YOUNG AT HEART
Eighties star unrecognisable 34 years after smash hit debut and reality show appearance
SYDNEY Youngblood shot to fame in 1989 with his soulful pop hit If Only I Could.
The catchy song sampled the bassline and drumbeat from Break 4 Love released just a year before by house producer Raze.
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It stood the test of time and 34 years on he is still performing the smash hit around the world at festivals and on TV shows.
The star - real name Sydney Ford - was born in 1960 in Texas and from an early age he loved to sing.
His grandmother coined the nickname Youngblood thanks to his passion and energy for performing after he won a singing competition as a child.
As a teenager he played in bands, but soon enlisted in the US army and served in Germany for five years where he learned the language and fell in love with the country.
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Upon Sydney's return to the US he went solo and signed to Virgin Records, with his first song, a cover of Bill Withers' Ain't No Sunshine, landing him in the UK singles charts.
But it was If Only I Could that brought him fame and fortune and rocketed to number 3 in the UK charts in 1989, with Sydney's soulful vocals layered over dance beats swiftly capturing the hearts of fans.
The timing was just right too and his funk and R&B sound helped make the track radio friendly - after the rejection of many Acid house tracks in the mid eighties.
The American crooner went on to have success with hits Sit and wait, I'd Rather Go Blind, Let the Music Olay and Tonight.
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In 2018, Sydney signed up to the 12th season of German reality show I'm a Star – Get Me Out of Here!
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