Teri DeSario – A One-Hit Wonder

Introduction to Teri DeSario

Teri DeSario is an American singer-songwriter whose single “Yes I’m Ready” almost topped the Billboard pop charts in 1979 — and only known hit. Early on, she explored many genres. She and her musician-composer husband Bill Purse formed together a band called Abacus. Bee Gee’s Barry Gibb’s discovery of DeSario led him to write a song for her to record, “Ain’t Nothing Gonna Keep Me From You”, a disco piece which eventually became a Hot 100 item in 1978. But DeSario would score her biggest hit the following year with “Yes, I’m Ready”, in which she did a duet with an old schoolmate Harry Wayne Casey who also happened to be the singer of KC and the Sunshine Band. Probably bad timing (as disco era was ending) and her situation with her record label which changed directions affected DeSario’s career; for that she would be classified as a one-hit wonder. DeSario also recorded contemporary Christian/gospel music.

Trying to make a name in the music business

Disco and pop vocalist-turned contemporary Christian singer Teri DeSario wa born on November 27, 1961 in Miami, Florida. Aside from singing, she was also a talented musician, particularly playing recorder and harp. A genre-bending, talented musician, she explored several sorts of styles. DeSario was once with the Early Music Consort whose repertoire leaned on Medieval and Renaissance music. She then explored her interest in folk and jazz music when she and her husband Bill Purse formed Abacus. DeSario continued in trying to make her own name while she was performing in local clubs.

It was the Bee Gee’s Barry Gibb who walked into a club where DeSario was performing. Impressed with her voice, Gibb arranged a song for her that he wrote, “Ain’t Nothing Gonna Keep Me From You.” He also helped DeSario secure a recording contract.

“Ain’t Nothing Gonna Keep Me From You” became DeSario’s first charting single, peaking at #43 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in 1978. The single came from her debut album Pleasure Train, which Gibb also co-produced. Her second charting single “You’re the Stuff Dreams Are Made Of” was only a minor hit on the dance chart in 1979.

DeSario’s biggest hit with “Yes, I’m Ready”

The peak of her career reached in the late 1970s (or early 1980s) when she released her single “Yes, I’m Ready,” a previous 1960s Top 10 pop hit by Barbara Mason who also wrote the song. In DeSario’s version of “Yes, I’m Ready” she duetted with her former schoolmate Harry Wayne Casey, who also happened to be the founder and lead singer of the popular R&B/funk group KC and Sunshine Band

DeSario and Casey’s rendition of “Yes, I’m Ready” almost topped the Billboard Hot 100 at #2, and #1 on the adult contemporary singles chart in 1980. It also peaked at #20 on the R&B singles chart. This was to be DeSario’s only top 10 hit.

DeSario’s flagging pop and disco career, and her involvement with Christian contemporary music

Following singles such as her cover of “Dancin’ in the Streets” as well as “Don’t Run” (co-written by Casey) made little impact on the charts, partly due to the backlash of disco during that era. This led DeSario to be considered a one-hit wonder. Around the same time, DeSario became increasingly engaged in singing, performing and recording Christian contemporary music. She also recorded music with Maranatha! Music, a non-profit Christian contemporary music label. her work would receive a Grammy nomination for Best Female Performance in the gospel category in 1986.

In 2012, her debut album Pleasure Train was digitally re-mastered and was released in a CD format, complete with a 12-page booklet.

Interesting Facts About Teri DeSario

The single cover art for "Yes I'm Ready" by Teri DeSario

By Casablanca Records – http://hitparade.ch/cdimage.html?teri_desario-yes_im_ready_s.jpg, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=43072942

Teri DeSario is a talented artist whose talent for various forms of artistic expression is undeniable. At the age of 10, she knew she wanted to perform and began studying classical voice at Barry University at 13. Here are other interesting facts about Teri DeSario.

  • Did you know that Teri DeSario is a multi-talented artist? DeSario was not only musically inclined but also into other art forms, such as poetry. She mastered various musical instruments and developed a passion for experimental and contemporary Christian music. Also, with creativity, Teri ventured into production with 1993’s Emergence Laughing Medusa Theme Series, Vol. 1 release. She was the producer, executive producer, and even the album’s vocalist.
  • Did you know she took different music genres? After her one-hit wonder status, DeSario fused ballads with pop and recorded two of her albums for Casablanca: Caught, an album that reflected her situation at the record company, and Relationships, which was discontinued when the company itself changed course. After her soul searching, she recorded her two contemporary Christian albums, A Call to Us All and Voices in the Wind, from her Word Records, co-written with her husband, Bill Purse.
Album Cover of Caught by Teri DeSario

By The cover art can be obtained from Casablanca., Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=25212601

  • Did you know Teri DeSario is a mentor? While Teri was busy building her career, she also mentioned in her interviews that she started teaching and mentoring others. Teri is a great writer and teacher. She has taught and mentored singing both in conservatories and private lessons. She has been involved in Waldorf education as a teacher and consultant to the music curriculum. In 1997, she took a singing teaching position at the California Institute of the Arts.