Philly on 45: Jodie Sands - "Hold Me" b/w "What Does It Matter" (1959)

Jodie Sands is the stage name of Eleanor DiSipio, a popular singer from South Philadelphia. Although little has been documented about her, the world first heard Jodie Sands on record in 1955. She was one of handful of Philly singers propelled into the spotlight thanks to Bob Horn, the original host of Bandstand. She was signed to the Teen label he co-owned with Artie Singer, a local voice coach and musician, Bernie Lowe and Kal Mann. The later two would break off and start the Cameo-Parkway record empire in 1957.

At the time it was customary to have pop artists record cover versions of R&B tunes that were desperately trying to make it onto the charts. Sands first etching was just that but with a twist. "Love Me Always," the a-side, was a West Coast song by professional baseball player Arthur Lee Maye and his group, The Crowns. The twist is that Bob Horn actually played his version on Bandstand and Jodie's cover was, in reality, only a local release. Her second and final record for Teen, "Let Me Show You Around My Heart," was the b-side of "When You Dance" by The Turbans, another South Philly R&B group. The next move for Sands would be the biggest and most important one of her career.

Signing to Chancellor records in 1957, Jodie Sands immediately had her biggest hit, "With All My Heart." Sporting a Mediterranean cha-cha beat thanks to label owners Bob Marcucci and Pete DeAngelis, "With All My Heart" was soon heard on every transistor radio in the US and was featured regularly on the now national American Bandstand with new host Dick Clark. The song made it all the way to #15 on the pop charts garnering her numerous television appearances and a spot in the 1957 film "Jamboree" singing her next Chancellor release, "Sayonara." She'd have one more 45 for Bob and Pete reaching #95 on that national charts before saying sayonara herself and moving over to Thor records, on which today's featured 45 was released. Her stay at Thor was brief, followed by a one off for Paris records and then 3 singles for ABC-Paramount concluding her recording career. She spent a few years doing nightclub work in the area and then retired, disenchanted and jaded from the cutthroat music world. Her last known public appearance is on a 1973 Bandstand Reunion hosted by Ron Joseph and Pat Delsea. She sat for an interview on Bob Horn's original set with Tony Mammarella and Sy "Pop" Singer.

-Jimmy DePre