Sandra Cross

Sandra Cross

Sandra Cross is a reggae and lovers rock singer from London, known for work in both group and solo settings. She begins singing in the Pentecostal Church in South London and leads the choir from the age of nine. She is the only girl among seven brothers.

Early recording work

At 14, Cross records with a friend under the name Love & Unity. Their first recording comes after she wins a talent show with a song she writes called “I Adore You”. Released on Studio 76 Records, it reaches number one on Britain’s reggae chart for four weeks in 1979. The duo follow it with three top-five hits: “I Just Don’t Care”, “I Can’t Let You Go” and “Put It On”, before splitting up.

The Wild Bunch and solo career

After the duo ends, Cross wants to sing solo but meets producer The Mad Professor, owner of Ariwa Records, who selects her for an all-girl group called The Wild Bunch. The group’s only album enters the reggae top 20 in 1984, and the band tours Europe for a year before disbanding. Cross then begins her solo career with a remake of the Stylistics’ “Country Living”, which spends ten weeks at the top of the British chart in 1985. Her next solo release, “You’re Lying”, also reaches number one for four weeks. Ariwa releases her debut solo album, Country Living, in 1986.

Later releases and recognition

Cross receives the British Reggae Awards for Best Female Singer for six consecutive years from 1985 to 1991. She also wins the Radio London Entertainment Celebrity Award in 1986. In 1989, she receives the Voice newspaper music award for Best Reggae Female Artist, and in 1990 she wins the Chicago Radio Awards for Highest Selling Record.

Ariwa releases six albums by Cross, including the The Wild Bunch LP. In 1992 she records Lovers Interlude for Teichiku Records, and in 1996 she records Just A Dream, described as the first reggae/jazz album, for Pioneer Records.