Sunny Leslie
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Sunny Leslie | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Heather Weetman |
| Also known as | Sunny Leslie |
| Born | 1951 (age 72–73) Chennai, India |
| Origin | United Kingdom |
| Occupation(s) | Singer |
| Years active | 1960s–1980s |
Heather Weetman (born 1951), known professionally as Sunny Leslie and later mononymously as Sunny, is a British singer. She was known for being one half of the recording duo Sue and Sunny with sister Sue Glover (real name Yvonne Weetman), who would both later be members of the original Brotherhood of Man. In 1974, she earned a One-hit wonder status as a solo artist with the song Doctor's Orders.
Personal life[edit]
Born Heather Weetman in Chennai, India, then known as Madras, India, in 1951, she and her older sister, Yvonne (born 1949), would eventually move to the United Kingdom with their family.
Career[edit]
Soon after migrating to the UK, Heather and Yvonne would start work as session singers and recording artists in the mid 1960s, under the name "Sue and Sunny", with Weetman taking on the stage name "Sunny Leslie". The sister duo would be session singers for the likes of the Ace Kefford Stand, Dusty Springfield, Python Lee Jackson, Elton John, Cerrone, Love Affair, Lulu, Mott the Hoople, Peter Wyngarde, T. Rex, Tom Jones, David Bowie, and Joe Cocker. Excluding Sue, Leslie would sing backing vocals with Madeline Bell and Rosetta Hightower on Joe Cocker's "With a Little Help from My Friends".[1] Sue and Sunny would continue to record into the 1980s, including singing backing vocals for three Eurovision songs, such as Boom Bang-a-Bang, sang by Lulu in 1969.
In 1969, Sue and Sunny joined Brotherhood of Man. The group had a number ten charting hit in January 1970 with "United We Stand",[2] that featured Leslie sharing lead vocals with Tony Burrows. "United We Stand" has often been used an anthem for diversity and togetherness. Forty years after the original 1970 hit it was popularised again by becoming a patriotic and spiritual anthem for many during the post 9/11 recovery. It has also been used as a football chant and by gay rights groups.[3] Taken literally, the song's lyrics convey two lovers who tell each other that no matter what hardships come their way, they will always be together. In general terms, it relates a message of strength in unity. In 1972, the band was remade into a new touring line-up, that would go on to win the Eurovision Song Contest 1976 with "Save Your Kisses for Me".
In 1974, Leslie, as a solo artist credited simply as Sunny, recorded the song "Doctor's Orders", written by Geoff Stephens, Roger Cook, and Roger Greenaway, the latter being an original member of Brotherhood of Man with Leslie. Leslie was recommended to record the song by Greenaway due to Sue Glover wanted to step down from music for a bit to have children, she recalls: "Sue decided she wanted to spend some time having babies, so I was just left to get on with things by myself. Roger Cook knew that I was going solo and rang me up to say that he had a song for me. Anyway, I went round to see him, heard the song and thought it might do something."[4] Leslie recorded the song in November 1973, and was released in January 1974. "Doctor's Orders" entered the charts on 30 March at number 42, and peaked at number seven in the UK on 4 May.[5] The song charted even higher, at number four, in Ireland. In November 1974, American singer Carol Douglas covered the song and her version charted at number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was a chart topper in Canada.
References[edit]
- ↑ The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Colin Larkin. 1992. p. 2412. ISBN 0-85112-939-0. Search this book on
- ↑ "BROTHERHOOD OF MAN | Official Charts".
- ↑ "Lee Sheriden | Metro News". Metro.co.uk. 2009-10-27. Retrieved 2016-10-03.
- ↑ "Sunny". www.alwynwturner.com. Retrieved 2023-09-01.
- ↑ British Hit Singles & Albums. David Roberts. 2006. p. 540. ISBN 1-904994-10-5. Search this book on
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