Easy Money, from her album Dee Dee. Her many television appearances have included Ed Sullivan, Tonight Show, Mike Douglas, American Bandstand, and Entertainment Tonight. Her music has been featured in such films as Sister Act, Hairspray, Desperately Seeking Susan and Troop Beverly Hills. More recent appearances included a performance at Pontins in the UK for the Northern Soul Show, and at the 2008 Detroit Jazz Festival. In May 2009, she appeared in Belgium at the Salle De LHotel de Ville. Sharp and her husband Bill Witherspoon have been residents of Medford, New Jersey. On November 9, 2013, the prestigious Sandy Hosey Lifetime Achievement Award (presented to only five artists every year by the Guild) was bestowed upon Sharp by the Artists Music Guild. Sharp thought she was in attendance to bestow the honor upon her longtime friend, Chubby Checker when she was surprised with her own honors. READ MORE: deedeesharp/ allmusic/artist/dee-dee-sharp-mn0000812920/biography utopiaartists/bio_dee_dee_sharp.htm https://facebook/deedee.sharp.545
Posted on: Tue, 09 Sep 2014 21:55:50 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015