SUGAR PIE DESANTO

Biography

Sugar Pie DeSanto, born Peylia Marsema Balinton on October 16, 1935, in Brooklyn, New York, was a powerhouse R&B singer and dancer who packed astonishing energy into her diminutive 4'11" frame. Born to a Filipino father and an African-American mother who was a concert pianist, she moved to the San Francisco Bay Area at age four, where she would spend most of her life. Her career began when legendary bandleader Johnny Otis discovered her at a San Francisco talent show in 1955, immediately signing her to her first recording contract and giving her the stage name "Sugar Pie." After touring with the Johnny Otis Revue, she joined the James Brown Revue from 1959 to 1960, where her electrifying performances—including wild dancing and standing back flips—proved she more than compensated for her small stature with immense talent and charisma.

DeSanto achieved national prominence in 1960 when her single "I Want to Know," recorded with her husband Pee Wee Kingsley on the Veltone label, reached number four on Billboard's R&B chart. This success led to a contract with Chess Records in 1962, where she became one of the label's most prolific artists both as a performer and songwriter. Her Chess recordings included hits like "Slip-in Mules" (an answer song to Tommy Tucker's "Hi-Heel Sneakers"), "Soulful Dress," and "Use What You Got." In 1965 and 1966, she recorded two historic duets with childhood friend Etta James—"Do I Make Myself Clear" and "In the Basement"—the latter of which was featured in the 1999 film The Hurricane. Under various names including Peylia Parham, she wrote songs for numerous Chess artists including Billy Stewart, Fontella Bass, Little Milton, The Dells, and The Whispers, compiling a songbook of over 100 compositions.

DeSanto's appeal extended internationally, particularly with the Northern Soul movement in England, where her records became favorites. She even left the 1964 American Folk Blues Festival's European tour to make additional U.K. appearances. After parting ways with Chess, she eventually returned to Oakland, California, where she remained active performing well into her 80s. Her contributions were recognized with numerous honors including a 1999 Bay Area Music Award for Best Female Blues Singer, a 2008 Pioneer Award from the Rhythm and Blues Foundation, a 2009 Lifetime Achievement Award from the Bay Guardian's Goldie Awards, and induction into the Blues Hall of Fame in 2024. She passed away on December 20, 2024, at age 89, leaving behind a legacy as the "Queen of the West Coast Blues."

Fun Facts

• Despite standing only 4 feet 11 inches tall, Sugar Pie DeSanto was known for her incredibly energetic stage performances that included wild dancing and standing back flips, which wowed audiences throughout her career.
• She was such a sensation with the Northern Soul crowd in England that she actually left the all-star cast of the 1964 American Folk Blues Festival's European tour midway through to make additional solo appearances in the United Kingdom.
• DeSanto made over 20 appearances at Harlem's legendary Apollo Theater, where she was spotted by James Brown himself, who was so impressed that he recruited her to open for him on tour.
• She was the most prolific artist on the Chess Records roster, writing under various names including Peylia Parham and P. Parham DeSanto, and compiled a songbook containing more than 100 compositions that were recorded by numerous major artists.
• Her duet with Etta James, "In the Basement," was featured prominently in director Norman Jewison's 1999 film The Hurricane, starring Denzel Washington, introducing her music to a new generation decades after it was recorded.

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Johnny Otis - Discovered DeSanto at a San Francisco talent show, signed her to her first recording contract, gave her the stage name 'Sugar Pie,' and featured her in his revue (Johnny Otis Revue tours, first recordings for Federal Records) [1955-1950s]

Key Collaborators

• Pee Wee Kingsley (Alvin Parham) - Husband and guitarist who co-recorded with DeSanto on several singles ("I Want to Know" (1960) and other recordings) [Late 1950s-early 1960s]
• Etta James - Childhood friend who recorded two historic duets with DeSanto ("In the Basement" (1966) and "Do I Make Myself Clear" (1965)) [1965-1966]
• James Brown - DeSanto toured as opening act with the James Brown Revue (James Brown Revue tours) [1959-1960]
• Bob Geddins - Producer of DeSanto's breakthrough hit ("I Want to Know" on Veltone label)
• Shena DeMell - Writing partner during Chess Records period ("Do I Make Myself Clear" and other compositions) [1965-1960s]

Artists Influenced

• Billy Stewart - Recorded songs written by DeSanto during her time at Chess Records (Songs written under various names including Peylia Parham) [1960s]
• Fontella Bass - Recorded songs written by DeSanto at Chess Records (Chess Records compositions) [1960s]
• Little Milton - Recorded songs written by DeSanto (Chess Records compositions) [1960s]
• Minnie Riperton - Recorded songs from DeSanto's extensive songbook (Various compositions) [1960s-1970s]
• The Whispers - Recorded songs written by DeSanto (Various compositions) [1960s-1970s]
• The Dells - Recorded songs written by DeSanto (Various compositions) [1960s]

Discography

Albums

Top Tracks

1. Soulful Dress (In The Basement: The Chess Recordings)
2. Going Back To Where I Belong (In The Basement: The Chess Recordings)
3. Slip-In Mules (In The Basement: The Chess Recordings)
4. In The Basement - Pt. 1 (Heart & Soul: A Retrospective)
5. Strange Feeling (Love so Strong)
6. Do I Make Myself Clear (In The Basement: The Chess Recordings)
7. Can't Let You Go (In The Basement: The Chess Recordings)
8. It's Done And Forgotten (In The Basement: The Chess Recordings)
9. I Want To Know (In The Basement: The Chess Recordings)
10. Use What You Got (In The Basement: The Chess Recordings)

External Links

• Spotify
• Wikipedia
• MusicBrainz

Tags: #2008-universal-fire-victim, #r&b, #soul