Sue Glover, Sunny Leslie, and Madeline Bell

[garrybcoston]

O.K.; We've discussed the Sweethearts of Sigma in this forum who arguably might have been the most famous back-up singers for disco groups during the disco era; but wait, what about Sue Glover, Sunny Leslie and Madeline Bell?

Sue, Sunny and Madeline most notably backed-up and sang for Donna Summer and Giorgio Moroder and a host of other disco stars during the 70's. Sunny and Sue were members of a group called "Brotherhood of Man," and were enlisted by various groups, later along with Madeline Bell who was a solo vocalist in her own right. The three of them first performed together backing Joy Fleming in a Euro Disco contest in 1975 in which various disco artists took note of the three girls chemistry and enlisted them for various back-up session jobs.

Everyone of course knows the story of the sweethearts of Sigma (Carla Benson, Evette Benton, and Barbara Ingram) who were most notably the back-up singers for numerous Salsoul Record acts such as the Salsoul Orchestra, Loleatta Holloway and others.

Sweethearts of Sigma or Sue, Sunny and Madeline? Which of these back-up girl groups were the most famous or sought after back-up sessionists during the disco era? Which group of girls sounded better?

I loved them both. The "Sweethearts of Sigma" would be my preference but I also loved Sue, Sunny and Madeline; which is your pick?

Garry:icon_smile:

[kdavid13]

Of course anything related to Donna Summer or Giorgio Moroder would get my vote instantly.But often times ; I barely paid any attention to them.

The voices of the Sweethearts of Sigma ; graced so many classic disco hits.Who could forget those awesome harmonies ?

Loved them both but the SOS win this round.

[Videoskooter]

So, it's between SOS and SSM :icon_lol:

For me SSM, just for the reason that they are on so many records I cherish, especially the Cerrone and Costandinos stuff.

Hard to choose actually because I also like the SOS outputs very much.

But...let's make it SSMK because Kay Garner is also a part of that distinctive choir.

[garrybcoston]

Yeah, and Choirs they were. I know it's hard to fathom in this high tech day and age in which dance/techno and other danceable stuff has an evil edge and foreboding sound, but both of those girl back-up groups sounded heavenly, angelic if you will. I wonder how they would sound on some of the tracks (dance, pop, etc.) put out nowadays?

Garry:icon_lol:

[Dansez!]

Although they certainly went on to make their own stamp in disco and R&B music history, for me, the only other background vocal group that stood out as noticably as the Sweethearts were the Jones Girls.

What they contributed to Linda Clifford's "If My Friends Could See Me Now" and "Let Me Be Your Woman" albums was just as integral to what helped make them classics as the musical arrangements. I couldn't imagine anyone else.

I'll never forget seeing them singing backup for Diana Ross in Las Vegas when I was a kid. And then seeing them the next time on TV when Linda Clifford was on the Midnight Special. And don't get me started on Miss Linda! I was in total awe of her! One of those moments in my childhood that have always stayed with me. First, the thrill of seeing the Jones Girls, whom I had seen a year earlier and then when the beautiful Linda Clifford came out on stage with this incredible energy,all this attitude and that commanding voice...A fan for life.