Mary Yandall - An Obituary
Mary Yandall of The Yandall Sisters has died.
There's no doubt the hardest working and most loved female group in New Zealand over the past thirty years has been the wonderfully talented Yandall Sisters.
Mary (on the right in the photo), along with her sisters Adele and Pauline, were raised in New Zealand by Samoan parents and began at a young age singing in Sunday School, then at weddings and birthday parties.
In 1971 they were signed by a Talent Agency and a demand for their singing talents encouraged them to give up their day jobs to become professional entertainers.
They put together a slick cabaret act in the soft soul style of America's Supremes, and in 1973 crossed the Tasman for club and television appearances.
Returning home in 1974, EMI records were quick to offer the Yandalls Sisters a recording contract, where as well as recording as a group they could also back the many solo artists signed to the label.
Other companies were also well aware of their talent and special harmonies, and over the following years they would provide backings for hundreds of artists while also performing on stage with home-grown stars like John Rowles, Billy T. James, Sir Howard Morrison and Prince Tui Teka.
The group's best known song Sweet Inspiration was a Top 20 hit in 1974, which can be heard on their compilation Very Best Of The Yandall Sisters.
