Soulful Send-Off

Some seriously soulful singing in Auckland this morning.

Pauline, Adele and Mary

A who's who of NZ entertainment will be farewelling Anna (better known as Mary) Yandall, a key member of the Yandall Sisters, who's died aged 62.
The Yandall Sisters were born into a Samoan family and started performing (with another sibling, the late Caroline) at Sunday school and various private functions. Their first recording was in the mid-'60s, but they shot to prominence around 1972 as a slick cabaret act in the soft soul style of the Supremes, heading to Australia shortly after the release of their first single. Returning to NZ in 1973, the Yandalls - now a trio - backed a number of high profile acts. Over the next two years they sang behind every solo artist who recorded for the HMV/EMI company. They appeared with kiwi entertainers including John Rowles, Billy T James, Prince Tui Teka, Dalvanius Prime and Sir Howard Morrison.
Mary recorded Hawaiian Wedding Song as a duet with crooner John Rowles in the early 70s.
The sisters won the NZ Entertainer of the Year Award in 1977 and enjoyed growing popularity as a regular live act and on television well into the 1980s.
In 1990, Mary Yandall also recorded a solo album called "Sunset On Sunset", from which two singles were released.
You may have seen them performing at the tribute concert for Sir Howard after his death in 2009.
Sweet Inspiration (1975) was the Yandalls' biggest hit, staying on the National Charts for 14 weeks, peaking at No.8. Still today it's one of those well-known songs the cuzzies will groove to, around the bbq on a summer's evening. A bona-fide Kiwi classic, they reprise it in this live clip from 1986 in front of a live tv audience, showcasing those smooth Samoan harmonies that'll fill the Pacific Islanders' Presbyterian Church in Newton this morning to farewell Mary Yandall.