Biography
Formation
Before the group's formation, Sheila (born Annie Chancel in Créteil, France on August 16, 1946) scored numerous hits in her homeland during the 1960s and the 1970s. Among her chart toppers were "L'École est Finie" (1963), "Vous les Copains" (the French cover version of Manfred Mann's "Do Wah Diddy Diddy" in 1964), "'Petite Fille de Français Moyens" (1968) and "Les Rois Mages" (the cover of "Tweedle Dee Tweele Dum" originally performed by Middle of the Road in 1971). Her success helped her producer Claude Carrere to launch his label Carrere Records. The Yé-yé artist was initially presented as a girl next door. In 1977, she completely changed her public image when Sheila & B Devotion was formed. She attempted to convey a more mature style in her music. Three American back-up singers/dancers (Dany Mac Farlane, Freddy Stracham and Arthur Wilkins) known as B. Devotion were hired to accompany her. She updated her bubblegum repertoire by performing disco tracks sung in English.
Breakthrough and success
Because Carrere did not want to shock Sheila's public and the French media, the debut single of the group ("Love Me Baby") was released anonymously in May 1977 in France. The first pressings of the record mentioned the obscure name of S.B Devotion. The song was a radio and club hit. The identity of the group was rapidly revealed and the quatuor was officially named Sheila & B Devotion. "Love Me Baby" became a mainstream Top 10 hit in Europe. The follow-up single was a disco version of "Singin' in the Rain" and was more successful. In early 1978, it was licensed to Casablanca Records to be released in the United States where it became a club hit. In the meantime, the Love Me Baby album (featuring the two above-mentioned hits) came out. The group promoted their records on the major European TV shows (Musikladen, Disco and Top of the Pops).
Sheila & B. Devotion scored other songs on the charts including "I Don't Need A Doctor", "Hôtel De La Plage", "You Light My Fire" and "Seven Lonely Days".
Collaboration with Chic
In 1979, Sheila collaborated with Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards of Chic on the King of the World album which featured "Spacer" (which peaked at #18 on the UK Singles Chart and sold well world-wide, being credited with 4 millions copies in total by Le Monde in an article a few years ago. "Spacer" made it to most national charts on a global scale, from South America to Australia via Scandinavia. It is Sheila & B Devotion's true international hit: Alcazar's hit "Crying at the Discotheque" sampled it.
Break-up
Shortly after the release of the "King Of The World" single, Sheila & B. Devotion disbanded. Due to the disco backlash, Sheila chose a pop-rock style and recorded in 1981 an album, Little Darlin', produced by Keith Olsen. It was her last international project.
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