08/30/2024

Sammy Brown - I'd Rather Go Blind

Self-penned track by the fantastic Sammy! One of the last tracks before leaving the industry… Born in Eldorado Park, Johannesburg. He started singing in church choirs, aged 13, joining The Gaylords in his teens, before joining the Golden City Dixies (who provided the platform for many stars to come, including the likes of Danny Williams, Sophia Foster, Jonathan Butler, Zayn Adams, Taliep Petersen, et al). At 22 he decided to go solo, booked a return ticket to London, intent on trying his luck abroad. Fortune stepped in to delay his imminent departure. Sammy, with a talent scout Oscar Renzi (who later went onto become a D.J. on Capital Radio) paid an unscheduled visit to the head office of CBS records, South Africa. The audition was an instant success, and he was signed, and taken under the wing of A&R Manager at CBS at the time, Allan McInnes. Sammy released a number of brilliant singles in the 70’s, i.e.; “One Day I Walk”/ “I’d Rather Go Blind” (CBS, SSC.1266, 1973), “Hurry”/ “Dejection” (CBS, SSC.1293,1973), “Second Hand Motion”/ “Storybook Children” (CBS, SSC.1366, 1975), “Jamaica Song”/” The Feeling I Get” (CBS, SSC.1394, 1975`). Also, two outstanding albums, “First Time Ever” (CBS, ASF. 1782, 1973) and “In Motion” (CBS, ASF.1846, 1975). Sammy went onto spend time on the theatre stage, starring in the Maseru production of the musical “Hair” in 1975, following this, as narrator in “Pippin”, and also starring in Des & Dawn Lindberg’s production of “The Black Mikado”. He later formed his own production company, Brown Sugar Productions, before leaving the industry… Sammy Brown - “Love Affair”. Composed by Sammy Brown. Flip side, “Looking For A Place”. Composed by Sammy Brown. Released on the Gull label, GUL 1020, 1980.