Pop and country music singer Sandy Posey – born June 18, 1944, in Jasper, Alabama – was best known for the 1966 hit singles “Born a Woman” and “Single Girl.” Her career began after graduating high school in 1962 and becoming a session singer. She also worked as a receptionist while singing on sessions for artists such as Elvis Presley, Joe Tex, Tommy Roe, Percy Sledge, Bobby Goldsboro, and others. Sandy Posey’s debut as a solo artist was the single “Kiss Me Goodnight,” released on Bell Records in 1965. However, the single was not a hit, and she left the label. Music publisher Gary Walker asked her to sing on a demo recording for a song written by Martha Sharp called “Born a Woman,” which was shopped around and landed on the desk of producer Chips Moman. He was blown away by the song and vocalist and helped her to secure a record deal with MGM Records. “Born a Woman” became a hit and reached number 12 on the Billboard Hot 100. It was also a significant hit in Australia, Canada, and the UK. Her next single, “Single Girl,” did even better internationally and topped the singles chart in South Africa. While its success in the US matched the number 12 chart entry of her previous single, it hit number 5 in Canada and number 6 in Australia. Her next hit single was 1967’s “I Take It Back” was another hit, charting in the Top 10 in Canada, Australia, and South Africa. However, even with hit singles, her albums – including Born a Woman (1966), Single Girl (1966), Sandy Posey Featuring “I Take It Back” (1967) and The Best of Sandy Posey (1967) – did not achieve massive success. Sandy Posey’s record sales throughout the rest of the ‘60s didn’t match her commercial peak from just a few years before and she turned to country music in the early 1970s. Her country career began with the single “Bring Him Safely Home to Me” (1971), which reached the Top 20 on the US and Canadian Country Music Singles charts. Subsequent singles and albums didn’t fare as well, and she stepped away from the spotlight. In her absence, there have been several compilations released that compile the best of her ‘60s sides. Sandy Posey died on July 20, 2024, in Lebanon, Tennessee.
