Tawny Reed

Born in Wales, Tawny Reed brought an American soul sensibility to her singing that marked her as a possible domestic counterpart to Lulu, yet commercial breakthrough stayed beyond reach. Her fiery takes on the Motown staple "Needle in a Haystack" and Baby Washington's "I Got a Feeling," both issued by Pye Records in England, never registered on the charts, but the single earned an uncommon distinction when Red Bird—the label at the heart of the girl-group sound—acquired U.S. rights.