Teri DeSario
Encyclopedia
Teri DeSario is a singer/songwriter from Miami, Florida
. DeSario worked within several music genre
s out of high school. She was vocalist, played recorder and harp
from 1970 - 1977 with a Medieval and Renaissance music group, the Early Music Consort, headed by scholar and Pro Musica member Arnold Grayson. She began her popular career as a singer/songwriter in the folk genre and later expanded her love of folk music with her passion for jazz
. After marrying horn player, arranger, and composer Bill Purse, they founded a pop-folk-jazz collaborative called Abacus. One night a long- haired man walked into the club where she was performing, claiming to be the producer of the Bee Gees; it turned out he actually was. Barry Gibb
heard her demo of original music and was so inspired by DeSario's vocals that he wrote a song for her called "Ain't Nothing Gonna Keep Me From You" and helped her obtain a recording contract.
"Ain't Nothing Gonna Keep Me From You" from 1978 was Teri DeSario's first hit single, written by the Bee Gees
' lead vocalist/songwriter Barry Gibb
, from her first album Pleasure Train, also released in 1978.
Even though the first single from her debut, Pleasure Train
, made #43 on the U.S. pop charts, she hadn't really enjoyed the recording experience and wanted a new direction. It was then that she bumped into an old school mate she had as a teen, Harry Wayne Casey
(KC) of KC and the Sunshine Band
.
of the popular Barbara Mason
cover, (Pop # 2 on the Billboard Hot 100
and certified gold, Adult Contemporary #1 for 2 weeks) "Yes, I'm Ready
" from 1980, from her second album Moonlight Madness
, released in 1979. Follow-up singles (album title track) "Moonlight Madness" and a remake of "Dancin' In The Streets" charted but didn't make Billboard Top 40.
By the end of 1980, her hit "Yes, I'm Ready
", granted herself one-hit wonder
status, with the disco
-era making an exit, even though her duet with KC
was a pop-fused remake of a famous slow-dancing ballad
. She went on to record two more albums for Casablanca , "Caught", an album which reflected her situation with the record company, and "Relationships," which was shelved when the company itself changed directions. After a lot of soul searching, she recorded two contemporary Christian albums for Word records, "A Call to us All" and "Voices in the Wind," which were co-written with and produced by Bill Purse. In 1986 she was nominated for a grammy in the gospel category for Best Female Performance. She also wrote for and appeared on various artist's albums. During the same period her music was popular in Japan and the Philippines. Teri's music became more introspective and increasingly challenged conservative Christianity. Finally in 1986, she requested that she be released from her contract at Word records.
In 1989, Teri also performed/recorded a version of Lifeline with The Maranatha! Singers on a compilation CD for Marantha! Music (Laguna Hills, CA).
Teri DeSario took her talents to production for Emergence
on 1993's Laughing Medusa Theme Series, Vol. 1 release. DeSario was creditedly challenge as executive producer, producer and vocalist and husband Bill took on the roles of synthesizer
, piano
, arranger, keyboards, vocals, producer, engineer, editing, executive producer, and mixing. DeSario would also provide vocals on Chris Carter and Mark Snow's 1996 album Truth & Light: Music From 'The X-Files
.
with the Captain and Tennille and KC (Dec/29/1979), The Midnight Special
with Tom Jones
(Feb/08/1980) and on Solid Gold
hosted by the Pointer Sisters
(Jan/17/1981). In each episode she played herself.
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
. DeSario worked within several music genre
Music genre
A music genre is a categorical and typological construct that identifies musical sounds as belonging to a particular category and type of music that can be distinguished from other types of music...
s out of high school. She was vocalist, played recorder and harp
Harp
The harp is a multi-stringed instrument which has the plane of its strings positioned perpendicularly to the soundboard. Organologically, it is in the general category of chordophones and has its own sub category . All harps have a neck, resonator and strings...
from 1970 - 1977 with a Medieval and Renaissance music group, the Early Music Consort, headed by scholar and Pro Musica member Arnold Grayson. She began her popular career as a singer/songwriter in the folk genre and later expanded her love of folk music with her passion for jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
. After marrying horn player, arranger, and composer Bill Purse, they founded a pop-folk-jazz collaborative called Abacus. One night a long- haired man walked into the club where she was performing, claiming to be the producer of the Bee Gees; it turned out he actually was. Barry Gibb
Barry Gibb
Barry Alan Crompton Gibb, CBE , is a singer, songwriter and producer. He was born in the Isle of Man to English parents. With his brothers Robin and Maurice, he formed The Bee Gees, one of the most successful pop groups of all time. The trio got their start in Australia, and found their major...
heard her demo of original music and was so inspired by DeSario's vocals that he wrote a song for her called "Ain't Nothing Gonna Keep Me From You" and helped her obtain a recording contract.
"Ain't Nothing Gonna Keep Me From You" from 1978 was Teri DeSario's first hit single, written by the Bee Gees
Bee Gees
The Bee Gees are a musical group that originally comprised three brothers: Barry, Robin, and Maurice Gibb. The trio was successful for most of their 40-plus years of recording music, but they had two distinct periods of exceptional success: as a pop act in the late 1960s and early 1970s, and as a...
' lead vocalist/songwriter Barry Gibb
Barry Gibb
Barry Alan Crompton Gibb, CBE , is a singer, songwriter and producer. He was born in the Isle of Man to English parents. With his brothers Robin and Maurice, he formed The Bee Gees, one of the most successful pop groups of all time. The trio got their start in Australia, and found their major...
, from her first album Pleasure Train, also released in 1978.
Even though the first single from her debut, Pleasure Train
Pleasure Train (album)
Pleasure Train is the first album of singer, song writer, producer and composer Teri DeSario. Teri is most notably known for her 1979 duet with musician, singer, songwriter, and producer Harry Wayne Casey of KC and the Sunshine Band.Pleasure Train, the Teri DeSario album from 1978 that contained...
, made #43 on the U.S. pop charts, she hadn't really enjoyed the recording experience and wanted a new direction. It was then that she bumped into an old school mate she had as a teen, Harry Wayne Casey
Harry Wayne Casey
Harry Wayne "K.C." Casey is an American musician, singer, songwriter, and producer. He is most famous for his group, KC and the Sunshine Band, and as a producer of several hits for other artists.-Early years:...
(KC) of KC and the Sunshine Band
KC and the Sunshine Band
KC and the Sunshine Band is an American musical group. Founded in 1973 in Miami, Florida, their style has included funk, R&B, and disco. Their most well known songs include the disco hits "That's the Way ", " Shake Your Booty", "I'm Your Boogie Man", "Keep It Comin' Love", "Get Down Tonight", "Give...
.
Growing Popularity
In the U.S. Teri DeSario is mainly known for her duet with KC, lead singer of the phenomenal R&B and funk group KC and the Sunshine BandKC and the Sunshine Band
KC and the Sunshine Band is an American musical group. Founded in 1973 in Miami, Florida, their style has included funk, R&B, and disco. Their most well known songs include the disco hits "That's the Way ", " Shake Your Booty", "I'm Your Boogie Man", "Keep It Comin' Love", "Get Down Tonight", "Give...
of the popular Barbara Mason
Barbara Mason
Barbara Mason is an American R&B/soul singer best known for her 1965 hit song, "Yes, I'm Ready".-Career:A soul singer, Mason initially focused on songwriting when she entered the music industry in her teens...
cover, (Pop # 2 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
and certified gold, Adult Contemporary #1 for 2 weeks) "Yes, I'm Ready
Yes, I'm Ready
"Yes, I'm Ready" is the title of a popular song that was written and originally recorded by Barbara Mason in 1965. It has been covered by numerous artists, most notably as a duet by Teri DeSario and K.C. in 1979.-Barbara Mason:...
" from 1980, from her second album Moonlight Madness
Moonlight Madness (album)
Moonlight Madness is the second album of singer, song writer, producer and composer Teri DeSario...
, released in 1979. Follow-up singles (album title track) "Moonlight Madness" and a remake of "Dancin' In The Streets" charted but didn't make Billboard Top 40.
By the end of 1980, her hit "Yes, I'm Ready
Yes, I'm Ready
"Yes, I'm Ready" is the title of a popular song that was written and originally recorded by Barbara Mason in 1965. It has been covered by numerous artists, most notably as a duet by Teri DeSario and K.C. in 1979.-Barbara Mason:...
", granted herself one-hit wonder
One-hit wonder
A one-hit wonder is a person or act known mainly for only a single success. The term is most often used to describe music performers with only one hit single.-Characteristics:...
status, with the disco
Disco
Disco is a genre of dance music. Disco acts charted high during the mid-1970s, and the genre's popularity peaked during the late 1970s. It had its roots in clubs that catered to African American, gay, psychedelic, and other communities in New York City and Philadelphia during the late 1960s and...
-era making an exit, even though her duet with KC
KC
-Places:* Karachay-Cherkessia, republic in Russia, ISO 3166-2:RU code* Kuçovë, district in Albania, ISO 3166-2:AL code* Kansas City, Missouri* KC Stadium, a football and rugby-league stadium in England* Kingsthorpe College, a secondary school in England-People:...
was a pop-fused remake of a famous slow-dancing ballad
Ballad
A ballad is a form of verse, often a narrative set to music. Ballads were particularly characteristic of British and Irish popular poetry and song from the later medieval period until the 19th century and used extensively across Europe and later the Americas, Australia and North Africa. Many...
. She went on to record two more albums for Casablanca , "Caught", an album which reflected her situation with the record company, and "Relationships," which was shelved when the company itself changed directions. After a lot of soul searching, she recorded two contemporary Christian albums for Word records, "A Call to us All" and "Voices in the Wind," which were co-written with and produced by Bill Purse. In 1986 she was nominated for a grammy in the gospel category for Best Female Performance. She also wrote for and appeared on various artist's albums. During the same period her music was popular in Japan and the Philippines. Teri's music became more introspective and increasingly challenged conservative Christianity. Finally in 1986, she requested that she be released from her contract at Word records.
In 1989, Teri also performed/recorded a version of Lifeline with The Maranatha! Singers on a compilation CD for Marantha! Music (Laguna Hills, CA).
Teri DeSario took her talents to production for Emergence
Emergence
In philosophy, systems theory, science, and art, emergence is the way complex systems and patterns arise out of a multiplicity of relatively simple interactions. Emergence is central to the theories of integrative levels and of complex systems....
on 1993's Laughing Medusa Theme Series, Vol. 1 release. DeSario was creditedly challenge as executive producer, producer and vocalist and husband Bill took on the roles of synthesizer
Synthesizer
A synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones...
, piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
, arranger, keyboards, vocals, producer, engineer, editing, executive producer, and mixing. DeSario would also provide vocals on Chris Carter and Mark Snow's 1996 album Truth & Light: Music From 'The X-Files
The X-Files
The X-Files is an American science fiction television series and a part of The X-Files franchise, created by screenwriter Chris Carter. The program originally aired from to . The show was a hit for the Fox network, and its characters and slogans became popular culture touchstones in the 1990s...
.
Television appearances
In the late 70's/early 80's, Teri made three TV appearances including American BandstandAmerican Bandstand
American Bandstand is an American music-performance show that aired in various versions from 1952 to 1989 and was hosted from 1956 until its final season by Dick Clark, who also served as producer...
with the Captain and Tennille and KC (Dec/29/1979), The Midnight Special
The Midnight Special (TV series)
The Midnight Special is an American musical variety series that aired on NBC during the 1970s and early 1980s, created and produced by Burt Sugarman. It premiered as a special on August 19, 1972, then began its run as a regular series on February 2, 1973; its last episode was on May 1, 1981...
with Tom Jones
Tom Jones (singer)
Sir Thomas John Woodward, OBE , known by his stage name Tom Jones, is a Welsh singer.Since the mid 1960s, Jones has sung many styles of popular music – pop, rock, R&B, show tunes, country, dance, techno, soul and gospel – and sold over 100 million records...
(Feb/08/1980) and on Solid Gold
Solid Gold (TV series)
Solid Gold is an American syndicated music television series that debuted on September 13, 1980. Like many other shows of its genre, such as American Bandstand, Solid Gold featured musical performances and various other elements such as music videos...
hosted by the Pointer Sisters
Pointer Sisters
The Pointer Sisters are an American pop/R&B recording act from Oakland, California that achieved mainstream success during the 1970s and 1980s. Spanning over three decades, their repertoire has included such diverse genres as pop, disco, jazz, bebop, blues, soul, funk, dance, country and rock.The...
(Jan/17/1981). In each episode she played herself.
Discography
- Pleasure TrainPleasure Train (album)Pleasure Train is the first album of singer, song writer, producer and composer Teri DeSario. Teri is most notably known for her 1979 duet with musician, singer, songwriter, and producer Harry Wayne Casey of KC and the Sunshine Band.Pleasure Train, the Teri DeSario album from 1978 that contained...
(1978) - Moonlight MadnessMoonlight Madness (album)Moonlight Madness is the second album of singer, song writer, producer and composer Teri DeSario...
(1979) - CaughtCaught (album)Caught is the third album of singer, song writer, producer and composer Teri DeSario. Teri is most notably known for her 1979 duet with musician, singer, songwriter, and producer Harry Wayne Casey of KC and the Sunshine Band.Caught, the Teri DeSario album from 1980, contains the songs "All I Wanna...
(1980) - Time After Time CasablancaCasablancaCasablanca is a city in western Morocco, located on the Atlantic Ocean. It is the capital of the Grand Casablanca region.Casablanca is Morocco's largest city as well as its chief port. It is also the biggest city in the Maghreb. The 2004 census recorded a population of 2,949,805 in the prefecture...
(Japan Only) / 1984 / 25SA-273 - A Call to Us AllA Call to Us All- Personnel :.*Produced and arranged by – Bill Purse*Engineered and mixed by – Kevin Clark**assisted by – Steve Ford*Additional engineering by – Steve Ford, Ed Cherney and Eddie King*Recorded and mixed at Mama Jo's, N...
(1984) - Voices In The Wind DaySpring (USA) / 1985 / 701413101
- Celebrate - 4:58
- Tapestry - 3:56
- Attitude Of Gratitude - 4:25
- Voices In The Wind - 4:53
- I Don't Wanna Be A Soldier - 4:50
- Truth - 4:43
- Ain't Givin' Up No Way - 4:00
- All Day Thursday - 5:29
- Overnight Success (1986)
- On YouTube
- Overnight Success
- Ocean Of Love
- Dance Of Love
- All of My Love
- Let's Dance
- Straight To The Heart
- Reach For The Top
- Just Loving You