Sugar Pie DeSanto

1. Sugar Pie DeSanto is the name of a popular rhythm and blues songstress of the 1950's and 1960's. She was born Umpeylia Marsema Balinton in Brooklyn, New York on October 16, 1935 to an African American mom and a Filipino dad. She spent most of her early life in San Francisco, California, where she moved with her family at a young age.

In 1955, DeSanto did some touring with The Johnny Otis Revue after being given the nickname Sugar Pie by the bandleader. In 1960, DeSanto rose to national prominence when her single, "I Want to Know," rose to number four on Billboard's Hot R&B Sides chart. DeSanto continued to write & release popular songs throughout the 1960's, including some collaborations with Etta James.