Desanto, Sugar Pie

Desanto, Sugar Pie Umpeylia Morsema Balinton, 16 October 1935; Brooklyn, NY Singer and songwriter. Grew up in San Francisco, California. DeSanto was discovered at an Ellis Theater talent contest by Johnny Otis in the early 1950s, who nicknamed her “Little Miss Sugar Pie.” Her persona of a tough woman with a tougher voice emerged with her first hit, “ I Want to Know ,” for Veltone Records in 1960, made with the assistance of producer Bob Geddins. In the early 1960s she toured with James Brown…