susan glover
random notes / biography

Sue Glover, who receives a credit as a backing singer on the Frank Zappa album Apostrophe’ , is a British session singer whose real name is Yvonne Wheatman. She and her sister Heather were born in Madras , India , and they made their recording debut together in 1963 under the name The Myrtelles when they released a version of Lesley Gore’s Just Let Me Cry  for the Oriole label. They were in a group called The Stockingtops and then became a singing duo known as Sue and Sunny. Under this name they released ten singles between 1965 and 1972, the last being I’m Gonna Make You Love Me, also recorded by The Supremes and The Temptations. They also recorded an album for CBS in 1970 entitled (unsurprisingly) Sue and Sunny.

The two were now known as Sue Glover and Sunny Leslie, presumably having adopted the Christian names of the duo and their married names as surnames. Sue Glover made a solo album for DJM in 1976 entitled (wait for it) Solo, featuring drummers Tony Williams and Dave Mattacks.

From the late 1960s, the soulful voices of Sue and Sunny made them greatly in demand as recording session singers, and they appeared on many singles and albums. Notable appearances were on Joe Cocker’s With A Little Help From My Friends and The Love Affair’s Rainbow Valley. In 1974 Sunny (Heather) had a UK Top 10 hit with Doctor’s Orders.

In 1969 the vocal group Brotherhood of Man were formed, featuring Sue and Sunny, Roger Greenaway, Tony Burrows and Johnny Goodison. They recorded a single, Love One Another, but Sue and Sunny left before enjoying the success that the group later attained. In 1981 Sue Glover entered A Song For Europe, fronting the group Unity, with the song For Only A Day. Sue and Sunny have remained in demand as backing singers, particularly as part of the James Last entourage.

I have not come across any information regarding which Apostrophe’ song(s) Sue Glover appears on. My guess is that she’s on Uncle Remus, (a) because it sounds like her, and (b) because there are two other Brits on this track. The personnel is Frank Zappa, George Duke, Alex Dmochowski and Aynsley Dunbar. It was recorded in 1972 at the same time as Waka Jawaka and The Grand Wazoo (‘phone conversation with Alex Dmochowski in 1993). Of course, my guess could be completely wrong.

-- notes by Geoff Wills 2002