Dee Dee Sharp
Dee Dee Sharp hit the biggest with her first record for the Cameo/Parkway label, a blessing that pigeonholed the Philly songstress as a teenybopper forever to be identified with her number one smash from 1962, "Mashed Potatoes Time." Living in Philadelphia, the home of Dick Clark's American Bandstand helped her career; she appeared on the syndicated teen dance show many times from 1962 to 1981. The first Black female teen idol, Sharp also became a fixture on Clark's Caravan of Stars tours, and a familiar face in the popular 16 Magazine.
Born Dione LaRue on September 9, 1945, she played piano from an early age, and directed choirs at her grandfather's and other churches in Philadelphia. After her mother suffered debilitating injuries from a car accident when LaRue was only 13, she gained a job as a background singer and developed the skills to work on sessions by Lloyd Price, Frankie Avalon, Fabian, Bobby Rydell, Jackie Wilson, and Chubby Checker. Lady luck helped when her vocals were added to Chubby Checker's "Slow Twistin'" (1962), making it a duet. Her first solo session was scheduled the next day -- the "Mashed Potatoes Time" session -- and at 17, Dione LaRue became an overnight sensation. Producers Kal Mann and Bernie Lowe didn't like LaRue's name so they created Dee Dee Sharp, since everyone called her D and she sang in D sharp.
Smaller hits followed: "Gravy (For My Mashed Potatoes)," "Ride," "Do the Bird," "Wild," "Willyam, Willyam," "Never Pick a Pretty Boy," and "I Really Love You" in 1965 -- Sharp's first R&B record. None sold like her first, but the young singer did all right. She appeared on American Bandstand to promote every release; Cameo promoted her as pop and sent her to modeling and charm school. Sharp and Checker hooked up and recorded an album together entitled Down to Earth, one of nine LPs that Cameo issued on Sharp (all with blinding colorful covers).
Languishing record sales prompted her exit from Cameo to Atco/Atlantic Records. Three singles appeared from 1966 to 1968, including a duet with Ben E. King ("Whatcha Gonna Do About It"). The tracks, done mostly in Memphis, were harder than the Cameo sides, but the promotion wasn't there. Displeased at Atco's efforts, Sharp, her husband Kenny Gamble, and Leon Huff started Gamble Records in 1967, which issued three Dee Dee Sharp singles. Two more appeared on Gamble & Huff's TSOP label, including the LP Happy 'Bout the Whole Thing. She then signed with Philadelphia International (PIR) -- as Dee Dee Sharp-Gamble -- for five singles and "Conquer the World Together," a duet with Bunny Sigler (as David Sigler).
Sharp also collaborated (uncredited) on many of the songs on Gamble Records, but by the time her second PIR album came out, she had begun divorce proceedings, finalized by 1980. A new, earthier Sharp emerged after the Cameo recordings, but nothing happened. However, she maintained good visibility via television, tours, concerts, and club dates that took her around the world. Besides her many television spots, she appeared in films including Desperately Seeking Susan, Don't Knock the Twist, Hairspray, Sister Act, and Troop Beverly Hills.
© Andrew Hamilton /TiVo
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Biggest Hits
World Music - Erschienen bei TP4 Music am 06.01.2021
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Mashed Potato Time
Jazz - Erschienen bei Stars and Stripes am 13.10.2014
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All the Hits Volume II
World Music - Erschienen bei TP4 Music am 06.01.2021
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Finally (A Dee Dee Special Collection)
Electronic - Erschienen bei Beach View Records am 19.08.2022
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Wish you a Merry Christmas
R&B - Erschienen bei xmas angels 44 am 22.12.2019
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Best Christmas Wishes
R&B - Erschienen bei xmas angels 22 am 18.12.2019
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Dee Dee Sharp - A Collection
Soul - Erschienen bei We Believe In REC am 20.11.2015
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Songs of Faith
World Music - Erschienen bei TP4 Music am 06.01.2021
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Do the Bird
World Music - Erschienen bei TP4 Music am 06.01.2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Live Through This
R&B - Erschienen bei LTT brothers music am 22.06.2020
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Slow Twistin' (Billboard Hot 100 - No. 03)
Pop - Erschienen bei Music Manager am 19.12.2018
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Gravy (For My Mashed Potatoes) (Billboard Hot 100 - No. 09)
Vokalmusik (weltlich und geistlich) - Erschienen bei Music Manager am 19.12.2018
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A long time ago
R&B - Erschienen bei Long Time Ago am 09.11.2022
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Splish Splash
Pop - Erschienen bei Comfort Classics am 10.08.2015
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In dear old London
R&B - Erschienen bei In dear old London am 08.10.2022
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I Like My Morning Jacket
R&B - Erschienen bei Music Is Life am 13.07.2020
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Don't Forget Your Mother
Verschiedenes - Erschienen bei Your Mother am 20.04.2023
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