Tobi Lark - Happiness Is Here

One of the greatest slices of Sixties Detroit Soul ever put down onto vinyl. Tobi Lark was also Tobi Legend, a mysterious singer who the Northern Soul Scene spent twenty years trying to find. We never guessed, in all those years of searching every nook and cranny of the US recording industry, that this enigmatic mystery was really the famous Detroit soul singer, Tobi Lark, who recorded for many Detroit labels, especially Dave Hamilton's Topper label. Tobi Legend had released two singles on the Mala label, one of which, "Time Will Pass You By", was acclaimed by many as one of the greatest Northern Soul songs of all time, and one of the famous "three before eight" at the legendary Wigan Casino. So massive was the popularity of this song, that it was even covered by Kylie Minogue in the 1990s. Lately, I realised I had to dig out our magnificent videos of this amazing and original singer, which we shot in Windsor, Ontario, in Canada. We had filmed her and re-recorded her in early 1999, a few months before launching "The Strange World Of Northern Soul" at Blackburn in front of 1300 people. And of course it was that particular performance of "Time Will Pass You By", that brought the house down, and got a standing ovation. I tried to get Tobi to come over in person to appear, but she didn't want to know. It seems that this one time that we filmed her, by those glorious huge fountains, on the border of Detroit and Canada, was the only time we got to see this true legend. Dressed to kill, and performing for posterity, I marvel that we were able to achieve what Wigan Casino spent nearly ten years unsuccessfully trying to do - to locate the mysterious and enigmatic Tobi Legend herself, and getting her, just one time and one time only, to perform her true classics, and although her performance of the other song temporarily stole this one's thunder, now it's time to watch "Happiness Is Here".

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Northern-Soul
• Detroit
• Motorcity
• Sixties-Soul
• Diva
• Girl-Groups
• Rare-Soul
• Classic
• Soul

[funkfunkable]

I saw Tobi in Toronto at a club called The Speak Easy I was under age at the time 16 or 17 - I watched as she did a 12 minute version of 'The Midnight Train To Georgia'- I was in awe - I never forget Tobi and I myself became a successful Music Agent ( 30 years ) I miss her I hope to see her again

[funkfunkable]

I saw Tobi back in Toronto in a cluc called the SPEAK EASY

[funkfunkable]

I saw here back in Toronto in a Club called The Speak Easy she changed my life. I was under age 16 or 17 - Tobi did a 20 minutes version of The Midnight Train To Georgia..I became a successful Music Agent ( for 30 years now ) need to find her

[funkfunkable]

where is she....we need to find her

[donny7072]

nice beat...hearing this music puts a smile on my face..of the hot summer days...memories

[ahajalee]

SHE MAKES MY HEART GO PITTER PATTER

omg

OMG

OO MM GG!!!! she has soul

[ahajalee]

BREAK It down tobi get funky with it ya word MHMMM this has got the beat of the feat and the motion of the ocean YA WORD

[poloboyJaims]

Tobi is the best she has fans everywhere, including us, her (great neice and nephew)James and Precious from the states. YOUR THE BEST!!!!!!!!!! We love you auntie Tobi

[razelma]

We would love to see her Kizzi!

[kizzigirl1]

She still is the best!!!! wait till u see her now!!!