Dee Dee Sharp - A Profile

Another birthday profile today. It's the turn of Dee Dee Sharp who is 77 today. She was born in Philadelphia on 9th Sep 1945 as Dione LaRue and later married Kenny Gamble and was known as Dee Dee Sharp Gamble. It is claimed that she was given her stage name by producers Kal Mann and Bernie Lowe as everyone called her D and she sang in D-sharp.

She began singing backing vocals around 1958 aged just 13 for the likes of Lloyd Price, Chubby Checker, Bobby Rydell, Frankie Avalon and Jackie Wilson. In 1962 she was signed to Cameo/Parkway and had a string of popcorn hits: "Slow Twistin'" (#3) (with Chubby Checker although uncredited) "Mashed Potato Time" (#2), "Gravy (For My Mashed Potatoes)" (#9), "Ride!" (#5) and "Do the Bird" (#10). Her biggest hit was with her very first solo record ("Mashed Potato Time") in Feb 1962 aged only 17.

In 1967 she married Kenny Gamble a few years before he set up Philadelphia International Records with Leon Huff, and she became know as Dee Dee Sharp-Gamble (she also used the name Dione Gamble on credits) until they divorced in 1981. She helped him set up Gamble the forerunner to PIR.

She has claimed in a documentary that she was engaged to Muhammad Ali before he converted to Islam but when she was told that in order to marry him she also had to convert her mother ended the engagement.

In her career spanning almost twenty years, spread over three decades, she released nine albums and in the region of 40-50 singles. She also recorded two albums titled "All The Hits" (1962) and "All The Hits Volume 2" (1963) which were cover versions so not counted.

A long time favourite by her is her 1975 album "Happy 'Bout the Whole Thing" on TSOP, a label which evolved from Gamble after PIR was set up, every track is a gem! Her voice had matured from the early 60s, teen popcorn sound and was sublime, especially on the ballads. The album only produced two singles, the first the title track coupled with "Touch My Life" followed by a cover of 10cc's "I'm Not In Love" which, whilst it was her first hit since 1965, albeit a minor one reaching only #62 R&B with none of her dozen post Cameo singles charted, it is one of the weaker tracks on the album along with the B side "Make It T'ill Tomorow" in my view, possibly as it was aimed to crossover into the 'white' market?

Before moving on it is worth noting that her first single on Gamble "What Kind Of Lady", whilst not charting, was quite a big tune in Northern Soul circles.

Her next two albums were on the main label PIR billed as Dee Dee Sharp Gamble. "What Color Is Love" produced three singles with none of them charting, although again, one was picked up on by the UK rare soul scene "Nobody Could Take Your Place".

Unfortunately her final album "Dee Dee" on PIR is not available on Spotify, but to be honest it is a mix of disco tunes and fairly MOR ballads. Three singles were also provided by the album with only the the last charting, "Breaking And Entering" hitting the top spot of the Dance Chart and the ballad flip "I Love You Anyway" reaching #79 on R&B chart in 1981.

That was the end of her recording career as she transitioned into acting appearing in films including "Desperately Seeking Susan" (1985), "Hairspray" (1988), "Troop Beverly Hills" (1989) and "Sister Act" (1992). She also appeared in "Don't Knock the Twist" in 1962.

She later married Bill Witherspoon (deceased 2009).

Album Discography

1962

It's Mashed Potato Time

Songs of Faith

Down to Earth (with Chubby Checker)

1963

Do the Bird

Down Memory Lane

Wild

1975 - Happy 'Bout the Whole Thing

As Dee Dee Sharp-Gamble

1977 - What Color Is Love

1980 - Dee Dee

Here's a playlist of her best 70s material as I think the early sixties teeny bopper / popcorn tunes are not appropriate for this blog. But if you feel the need here's a link to a selection of them.

Copyright © 2009-2022 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved