SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) — Sugar Pie DeSanto, a prolific Bay Space soul, R&B and blues artist, who carried out with greats like James Brown, has died at age 89, in accordance with a member of the family. DeSanto, who was of Filipino, German and Black descent, in accordance with her brother, handed away in her sleep on Dec. 20.
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DeSanto, who was born Umpeylia Marcema Balinton, was reportedly given her stage identify and recording debut by blues and soul bandleader/songwriter Johnny Otis, himself a Vallejo native. With a genre-spanning profession that encompassed blues, soul and jazz, DeSanto was additionally a “hilarious comedienne” and a “show-stopping dancer,” in accordance with her AllMusic bio.
CIRCA 1960: Singer Sugar Pie DeSanto poses for a portrait in circa 1960. (Picture by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Photographs)
As a songwriter, her compositions have been minimize by a who’s who of blues and soul greats, together with Little Milton, Minnie Riperton, Billy Stewart, and the Dells, to call just a few.
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – SEPTEMBER, 1972: Filipino-American rhythm-and-blues singer Sugar Pie DeSanto performs on stage circa September, 1972 in San Francisco, California. (Picture by Robert Altman/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Photographs)
She was found at San Francisco’s Ellis Theater and supplied a contract by Otis to return to Los Angeles and report within the late Nineteen Fifties. Whereas performing on the famed Apollo in New York, she reportedly made such an impression on James Brown, he employed her as his opening act for the following two years.
She wrote round 100 songs and recorded a string of singles over a profession that spanned a long time. A few of her standout tracks embody the 1961 LP “Sugar Pie,” and singles like “I Want to Know” and “Soulful Dress.” She additionally recorded “In the Basement,” a duet with Etta James.
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – JULY 12: Sugar Pie DeSanto performs on stage in the course of the San Francisco Blues Competition at Golden Gate Park on July 12, 1974 in San Francisco, California. (Picture by Robert Altman/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Photographs)
“She was the first Filipino blues artist of her time,” her brother wrote on Fb. “My sister was one of a kind and you will never see anyone like her again. She was full of energy and commanded respect when she walked on stage as well as in life. I am truly going to miss her.”
