(August 19, 2018) R&B singer and Barry White mentee Danny Pearson has died in his hometown of Stonewall, Mississippi at age 65, after a long battle with liver cancer. Pearson was best known as the first solo artist on White’s Unlimited Gold Records label. His debut album on the label, Barry White Presents Mr. Danny Pearson yielded the top 20 hit, “What’s Your Sign Girl.”
The Wisconin-born Pearson was part of a 70s family act, Danny & Company, which also included his brother Jonas Pearson. White signed Pearson to a solo deal while he was still a teen, and produced the young singer. The debut single, 1978’s “What’s Your Sign Girl,” became a smash hit on R&B charts. It was representative of the kind of lush soul that was storming the charts at the time, in this case courtesy of legendary arranger Gene Page. The song was also part of the mini-trend of love songs that also focused on zodiac signs (such as the Floaters’ “Float On”).
Pearson’s follow up single, “Is It Really True Girl,” failed to chart, and his contract with Unlimited Gold expired.
Pearson went on to work supporting other artists, and ultimately moved to Mississippi, continuing to work on and off in music for the rest of his life. He had reportedly been working on new music at the time of his death.