Last updated: 3 hours ago
Born Bessie Grace Gupton in Alabama, Tobi Lark grew up in Detroit, performing in her mother Emma Washington's gospel choir. After touring with the group for ten years, she began her professional career as a backing singer for B.B. King. Under the name Bessie Watson, she had a successful jazz career, including recording with Cannonball Adderley in 1963.
Shifting to soul music, she adopted the name Tobi Lark and debuted with ‘I’ll Steal Your Heart’ on Palmer Records in 1965. She then worked with producer Dave Hamilton at Topper Records, releasing standout tracks like ‘Happiness Is Here,’ ‘Challenge My Love,’ and ‘Sweep It Out in the Shed’ - all of which are considered Northern Soul classics. An unreleased track, ‘True True Love,’ co-written by Tobi with Dave Hamilton’s business partner Darrell Goolsby, was rediscovered and released on Kent in 2006, becoming a collector’s favourite that commands high prices today.
In 1967, as Toby Lark, she released ‘Lots of Heart’ on USB and in 1968 as Tobi Legend recorded ‘Time Will Pass You By,’ for Mala; it is now regarded as a northern soul anthem. She later starred in Hair in Toronto and recorded for Cotillion and Arpeggio, achieving a Canadian hit with the group Toronto in 1970.
Shifting to soul music, she adopted the name Tobi Lark and debuted with ‘I’ll Steal Your Heart’ on Palmer Records in 1965. She then worked with producer Dave Hamilton at Topper Records, releasing standout tracks like ‘Happiness Is Here,’ ‘Challenge My Love,’ and ‘Sweep It Out in the Shed’ - all of which are considered Northern Soul classics. An unreleased track, ‘True True Love,’ co-written by Tobi with Dave Hamilton’s business partner Darrell Goolsby, was rediscovered and released on Kent in 2006, becoming a collector’s favourite that commands high prices today.
In 1967, as Toby Lark, she released ‘Lots of Heart’ on USB and in 1968 as Tobi Legend recorded ‘Time Will Pass You By,’ for Mala; it is now regarded as a northern soul anthem. She later starred in Hair in Toronto and recorded for Cotillion and Arpeggio, achieving a Canadian hit with the group Toronto in 1970.
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