Smith was a short-lived band with one major hit to their name. That song was “Baby, It’s You”. It was released in 1969 on their first Dunhill album, A Group Called Smith. Smith’s version of “Baby, It’s You” was a cover of a Burt Bacharach/Mack Davis/Luther Dixon-written song that had already been recorded by The Shirelles, and The Beatles. But the thing that made Smith’s version of the song stand out was the vocals supplied by Gayle McCormick. Not only did she breathe new life into the song, she set herself apart as a vice that needed to be listened to.
After leaving Smith, Gayle McCormick recorded three solo albums. One of them delivered her single, “It’s A Cryin’ Shame”, which moderately charted. After a few collaborations, Gayle McCormick left the business of music, and returned to St. Louis, where she was born and raised.
For many of us, we still hear her version of “Baby, It’s You”. It stands rather tall for a song. And it’s Gayle McCormick that is responsible for it.
On March 1, 2016, Gayle McCormick died from widespread cancer, discovered from a hospital stay due to pneumonia back in 2015. She was only 67. While “Baby, It’s You” is the primary reason we remember Smith, it was her voice and delivery that stayed with us. Today is a sad day for a lot of us.
Gayle McCormick
1948-2016
RIP