Here is a biography of Sundray's career and life; enjoy it and experience "Sensational Sundray!"
1960 Sundray was singing with Patsy Holt (Patti Labelle), Jean Brown,
Johnny and Yvonne as the Ordettes. Eventually Nona Hendryx and Sarah Dash
joined the group (they came from The Del Capris) and the group became the
Bluebelles. Sundray joined when she was 13 and departed two years later,
being replaced by Cindy Birdsong. That summer Cindy's father died so Sundray
did some gigs with them.
1962 When she was 16 she made her
first recording as a single artist, "Have It Your Way" on Peacock Records
in Texas. She also recorded "I've Got A Good Thing" and "Nobody Will".
She got involved with Benadelli Productions and began to write material
with Leon Huff (of Gamble and Huff). They wrote material for Archie Bell
& the Drells, The Intruders, The Three Degrees (on Swan Records) They also
wrote for Priscilla Thomas, Geraldine Lathan, Patty & The Emblems, and
The Persianettes(a group from New Jersey).
1967Sundray joined
The Three Degrees to tour. She had met Richard Barrett (the Three Degrees
Manager) through Leon Huff. Originally, the line-up was Janet Jones, Helen
Scott and Fayette Pinkney.Helen left to get married and was replaced by Sheila
Ferguson. Then Sundray replaced Janet. Sheila, Fayette and Sundray toured in
1967. A very slick act, they performed some Supreme numbers in their shows.
Berry Gordy sent a representative to see them and offered to sign them up
(no doubt to file them away and reduce competition for his big girl group -
The Supremes!). Eventually, Sundray left and was replaced by Sylvia Goram,
but she didn't work out and was soon replaced by Valerie Holiday.
1968 In the early part of 1968 Sundray worked in a carnival as a
singer, a chorus line dancer and did an act with a snake called "Medusa"!!.
She signed to Madeira - White Productions. Still under contract to Peacock
records, she recorded under the name of Cindy Scott (because people said
that she looked like Cindy Birdsong and her best friend at school was Kay
Scott!). Peacock wouldn't release her from her contract until she was 21.
1970 Sundray joined Ernie Terrell's group, The Heavyweights,
replacing Ernie's Sister Jean Terrell (who had gone to replace someone
called Diana in another BIG Girl Group!!!). She worked with them for a year.
1971 Sister Lynda Tucker(Later to become Laurence!) and Syreeta had
done backing vocals for Stevie Wonder's "Signed, Sealed, Delivered". Stevie
asked Lynda to put together a girl group to go on the road with him. Lynda,
Sundray and Teri Hendricks became The Chosen Few, then changed it to The
Third Generation. Cindy Birdsong (wanting to return the favour from 1960
when Sundray had asked her to replace her in the BlueBells) called Sundray
to ask her to take her place in The Supremes. For personal reasons, Sundray
had to decline, So Lynda became Cindy's replacement!
1973 Sundray recorded an album with Bobby Womack -(as a backing
vocalist). The single was titled "What's your world".
1974 Earlier in that year, she toured with Bobby Womack. At the end of
the year, she toured with the Greg Allman Band (Greg Allman later had a brief
marriage with Cher and fathered her son, Elijah Blue).
1976 Recorded backing vocals for a TV movie called "Dummy" starring
Levar Burton (Geordie LaForge in Star Trek:The Next Generation). Then the
Rance Allen Group recorded a gospel version of "Showdown", a track that
Sundray had co-wrote for Archie Bell and the Drells.
1977 Recorded backing vocals for TV movie "The Sophisticated
Gents". Later on recorded "Songs In The Key Of Life" album with Stevie Wonder
featuring heavily on "Ordinary Pain".
1979 On her "Ready To Roll" album, Thelma Houston recorded two of
Sundray's songs: "Pardon Me" and "Imaginary Paradise".
1981 Recorded "Fancy Dancer" for TK Records, and "I'm Suprised At
You" for Grace Note Records.
1992 Jean Terrell again left The Supremes. Scherrie and Lynda asked
her to take Jean's place. She had already replaced her in 1970 for a brief
while and she looks like Cindy Birdsong and sounds like a cross between Jean
Terrell and Diana Ross. Sundray seemed the perfect choice.....
Sundray has since left the group herself, to be replaced by Freddi Poole.
But I think that it won't be the last we hear of her... Watch this space!
Click HERE to goto Sundray's Discography
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