Linda Wesley: From the "Hair" Stage to Backing Vocals for Stars and an Italo-Disco Gem
Linda Wesley, born in Chicago, Illinois, was an American singer with a versatile artistic background. After graduating with honors in Theater from Columbia University, she initially dedicated herself to the stage, joining the prestigious "Wells Street Players of Chicago". With this company, Wesley embarked on a world tour of the famous musical "Hair," an experience that proved crucial for her future.
During the Spanish leg of the tour, her vocal talent was noticed by a record producer, who offered her the opportunity to collaborate as a vocalist on the projects of established artists such as Camilo Sesto and Pablo Abraira. This marked the beginning of her career in the music world, leading her to work with prominent figures on the international scene, including Miguel Bosè and Angela Carrasco.
In the early 1980s, Linda Wesley moved to Italy, where she became a highly sought-after backing vocalist, lending her voice to productions by artists of the caliber of Mina, Zucchero, Pino Daniele, Edoardo Bennato, Ron, and Spagna. In 1986, she released the single "Wild On The Isle", an Italo-Disco track characterized by the arrangements of Mario Natale and Michele Vicino, now considered a little gem of the genre and sought after by collectors. It has been hypothesized that, during this period, Linda Wesley may have participated in dance music projects under various pseudonyms, a common practice in the record industry of the 1980s, but this information requires further verification. In addition to her solo production, Linda Wesley enriched with her voice the backing vocals of numerous other prominent artists in the Italo-Disco and synth-pop scene of the time, including Baltimora, Kano, B.B. And Band, Claudio Simonetti, and Tom Hooker. Further research may reveal her participation in other projects, solidifying her role as one of the most versatile and appreciated voices in the musical landscape of the 1980s.
