Joyce Elizabeth Sims-Sandiford (August 6, 1959 – October 13, 2022) was an American singer and songwriter, whose biggest hit single, "Come into My Life", reached the top 10 in both the US Billboard R&B Chart and the UK Singles Chart in 1987.

Early life and education

Sims was born in Rochester, New York, on August 6, 1959. She formally studied music in college, learning a number of instruments. Sims was of the Baptist faith.

Career

In 1986, Sims signed with the now-defunct record label Sleeping Bag Records. Her first hit single was "(You Are My) All and All" in 1986, which was produced by Kurtis Mantronik and reached No. 16 on the UK Singles Chart. It entered the US Dance Chart at #51; peaking at No. 6.

Sims followed up in 1988 with "Come into My Life" also produced by Kurtis Mantronik which peaked at No. 10 on the US Billboard R&B Chart and No. 7 on the UK Singles Chart. This became her biggest success, although it was her only top-10 single on the R&B chart. Both "All and All" and her remake of "Love Makes a Woman" with Jimmy Castor were also chart entries. Sims' debut album, Come into My Life, reached No. 22 in the US R&B album chart and No. 5 in the UK Albums Chart following the Top 10 success of the title track in the UK Singles Chart. All songs on the album were written by Sims except for "Love Makes a Woman". Sims' second album, All About Love, was released in 1989 and reached No. 64 in the UK Albums Chart.

In 1994, Sims released the single "Who's Crying Now" on Warlock Records, which absorbed her Sleeping Bag Records contract after purchasing the label in 1992.

In 2006 she released the single "What the World Needs Now is Love," from her album A New Beginning, after teaming up with record producers Junior Vasquez and Glen Frisica.

In 2009, Come into My Life: the Very Best of Joyce Sims, a double-CD of her greatest hits and remixes was released, which includes the original studio versions on the first disc and extended mixes on the second disc. That same year, she formed a record label, August Rose Records, and started work on a new album.

In 2014, Sims released the album Love Song, which includes a duet with reggae vocalist Maxi Priest.

Sims' music can be heard on the soundtrack of the film Species, and her songs have been recorded or sampled by Randy Crawford, Angie Stone, and Snoop Dogg.[citation needed] Sims released "Wishing You Were Here" on her own record label, August Rose Records, and another album, Back in Love Again.

Death

Sims died unexpectedly in North Brunswick, New Jersey on October 13, 2022, at the age of 63.

Discography

Albums

YearAlbumPeak chart positionsCertifications
US R&BUK
1987Come into My Life225BPI: Gold
1989All About Love6564
2006A New Beginning
2008Come into My Life: Her Greatest Hits
2009Come into My Life: The Very Best of Joyce Sims
2014Love Song
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

Singles

YearTitlePeak chart positions
US R&BUS DanceUK
1986"All and All"69616
1987"Lifetime Love"231034
"Come into My Life"10487
"Walk Away"561124
1988"Love Makes a Woman"2985
1989"Looking for a Love"5139
"Take Caution with My Heart"92
1990"All About Love"6934
1994"Come into My Life (remix)"72
"Who's Crying Now?"
2004"Praise His Name"
2006"What the World Needs Now"14
2012"Running Back to You"
"Saving All My Love"
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released.

External links

  • – official site
  • discography at Discogs
  • at IMDb
  • at Vh1.com
  • – live in Europe