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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Mashed Potato Time / Gravy (For My Mashed Potatoes) (Rerecorded Version)
Soul - Released by K-Tel on 18 Mar 2024
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Pledging My Love
R&B - Released by UME - Global Clearing House on 30 Jul 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Soulful Sounds of Love
Soul - Released by UME - Global Clearing House on 14 Apr 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Dee Dee Sharp - Music History
Soul - Released by Vintage Jukebox on 20 May 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Mashed Potato Time (Remastered)
Soul - Released by New World on 5 Jun 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Time Out Music
R&B - Released by love loove music on 28 Oct 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Pledging My Love
R&B - Released by Classic Records on 3 Jan 2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Strange Days are Coming Soon
Rock - Released by love loove music re on 8 Nov 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Light in the Dark Forest
R&B - Released by Dark Forest on 25 Aug 2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Cheaper Tricks
R&B - Released by tricki masters mind on 30 Sep 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Remember You're Mine
R&B - Released by Kenzo Records on 6 Jan 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
It's Mashed Potato Time
Vocal Music (Secular and Sacred) - Released by Music Manager on 1 Jan 2000
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
It's Mashed Potato Time
World - Released by TP4 Music on 1 Jan 2000
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -