Sandy Deanne

Born Louis Sandy Yaguda in Brooklyn, New York City,[2] he would later perform professionally as Sandy Deanne. His ambition to become a musician came along after seeing Elvis Presley on television and The Belmonts singing I Wonder Why.[3] It was also his sisters singing and dancing lessons that grew his love for music:[2]

Music started early for me. I was five, and my older sister was on the way to becoming a professional singer. She was taken every day after school by my mom to the city, for all kinds of singing and dancing lessons. I was dragged along because there was no one to watch me. I loved every second of it. When we came home, my sister would practice and I would practice with her. She stood me on top of the toilet seat and taught me to sing harmony with her. That was it. I was hooked. She played all kinds of records in the house. Bessie Smith, Mel Torme, Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughn, The Pied Pipers featuring Frank Sinatra,, Lena Horne, The Four Freshmen , were all played constantly Also a lot of blues, we both loved the blues. I soaked it up like a sponge.

Deanne (second from the right) with Jay and the Americans in 1963.

In 1960, he formed first group, called The Harborlites, formed whilst Deanne was still in high school.[3] The Harborlites would later evolve into Jay and the Americans. The group was formed by Deanne, alongside Howie Kane, Jay Traynor, and Kenny Vance. After signing to United Artists Records in 1961, they released their first single; Tonight b/w The Other Girls. Jay Traynor left in 1962 and Jay Black came in as the new lead singer. In the following years, the Americans would garner more hits such as This Magic Moment, She Cried, Come a Little Bit Closer, and Cara Mia.

Deanne remained in the Americans until their split in 1973. Like the other members of the group, he went on to tour as a solo artist. Deanne was inducted, as a member of the Americans, into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2002. In 2006, Jay Black filed for bankruptcy due to gambling debts,[4] and sold the rights to the name "Jay and the Americans" to the other members as a way to pay it off, for $100,000.[4] After the deal was made, Deanne and original members Howie Kane and Marty Sanders started to perform again as Jay and the Americans.[4]

Following the death of Howie Kane in March 2023, Deanne is the last founding member of Jay and the Americans still touring with the group (Marty Sanders joined in 1962).

Deanne currently lives in Long Beach, New York.[5]