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South African singer
Sharon Tandy had a brief career as a blue-eyed soul singer in Britain in the 1960s, and although her recorded legacy doesn’t contain any big commercial hits, her unique phrasing and passionate vocal style suggest things could easily have been different.
Tandy already had a career as a singer and performer in South Africa before relocating to England in 1964 at the suggestion of Frank Fenter, then the U.K. head of Atlantic Records and soon to be her mentor, manager, and husband. Pairing her with the British mod group
Fleur de Lys, Fenter used his clout to land her an opening slot on the on the 1967 Stax-Volt U.K. tour and, also convinced Stax to sign her as an artist, which led to
Tandy recording several tracks at the label’s famed McLemore Avenue studio with
Booker T. & the MG's and
Isaac Hayes.
Tandy' relationship with Fenter faltered, however, and she returned to South Africa in 1970 where she continued to sing and perform. Her output during the U.K. years, which saw her delivering sides that were mod-tinged and sometimes lightly psychedelic pop-soul, and sounding at times like a hipper, tougher version of
Dusty Springfield, remain at the heart of her legacy. ~ Steve Leggett