Sugar Pie DeSanto

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Sugar Pie DeSanto (born Peylia Marsema Balinton in Brooklyn, NYC, on 16 October 1935; died 20 December 2024) was an American R&B singer and dancer remembered for being popular during the 1950s and 1960s. She was a 2024 inductee to the Blues Hall of Fame. She was born to an African-American mom and a Filipino dad. She spent most of her early life in San Francisco, California, where she moved with her family at a young age. In 1955, DeSanto did some touring with The Johnny Otis Revue after being given the nickname Sugar Pie by the bandleader. In 1960, DeSanto rose to national prominence when her single, "I Want to Know," rose to number four on Billboard's Hot R&B Sides chart. DeSanto continued to write & release popular songs throughout the 1960's, including some collaborations with Etta James. From 1959-1960, she toured with The James Brown Revue, where she was known to perform backflips on stage. DeSanto is proud to say, despite numerous proposistions, she stayed professional, and claims to be the only woman in his revue who never slept with the lascivious Brown, nor any of the other "old goats" like Willie Dixon, and Muddy Waters she met on the met on the blues touring circuit while supporting her Chess recordings. Sugar Pie went along on the 1964 Folk-Blues Fest tour of Europe, but as the only female artist, and basically an opening act... She also let the other musicians on that run she wasn't part of the backstage buffet, telling the SF Bay Guardian in 2004 "I refu

top songs

albums

In The Basement: The Chess Recordings

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Love so Strong

Down in the Basement: The Chess Years

Refined Sugar

Classic Sugar Pie

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A Decade Of Chicago's Finest

Chess Soul Sisters

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Jasman Presents: Miss Sugar Pie Desanto

Chess Divas

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James Brown's Original Funky Divas

Cool '60s Girls - Felines Of Northern Soul

Sugar Is Salty

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