After a parachute accident in South African Special Forces Rory went to hospital in Paarl, near Cape Town. After two months, doctors suggested he relocate nearer to home to go through months of physical therapy. The closest military unit to Rory's residence was a military band. So, from May to August in 1981, Rory hung out at the Light Horse Band, under Major Neville Roe. There Rory wrote a song for his girlfriend, Heid , who was a model and had friends in the music industry. Se played the sone to them and  after a live performance ay Warner Record's studios, Rory signed with Warner Records.

Within months, Rory had gone from Special Forces combat in Mozambique & Angola to singing his songs and wearing makeup on stage, and ...  hearing his songs being played on the radio. Leo Sayer was touring South Africa at the time and heard Rory's songs on the radio. His manager arranged with Dennis Schwartz, Rory's manager, and Warner Records, to have Rory go to Los Angeles. Heidi committed suicide. Rory left for Los Angeles on November 7th, 1981.