One afternoon, recently, while browsing through YouTube videos, I found this one of Sondi, who, if you are really into exotica music, you will definitely recognize as an important figure on the scene, at the time. Tonight on the show we will be featuring music from her album, Sondi. Sondi Sodsai was born on March 18, 1934, in Siam, or what is now known as Thailand. Upon graduation from college, she received a Fulbright scholarship to study and teach English as a second language in the U.S. However, she changed direction and chose, instead, to study drama at UNC-Chapel Hill, where she focused on acting, directing and playwriting. She was often selected for leading parts in plays, from which she became noticed, and was subsequently invited to appear on talks shows, like “The Tonight Show.” She was later signed on to record for Liberty Records, the same label as Martin Denny, and recorded her one and only album for the label, called, simply, “Sondi.” It’s even said Denny personally recommended her to Liberty. She also appeared on “Mickey Spillane’s Mike Hammer” TV show, which is what you see here. Later, she went on to attend UCLA, declining a seven year contract with Fox Studios, in order to do so. She was awarded another scholarship, this time for two years, to pursue more schooling and training in drama. During her TV acting stints, she appeared on the series “Adventures in Paradise,”as well as “The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour.” In 1959 she represented Thailand in the Miss Universe pageant and won “Miss Friendship.” We hope you’ve enjoyed our exotica artist spotlight! Cheers!