Stephanie de Sykes

English singer, born 1948. Mother of Toby Slater and Barnaby Slater. With their father Stuart Slater she co-wrote Eurovision entries for Co-Co (1978) and Prima Donna (1980). After their divorce, she was also in a relationship, which led to her doing backing vocals on the second album by The Heebeegeebees. De Sykes has also provided backing vocals for projects by Alec R. Costandinos (e.g. Love & Kisses), Cerrone and for Voyage, and for rock & pop acts. She was one of the, the name used for a changing troupe who provided backing vocals to a number of disco groups and other artists, mostly in the 1970s.
After debuting as Verity with a lone 1972 single, she had a hit in 1974 with the Simon May penned Born With A Smile On My Face, which reached Number 2 in the UK Singles Chart. She also recorded the theme tune to the television programme The Golden Shot with the group Rain that same year. That theme song, Golden Day, was written for them by Lynsey De Paul and Barry Blue. Around this time, the television company, ATV Midlands started each day's broadcasting with a short film accompanied by another song performed by Rain with Stephanie de Sykes singing vocals, viz. Odyssey (often incorrectly referred to as Life Is A Beautiful Book).
She returned to the UK Top 20 a year later as a solo artist with the song We'll Find Our Day from Crossroads, which was featured at Meg Mortimer's wedding in the UK TV soap opera in 1975. De Sykes appeared in the show as singer Holly Brown. She also had a starring role in the comedy Side by Side. In 1980 she was part of Eurovision contenders Prima Donna.
As a girl she attended Brays Grove School in Harlow, Essex. She returned to the school for a final reunion in June 2008 as guest of honour.