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", 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.
Life and career 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", 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[Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955–2002] (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, 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.
Discography Studio albums + List of albums, with selected details and chart positions Title Album details Peak chartpositions AUS Samantha Sang and Rocked the World Released: 1975 Label: Polydor (2907 019) Format: LP — Emotion Released: 1978 Label: Private Stock (PS 7009) Format: LP, cassette 35 From Dance to Love Released: 1979 Label: United Artists, Festival (L 36950) Format: LP, cassette — And the World Listened Released: 2008 Label: SS Music (NEW3243.2) Format: CD —
Compilation albums Title Details The Ultimate Collection Released: 2007 Format: 2×CD Label: SS Music (SS 5853)
Singles + List of singles, with selected chart positions Year Title Peak chartpositions Certification Album AUS UK US 1969 "The Love of a Woman" — — — rowspan="3" 1972 "Nothing in the World Like Love" — — — "It's Been Raining Every Day Since Monday" — — — 1974 "It Could Have Been" — — — Samantha Sang and Rocked the World 1975 "Can't You Hear the Music of My Love Song" — — — 1977 "Emotion" 2 11 3 AUS: Gold Emotion 1978 "You Keep Me Dancing" 40 — 56 1979 "I Can Still Remember" — — — From Dance to Love "In the Midnight Hour" — — 88 "From Dance to Love" — — — 1981 "Let's Start Again" — — —
Awards and nominations 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.
| 1967 | herself (Cheryl Gray) | Top Female Singer | style="background:tan;"| 3rd |- | 1968 | herself (Cheryl Gray) | Top Female Singer | 5th
TELEVISION Title Year Performance Type 1967 The Go!! Show Herself as Cheryl Gray TV series, 8 episodes 1969 The Rolf Harris Show Herself as Cheryl Gray TV series, 1 episode 1969 The Tommy Leonetti Show Herself TV series 1970 In Melbourne Tonight Herself sings "Nothing Can Stop Me Now" / "To Love Somebody" TV series, 2 episodes 1970 In Melbourne Tonight Herself sings "The Love Of A Woman" TV series, 1 episode 1972 Kamahl Herself TV series, 1 episode 1972-1975 The Graham Kennedy Show Herself sings "Resurrection Shuffle" TV series, 4 episodes 1973 The Graham Kennedy Show Herself sings "This Is My Life (La Vita)" TV series, 1 episode 1973 The Graham Kennedy Show Herself sings "Didn't We" TV series, 1 episode 1974 It's Magic Guest Performer TV series, 1 episode 1974-1976 The Ernie Sigley Show Herself TV series, 4 episodes 1975 The Ernie Sigley Show Herself sings "Can't You Hear The Music Of My Love Song" TV series, 1 episode 1975;1978 Countdown Herself sings "You Made Me What I Am" ABC TV series, 3 episodes 1975 The Graham Kennedy Show Herself sings "You Made Me What I Am" TV series, 1 episode 1975 The Ernie Sigley Show Herself sings "Land Of A Thousand Dances" TV series, 1 episode 1975 Samantha Sang And Rocked The World Herself TV special 1977 Countdown Silver Jubilee Show Herself ABC TV special 1977 The Celebrity Cabaret Herself sings "Emotion" / "Where The Love Has Gone" TV special, US 1978 Dick Clark's American Bandstand Herself TV series US, 1 episode 1978-1979 The Mike Douglas Show Herself - Singer TV series US, 3 episodes 1978 The Mike Walsh Show Guest - Herself TV series, 1 episode 1978 Top Of The Pops Herself sings "Emotion" TV series UK, 1 episode 1978 Thank You, Rock 'N' Roll: A Tribute To Alan Freed Herself sings "Emotion" TV special, US 1978 Countdown Herself - Co-host sings "Midnight Hour" ABC TV series, 1 episode 1978, 1979 The Mike Walsh Show Guest - Herself TV series, 1 episode 1978 Australian Music To The World Herself TV special 1979 The Merv Griffin Show Herself TV series US, 1 episode 1979 The Mike Walsh Show Guest - Herself TV series, 1 episode 1982 Telethon 1982 Guest - Herself TV special 1989; 1989 The Bert Newton Show Herself sings "Old Man River" TV series, 1 episode 1989; 1989 The Bert Newton Show Herself sings "I've Got My Song To Sing" TV series, 1 episode 1989; 1989 The Bert Newton Show Herself sings "Resurrection Shuffle" TV series, 1 episode 1989 In Melbourne Today Guest - Herself TV series, 1 episode 1989 The Bert Newton Show Herself sings "Waiting For The Last Goodbye" TV series, 1 episode 1999;2000 Good Morning Australia Herself sings "How Am I Supposed To Live Without You" TV series, 1 episode 2000 Good Morning Australia Herself sings "Resurrection Shuffle" TV series, 1 episode 2008 Wrok Down Herself TV series, 1 episode
References
External links Official website archived at . Pop Archive feature "Emotion"