wed 18/12/2024

RIP house music singer Darryl Pandy | reviews, news & interviews

RIP house music singer Darryl Pandy

RIP house music singer Darryl Pandy

Appreciation of flamboyant underground legend

A still from the 'Love Can't Turn Around' video

The house music of Chicago, led by producers and DJs, has long had a tendency to feature the greatest vocals of any genre yet not make stars of its singers. And for most of his working life, Darryl Pandy, who died yesterday aged 48, was not the star his huge presence and elemental, gospel-schooled voice warranted – instead working the club circuit and soul revival shows, and featuring on dance tracks scattered across dozens of 12" singles on many labels worldwide.

The house music of Chicago, led by producers and DJs, has long had a tendency to feature the greatest vocals of any genre yet not make stars of its singers. And for most of his working life, Darryl Pandy, who died yesterday aged 48, was not the star his huge presence and elemental, gospel-schooled voice warranted – instead working the club circuit and soul revival shows, and featuring on dance tracks scattered across dozens of 12" singles on many labels worldwide.

His vocal that veered from manly roar to little-girl squeal was like nothing in pop before or since

Share this article

Comments

Such a well written piece that encapsulates everything I have wanted to say since hearing of his death. Thank you. RIP Darryl Pandy 1963-2011

Could not have been more well put, Mr. Muggs. Thank you! For all his 'over-the-top' personal antics, at the core Darryl had a deep love of music, and a voice which could tenderly caress, or blow out a wall! I had the pleasure of working with Darryl early on, when we produced "Move" for DJ International Records under the moniker, 'Farmboy'. When I first played the demo of the track for Darryl, he listened very intently from beginning to end, without so much as a glance up...I wondered, did he like it? When the demo faded I got my answer, as Darryl jumped out of his seat, and in that wickedly shrill falsetto, started singing the lyric to the chorus! The room broke up with laughter, and about a month later, Darryl had taken the tune almost single-handedly into the Billboard Dance charts... What most people saw was the quirky, off-the-chart energy he brought with him on stage. Those of us who were a bit closer knew he was a complex man, able to express the many emotions touched on in his long archive of memorable tuneage, because he LIVED each verse and chorus. God Bless you Darryl. We will never forget you.

I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Pandy at Life Center Church Of God in Christ, He blew me away, His voice is so powerful!!!! he is a very pleasent person. DARRYL I;ll miss you!! Love, Ms. B.

A GREAT loss to the church of House music.Mr Pandy ,RIP,brother,The world has lost a great man.

Add comment

The future of Arts Journalism

 

You can stop theartsdesk.com closing!

We urgently need financing to survive. Our fundraising drive has thus far raised £33,000 but we need to reach £100,000 or we will be forced to close. Please contribute here: https://gofund.me/c3f6033d

And if you can forward this information to anyone who might assist, we’d be grateful.

Subscribe to theartsdesk.com

Thank you for continuing to read our work on theartsdesk.com. For unlimited access to every article in its entirety, including our archive of more than 15,000 pieces, we're asking for £5 per month or £40 per year. We feel it's a very good deal, and hope you do too.

To take a subscription now simply click here.

And if you're looking for that extra gift for a friend or family member, why not treat them to a theartsdesk.com gift subscription?

newsletter

Get a weekly digest of our critical highlights in your inbox each Thursday!

Simply enter your email address in the box below

View previous newsletters