Samantha Sang

Biography

Cheryl Lau Sang (born 5 August 1951), known professionally as Samantha Sang, is an Australian singer. She had an earlier career as a teenage singer under the stage name Cheryl Gray, before adopting the stage name she is more widely known as in 1969. She first received nationwide recognition in Australia in 1967, after releasing the top ten single "You Made Me What I Am".
By 1969, Sang relocated to the United Kingdom, where she worked with the Bee Gees, before returning to Australia in 1975. She reconnected with the Bee Gees in 1977 and had an international hit with its song "Emotion×Emotion16 February 1978 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracksA1You Keep Me Dancing2:59A2Charade3:29A3Emotion3:43A4Change of Heart3:14A5Living Without Your Love3:51B1La La La – I Love You3:59B2But If She Moves You4:15B3When Love Is Gone3:46B4I Don’t Wanna Go3:33B5The Love of a Woman3:58", which peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100, number two in Australia, and number eleven in the United Kingdom. The single's parent album, Emotion (1978), reached the top thirty on Billboard 200 and included two other singles.

Early life

Sang was born to Reg and Joan (née Clarke) Sang in Melbourne, Australia, the great-great-granddaughter of a Chinese herbalist and surgeon. Both parents were 1940s Radio Revue singers. Her father ran a singing school and performed professionally as Reg Gray. Sang began her career at the age of eight, as Cheryl Gray, by singing on Australian radio and entered and won talent contests. Her first performance on television was at the age of eleven.

1966-1974: First recordings

In December 1966, she released her debut single, "The Real Thing" (not to be confused with fellow Australian Russell Morris' 1969 hit song "The Real Thing"), under the name "Cheryl Gray". It was issued by EMI Records on its His Master's Voice label and was quickly followed by her second single, "In a Woman's Eyes".
Her third single, "You Made Me What I Am", was released in May 1967 and reached number eight on the Go-Set Top 40. Teen magazine, Go-Set ran a poll in August for pop performers and Gray was voted third in the 'Top Girl Singer' category behind Lynne Randell and Bev Harrell. Sang released three more singles on His Master's Voice but none charted. She became a singer on Australian television, but she felt her career was limited if she remained in Australia. In 1969, Sang travelled to the United Kingdom where Barry Gibb of the Bee Gees heard her singing and urged his manager, Robert Stigwood, to sign her. Under Stigwood's management she changed her name to "Samantha Sang". Gibb co-wrote "Love of a Woman" with his brother Maurice. Sang's version – with Barry Gibb supplying backing vocals, guitar and producing – was released in August. It was a minor hit in some European countries.
Sang followed with "Nothing in the World Like Love" written by UK pop singer-songwriter Labi Siffre. Visa restrictions forced her out of the UK and she returned to Australia.

1975-1990s: Mainstream success

By 1975, Sang changed management and signed with Polydor, which released three singles and her debut album, Samantha Sang and Rocked the World.
In 1977, she recorded "When Love Is Gone", the theme song of the French drama film Bilitis.
She visited Barry Gibb in France while the Bee Gees were recording songs for the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack. A new song, "Emotion×Emotion16 February 1978 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracksA1You Keep Me Dancing2:59A2Charade3:29A3Emotion3:43A4Change of Heart3:14A5Living Without Your Love3:51B1La La La – I Love You3:59B2But If She Moves You4:15B3When Love Is Gone3:46B4I Don’t Wanna Go3:33B5The Love of a Woman3:58", was written for her by Barry and Robin Gibb. The single was co-produced by Barry with the Bee Gees' production team of Albhy Galuten and Karl Richardson. Released in 1978, with backing vocals by Barry, it showcased a softer style and became a major hit worldwide. It reached number three on the US Billboard Hot 100 in March 1978, and earned a platinum record. It peaked at number eleven on the UK Singles Chart and at number two on the Australian Kent Music Report Singles Chart.
Her following album, Emotion, although not produced by Barry Gibb, included a version of "Charade", a little-known Bee Gees' song from its 1974 album Mr. Natural. Emotion peaked at No. 29 on the Billboard 200 and achieved a gold record in March 1978. Determined to succeed on her own merits, Sang did not record another Gibb song to capitalise on her success, but she chose a disco track, "You Keep Me Dancing", as her next single. It peaked at No. 56 on the US Hot 100 (NZ # 21, Canada AC #10) and was followed into the charts by her cover of Wilson Pickett's "In the Midnight Hour".
She recorded a cover of Eric Carmen's top-20 single "Change of Heart", featured as the B-side of "You Keep Me Dancing". Her third album, From Dance to Love×From Dance to Love11 May 1979 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 9 tracksA1From Dance to Love4:46A2In the Midnight Hour7:18A3Now3:15A4Take a Chance3:45B1It’s the Falling in Love3:30B2I’ll Never Get Enough of You4:17B3I Can Still Remember4:20B4Moments3:48B5This Is Love4:04, was released by United Artists in 1979.

1999-present: Later years

In 1999, residing again in Melbourne, Sang made a short return to live performing, with her father Reg as guest vocalist. In 2004, Sang's three albums were released for the first time on CD in a two-piece set as the compilation The Ultimate Collection×The Ultimate Collection2007 · Album · CompilationSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 30 tracks · 2 discsDisc 11Emotion3:562Charade3:263You Keep Me Dancing2:504Change of Heart3:095Living Without Your Love3:516La La La – I Love You4:017But If She Moves You4:068When Love Is Gone3:499I Don’t Wanna Go3:3110The Love of a Woman3:5411It’s the Falling in Love3:2912I’ll Never Get Enough of You4:2013I Can Still Remember4:1914Moments3:2715This Is Love3:51Disc 21From Dance to Love4:482In the Midnight Hour7:213Now3:164Take a Chance3:455Strike Up the Band1:346Jolson Medley: Back in Your Own Backyard / There’s a Rainbow Round My Shoulder / My Mammy5:257Resurrection Shuffle2:478Leave Me Alone (Ruby Red Dress)3:269I’m So Ashamed3:0110Can’t You Hear the Music of My Love Song3:4711You’ve Gone Away4:1912Raining Every Day Since Monday3:2413It Could Have Been3:2214Nothing in the World Like Love3:1515Mia Bamba2:58.

Go-Set Pop Poll

The Go-Set Pop Poll was coordinated by teen-oriented pop-music newspaper Go-Set and was established in February 1966, which conducted an annual poll from 1966 to 1972 of its readers to determine the most popular personalities.

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