Sarah Dash born 18 August 1945

Sarah Dash (August 18, 1945 – September 20, 2021) was an American singer. She first appeared on the music scene as a member of Patti LaBelle & The Bluebelles.  Dash was later a member of Labelle, and worked as a singer, session musician, and sideman for The Rolling Stones, and Keith Richards. 

The seventh of 13 children, Dash was born in Trenton, New Jersey. Her father was Church of Christ father of the state of New Jersey and a bishop, while her mother was a nurse. Although she initially sang gospel music, Dash turned to secular music as a pre-teen, when she formed a vocal duo, the Del Capris, with schoolmate Nona Hendryx. The two women were soon joined by Cindy Birdsong and Patricia "Patti LaBelle" Holte. Originally named the Blue Bells, the quartet changed their name to Patti LaBelle & the Blue Belles after discovering that the name the Blue Bells was already taken by another group. 

Patti LaBelle & the Blue Belles were a success from the onset. Their 1962 debut single, I Sold My Heart to the Junkman, shot into the US Top 20. It was followed by acclaimed tracks such as Down the Aisle (The Wedding Song) and doo-wop covers of standards including You’ll Never Walk Alone, Danny Boy and Over the Rainbow. The group was chosen to open shows during the Rolling Stones' first American tour. 

Although many believed that they were in danger of breaking up after Birdsong left to join the Supremes, the three remaining members moved to England for a year and dramatically changed their image and musical approach. Returning to the United States as Labelle, the three vocalists began performing in space-age costumes and featuring cutting-edge, sexually oriented, and politically charged tunes. The group branched out, backing Laura Nyro, and covering the Who and touring with them. 

Dash's four-and-a-half-octave voice and her pension for silver bras, space-age skirts, and flowing feathers continued to draw attention. With Dash celebrated for her emotive, versatile voice that spanned soprano prettiness and robustly soulful singing, Major mainstream success evaded them until 1974 album Nightbirds, when its lead single Lady Marmalade, a raunchy tale of a New Orleans sex worker lighting up a client’s dull life, topped the US charts. Though they separated in the late '70s to pursue solo careers, the members of Labelle reunited to record a single, "Turn It Out", for the Steven Spielberg-produced film To Wong Foo: Thanks for Everything! in 1995. The tune quickly zoomed to the top position on the Billboard dance charts. 

                          

Signed as a soloist by the Kirschner record label, Dash released her self-titled debut solo album, which featured the hit disco single, "Sinner Man," in 1978. Although she continued to record as a soloist, Dash increasingly worked as a session vocalist. She appeared on the Marshall Tucker Band's 1981 album Tuckerized, and began a long involvement with Keith Richards when she appeared on his 1988 album, Talk Is Cheap, singing two duets, "Make No Mistake" and "Rock Awhile." 

She continued to work with Richards and his band, the X-Pensive Winos, singing on Richards' 1991 album Live at the Hollywood Palladium and his 1992 album Main Offender, for which she co-wrote the single "Body Works." Dash also appeared on the Rolling Stones' Steel Wheels. Dash was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2003 and served as Trenton's Music Ambassador, where she advocated for the expansion of performing arts in the city. 

Dash developed her own one-woman show, Dash of Diva, performing at different club venues. Labelle released two further albums before going on a long hiatus, fully reforming in 2008 for the album Back to Now. In the interim, Dash released four solo albums, and worked as a session singer for Nile Rodgers, the O’Jays and others. She joined Keith Richards’ backing band the X-pensive Winos, and recorded vocals for the Rolling Stones’ album Steel Wheels. 

Dash made later guest appearances on albums, including Temptation and Persuasions' cut "Greener." From time to time, she also performed jazz/blues shows in small clubs on the east coast. She took a break to work on her autobiography, Dash of Diva. She decided with her friend and confidante Pam Johnson on scripted excerpts and wrote a musical with the same title debut at The Cross Roads Theater in New Brunswick. 

Dash clearly made a mark in the music industry and was given the Lifetime Achievement Award by The National R&B Music Society in 2016. Later in life she recorded gospel music, worked as a motivational speaker, and did charity work. Earlier she was hired as an advocate for the Covid vaccine in New Jersey. 

Dash's last performance was on September 18, 2021 in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Patti LaBelle called Dash up to the stage for them to sing a song together. Dash died unexpectedly on September 20, 2021, at the age of 76. No cause of death was given. 

(Edited from Wikipedia & AllMusic)