Song:Mashed Potato Time
Album:The Best of Dee Dee Sharp: Cameo Parkway 1962-1966
Dee Dee Sharp scored a top five hit with Mashed Potato Time in 1962. And of course it led to the creation of a new dance. This was from the same people who brought you Chubby Checker's The Twist. Dee Dee had some other hits but Mashed Potato Time is the one most will remember. She was born Dione LaRue Sept. 9, 1945 in Philadelphia. She grew up playing piano and singing in her grandfather's church. When Dee Dee's mom was seriously injured in a car crash, Dee Dee went to work as a backup singer at age 13. Her big break came when she appeared on the 1962 Chubby Checker hit Slow Twistin'. Cameo-Parkway producer Dave Appell decided to record Dee Dee. Mashed Potato Time was written by veteran songwriters Harry Land and Kal Mann. Mann used the pseudonym Jon Sheldon. Mann no doubt worked on the production with Appell. Supposedly Dee Dee got the idea for the song watching her mom make dinner and it was written in the studio. Not only did Mashed Potato Time reach #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 but it started a new dance craze. Dee Dee had some other hits like Gravy (For My Mashed Potatoes), Ride! and Do The Bird. You can get them all on this budget CD. But by 1966 she left Cameo-Parkway and married producer Kenny Gamble. He attempted to revive her career in the disco era of the late 70s but he was unsuccessful. She charted with a cover of 10cc's I'm Not In Love in 1976. They divorced in 1980. Dee Dee Sharp still tours the oldies circuit and records occasionally. You might find her doing oldies themed cruises. Here's Dee Dee Sharp performing Mashed Potato Time on Shindig 1962.
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