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Band:
Sweet Sensation was an eight piece British soul group who had some success between 1974 and 1977. Cast very much in the then-popular mould of the Philly sound, they broke through in 1974 following an appearance on a UK television talent show, New Faces. They are best known for their 1974 #1 UK hit, "Sad Sweet Dreamer".
Formed in Manchester in 1973 the band came to prominence after appearing on the ITV talent show New Faces. Under the guidance of panellist Tony Hatch the band signed to Pye Records. The debut single "Snow Fire" failed to reach the charts, but the follow-up "Sad Sweet Dreamer" was a UK number one single in October 1974, also reaching #14 on the Billboard Hot 100 the following spring. The follow-up "Purely by Coincidence" reached #11 in the UK Singles Chart in January 1975. Both songs were written by David Parton.
Follow-up singles "Hide Away from The Sun", "Mr Cool", "Sweet Regrets" and "Mail Train" all failed to make the charts over the next couple of years. In 1977 the band participated in A Song For Europe in an attempt to represent the United Kingdom at the Eurovision Song Contest. Their song "You're My Sweet Sensation" ended in eighth place. Subsequently, they were then dropped by Pye and disbanded shortly after. However, they were the forerunners of many similar acts from The Real Thing to Imagination.
The youngest member and lead vocalist, Marcel King, tried to resurrect a solo career in 1985, and with Donald Johnson (A Certain Ratio) and Bernard Sumner (New Order) recorded "Reach For Love" for Factory Records without commercial success. He died of a brain haemorrhage on 5 October 1995 at the age of 37. The tragedy deepened two years later when his son Zeus, 19, was shot dead in an outbreak of gang warfare in South Manchester.
Bass guitarist, Barry Johnson later joined Quando Quango and then Aswad.
Founder member, Leroy Smith, was found dead in his Manchester flat, on 15 January 2009. He had died from bronchopneumonia, at the age of 56.
Past members
Junior Daye
Roy Flowers
Vincent James
Barry Johnson
Marcel King
St. Clair L. Palmer
Gary Shaughnessy
Leroy Smith
Female group:
Sweet Sensation was a Puerto Rican female freestyle-dance music trio from The Bronx, New York.
Formed in 1986, In The Bronx . The original group members were Betty LeBron (lead) and sisters Margie and Mari Fernandez. Originally on Next Plateau Records, in 1988 they were picked up by Atco and their debut album, Take It While It's Hot was released. Take It While It's Hot went to #63 on the Billboard pop albums chart and spawned five singles: "Hooked on You" (#23), "Victim of Love", "Take It While It's Hot", "Never Let You Go" (which went to #1 on the US Dance chart), and "Sincerely Yours" (#13). In 1989, Mari was replaced by Sheila Vega (the artwork of the group's debut album was also altered when the personnel replacement was made). In 1990 their second album Love Child was released, and the group earned its biggest hit with the ballad "If Wishes Came True", which hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100. In 1991 a final album featuring remixes was released, Not long after, Margie & Sheila were replaced by 3 new members, Belle, Maya, & Jenae, making them a quartet. They did a few shows together, and then Betty LeBron was said to go solo. By 1992 Sweet Sensation seemed to just disappear and was never heard of again.
In 2004 Sweet Sensation ranked #391 on Top 500 Pop Artists of the Past 25 Years.
In 2005, the dance single "My Body Tu Cuerpo," credited as Dynamix Presents Sweet Sensation, was released on Kult Records (with Betty LeBron on lead vocals, now under the moniker of 'Betty Dee') and produced by Eddie Cumana and Beppe Savoni of Dynamix.
Members
Betty(Dee)LeBron(1986-1991)
Margie Fernandez(1986-91)
Mari Fernandez(1986-89)
Past members
Sheila Vega(1989-91)
Belle(1991-92)
Jenae(1991-92)
Maya(1991-92)
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