The Ikettes, originally The Artettes, were a trio (sometimes quartet) of female
backing vocalist
A backing vocalist is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists. A backing vocalist may also sing alone as a lead-in to the main vocalist's entry or to sing a counter-melody. Backing vocalists are us ...
s for the
Ike & Tina Turner
Ike & Tina Turner were an American musical duo consisting of husband and wife Ike Turner and Tina Turner. From 1960 to 1976, they performed live as the Ike & Tina Turner Revue, supported by Ike Turner's band the Kings of Rhythm and backing vocal ...
Revue. Despite their origins, the Ikettes became successful artists in their own right. In the 1960s they had
hits such as "
I'm Blue (The Gong-Gong Song)
"I'm Blue (The Gong-Gong Song)" is a song written by Ike Turner and recorded by Ike & Tina Turner's backing trio The Ikettes in 1961. In 2017, ''Billboard'' ranked the song No. 63 on their list of 100 Greatest Girl Group Songs of All Time.
Overv ...
" and "
Peaches 'N' Cream "Peaches 'N' Cream" is a song written by Steve Venet and Tommy Boyce, originally released by The Ikettes on Modern Records in 1965. It became the first ''Billboard'' Top 40 single for The Ikettes since their debut "I'm Blue (The Gong-Gong Song)" ...
." In 2017, ''Billboard'' ranked "I'm Blue (The Gong-Gong Song)" No. 63 on its list of 100 Greatest Girl Group Songs of All Time.
The group started as “The Artettes”, the backing group of
Art Lassiter
Arthur Lassiter (January 27, 1928 – August 4, 1994) was an American singer, known for his work with Ike Turner.
Early life
Lassiter was born in 1928 in North Carolina. His parents were cotton sharecroppers, and Lassiter began singing after j ...
. The first official incarnation of The Ikettes was composed of Delores Johnson, Eloise Hester and Josie
Jo Armstead
Josephine Armstead (born October 8, 1944), also known as "Joshie" Jo Armstead, is an American soul singer and songwriter. Armstead began her career singing backing vocals for blues musician Bobby "Blue" Bland before becoming an Ikette in the Ike ...
. The most popular line-up consisted of
Robbie Montgomery
Robbie Montgomery (born June 16, 1940) is an American singer and restaurateur. She is noted for being one of the original Ikettes in the Ike & Tina Turner Revue in the 1960s. After her tenure as an Ikette, she was a member of the Mirettes, and t ...
,
Venetta Fields
Venetta Lee Fields (born 1941) is an American-born singer, musical theater actress and vocal coach. She was a backing vocalist for American and British rock and pop acts of the 1960s and 1970s, including Ike & Tina Turner, Pink Floyd, Humble ...
, and
Jessie Smith. It was this trio that later morphed into
The Mirettes
The Mirettes were a female vocal trio composed of former members of the Ikettes in the Ike & Tina Turner Revue.
History
Robbie Montgomery, Venetta Fields and Jessie Smith were the first official incarnation of the Ikettes, a backing trio for ...
.
As the 1960s progressed, the Ikettes became known for their sexy onstage appearance;
minidresses, long hair and high-energy dance routines that mirrored their mentor
Tina Turner
Tina Turner (born Anna Mae Bullock; November 26, 1939) is an American-born Swiss retired singer and actress. Widely referred to as the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, Queen of Rock 'n' Roll", she rose to prominence as the lead singer o ...
. "They represent me, and in my act they gotta look outta sight at all times. There's simply no room for sloppiness and unprofessionalism," Tina told ''Esquire''.
She added:
I also believe in the Ikette visual. I don't see it as cheap or vulgar. Nor do I see myself as that. Sex is not cheap or vulgar. And I always loved the look of long straight hair. Ike says he patterned me after Sheena of the jungle. She was white, you know. But I still love the look and action of long hair movin' and the short skirts shimmying. I want action on that stage at all times.
History
1960–1968
When
Art Lassiter
Arthur Lassiter (January 27, 1928 – August 4, 1994) was an American singer, known for his work with Ike Turner.
Early life
Lassiter was born in 1928 in North Carolina. His parents were cotton sharecroppers, and Lassiter began singing after j ...
didn't show up for a recording session in early 1960,
Ike Turner
Izear Luster "Ike" Turner Jr. (November 5, 1931 – December 12, 2007) was an American musician, bandleader, songwriter, record producer, and talent scout. An early pioneer of 1950s rock and roll, he is best known for his work in the 1960s and 1 ...
took Lassiter's backup singers, the Artettes (Robbie Montgomery, Frances Hodges, and Sandra Harding) and had them accompany Tina Turner on the recording "
A Fool in Love
"A Fool in Love" is the debut single by Ike & Tina Turner. It was released on Sue Records in 1960. The song is Tina Turner's first professional release although she had been recording with Ike Turner and his Kings of Rhythm since 1958. It was the f ...
."
[Baumgart, Malcom. Original sleeve note from The Ikettes — ''Fine, Fine Fine'' (1986).] Following the success of the single, Ike formed the Ike & Tina Turner Revue, but with a new group of backup singers: Delores Johnson, Eloise Hester, and
Jo Armstead
Josephine Armstead (born October 8, 1944), also known as "Joshie" Jo Armstead, is an American soul singer and songwriter. Armstead began her career singing backing vocals for blues musician Bobby "Blue" Bland before becoming an Ikette in the Ike ...
. Montgomery was pregnant and unable to tour.
They recorded "
I'm Blue (The Gong-Gong Song)
"I'm Blue (The Gong-Gong Song)" is a song written by Ike Turner and recorded by Ike & Tina Turner's backing trio The Ikettes in 1961. In 2017, ''Billboard'' ranked the song No. 63 on their list of 100 Greatest Girl Group Songs of All Time.
Overv ...
" the following year, produced by Ike and leased to
Atco Records
ATCO Records is an American record label founded in 1955. It is owned by Warner Music Group and operates as an imprint of Atlantic Records. After several decades of dormancy and infrequent activity under alternating Warner Music labels, the comp ...
. Released in November 1961, the single reached No. 3 on the
''Billboard'' R&B chart and No. 19 on the
Hot 100
The ''Billboard'' Hot 100 is the music industry standard record chart in the United States for songs, published weekly by '' Billboard'' magazine. Chart rankings are based on sales (physical and digital), radio play, and online streaming ...
.
Montgomery rejoined the revue shortly after having her baby and was teamed with Jessie Smith (recruited from a group named
Benny Sharp and the Zorros of Rhythm) and
Venetta Fields
Venetta Lee Fields (born 1941) is an American-born singer, musical theater actress and vocal coach. She was a backing vocalist for American and British rock and pop acts of the 1960s and 1970s, including Ike & Tina Turner, Pink Floyd, Humble ...
(a
gospel singer
Gospel music is a traditional genre of Christian music, and a cornerstone of Christian media. The creation, performance, significance, and even the definition of gospel music varies according to culture and social context. Gospel music is com ...
from Buffalo, New York) to form the first official incarnation of The Ikettes.
The revue toured constantly through the U.S. on the
Chitlin' Circuit
The Chitlin' Circuit was a collection of performance venues throughout the eastern, southern, and upper Midwest areas of the United States that provided commercial and cultural acceptance for African American musicians, comedians, and other enterta ...
in the
segregated South
In the United States, racial segregation is the systematic separation of facilities and services such as Housing in the United States, housing, Healthcare in the United States, healthcare, Education in the United States, education, Employment in ...
.
Occasionally they'd play at major venues such as the
Apollo Theater
The Apollo Theater is a music hall at 253 West 125th Street between Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Boulevard (Seventh Avenue) and Frederick Douglass Boulevard (Eighth Avenue) in the Harlem neighborhood of Upper Manhattan in New York City. It is a not ...
in New York,
Howard Theater
The Howard Theatre is a historic theater, located at 620 T Street, Northwest, Washington, D.C. Opened in 1910, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.
In its heyday, the theater was known for catering to an African- ...
in Washington, D.C., and
Uptown Theater in Philadelphia.
In 1962, Ike switched them to his
Teena record label for two singles: "Crazy in Love" (credited as Robbie Montgomery & the Ikettes) and "Prisoner in Love." Soon after its release, the title of "Prisoner in Love" was changed to "No Bail in This Jail" in order to avoid confusion with "Prisoner of Love" by
James Brown
James Joseph Brown (May 3, 1933 – December 25, 2006) was an American singer, dancer, musician, record producer and bandleader. The central progenitor of funk music and a major figure of 20th century music, he is often referred to by the honor ...
.
During this period
Bonnie Bramlett
Bonnie Bramlett (born Bonnie Lynn O'Farrell, November 8, 1944) is an American singer and occasional actress known for performing with her husband, Delaney Bramlett, as Delaney & Bonnie. She continues to sing as a solo artist.
Life and career ...
was briefly an Ikette, becoming the first white Ikette.
According to Bramlett, Smith briefly quit the Ikettes after Turner fired her boyfriend Sam Rhodes, who was the bass player in the
Kings of Rhythm
The Kings of Rhythm are an American music group formed in the late 1940s in Clarksdale, Mississippi and led by Ike Turner through to his death in 2007. Turner would retain the name of the band throughout his career, although the group has underg ...
. Bramlett recalled that she was an Ikette for three days when she was 17. She put on a dark wig to cover her blonde hair and used Man Tan to darken her skin.
The single "Here's Your Heart" came out on
Innis Records
Innis Records was a record label founded by musician Ike Turner in 1964. The label released singles from members within the Ike & Tina Turner Revue such as the Ikettes, and other acts Turner was producing. Turner hired George Grenier to handle ...
in 1964 but failed to go national; nor did "What'cha Gonna Do (When I Leave You)" released on
Phi-Dan Records in 1966.
From 1964 through 1966, they released six singles on
Modern Records
Modern Records (Modern Music Records before 1947) was an American record company and label formed in 1945 in Los Angeles by the Bihari brothers. Modern's artists included Etta James, Joe Houston, Little Richard, Ike & Tina Turner and John Lee ...
, including "The Camel Walk" (1964), and two hits "
Peaches 'N' Cream "Peaches 'N' Cream" is a song written by Steve Venet and Tommy Boyce, originally released by The Ikettes on Modern Records in 1965. It became the first ''Billboard'' Top 40 single for The Ikettes since their debut "I'm Blue (The Gong-Gong Song)" ...
" (1965) and "
I'm So Thankful
"I'm So Thankful" is a song written by Marc Gordon and Frank Wilson, and released by The Ikettes on Modern Records in 1965. It was the fourth single from The Ikettes' debut album ''Soul The Hits'', and became their second R&B hit of the year f ...
" (1965).
Ultra-funky remakes of "Sally Go Round the Roses" and "
Da Doo Ron Ron
"Da Doo Ron Ron" is a song written by Jeff Barry, Ellie Greenwich and Phil Spector. It first became a popular top five hit single for the American girl group The Crystals in 1963. American teen idol Shaun Cassidy covered the song in 1977 and ...
" did not go as well; neither did "He's Gonna Be Fine, Fine, Fine," though it sounded like a precursor to the music
Betty Davis
Betty Davis (born Betty Gray Mabry; July 26, 1944 – February 9, 2022) was an American singer, songwriter, and model. She was known for her controversial sexually-oriented lyrics and performance style, and was the second wife of trumpeter Mile ...
did later. When "Peaches and Cream" became rapidly popular, Ike sent a different set of Ikettes — Janice Singleton (Hughes), Diane Rutherford and Marquentta Tinsley — on the road with "The
Dick Clark
Richard Wagstaff Clark (November 30, 1929April 18, 2012) was an American radio and television personality, television producer and film actor, as well as a cultural icon who remains best known for hosting ''American Bandstand'' from 1956 to 198 ...
Caravan of Stars" and kept Montgomery, Smith, and Fields on tour with his revue. In the meantime, Turner hired new Ikettes after Montgomery, Fields and Smith left to form
the Mirettes
The Mirettes were a female vocal trio composed of former members of the Ikettes in the Ike & Tina Turner Revue.
History
Robbie Montgomery, Venetta Fields and Jessie Smith were the first official incarnation of the Ikettes, a backing trio for ...
. The first set included Pat Arnold (a.k.a.
P.P. Arnold
PP, pp or Pp may refer to:
Arts and entertainment
* ''Pianissimo'', a music term meaning ''very quiet'', from musical dynamics
* Production code for the 1967–1968 ''Doctor Who'' serial ''The Enemy of the World''
* Police Procedural - a subgen ...
),
Gloria Scott, and Maxine Smith.
The first album by the Ikettes,
''Soul The Hits'', was released on Modern Records in 1966. Instead of the Ikettes,
the Blossoms
The Blossoms are an American girl group that originated from California. During their height of success in the 1960s, the group's lineup most famously consisted of Darlene Love, Fanita James, and Jean King.
Although the group had a recording ...
provided backing vocals for Tina Turner on the
Phil Spector
Harvey Phillip Spector (born Harvey Philip Spector; December 26, 1939January 16, 2021) was an American record producer and songwriter, best known for his innovative recording practices and entrepreneurship in the 1960s, followed decades later by ...
-produced 1966 record "
River Deep – Mountain High
"River Deep – Mountain High" is a song by Ike & Tina Turner released as the title track to their 1966 studio album on Philles Records. Produced by Phil Spector and written by Spector, Jeff Barry and Ellie Greenwich. ''Rolling Stone'' ranke ...
." Following the success of the single in Europe, Ike & Tina Turner were asked to tour with
The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones are an English rock band formed in London in 1962. Active for six decades, they are one of the most popular and enduring bands of the rock era. In the early 1960s, the Rolling Stones pioneered the gritty, rhythmically d ...
during their
British tour in the fall of 1966.
The Ikettes on that tour were Rose Smith, Pat Arnold, and Ann Thomas.
Shelly Clark
Shelly Clark (born July 27, 1947) is an American singer, dancer and actress, best known as a founding member of the 1970s R&B girls group, Honey Cone who had the No. 1 Billboard Hot 100 hit single, "Want Ads" released in March 1971.
Early life
S ...
(later of
Honey Cone
Honey Cone was an American R&B and soul girl group formed by lead singer Edna Wright (sister of Darlene Love) with Carolyn Willis and Shelly Clark in 1968. They are best remembered for their number-one ''Billboard'' Hot 100 single, "Want Ads" ...
) was also an Ikette in 1966 until she was injured in a bus accident in Wichita, Kansas. Other Ikettes during this period include
Pat Powdrill
Pat Powdrill (January 21, 1948 – April 11, 1996) was an American soul singer and songwriter. Powdrill was best known for being a member of the Ikettes in the 1960s. She began her career as a solo artist recording for Reprise Records and Downey ...
,
Paulette Parker (later of
Maxayn
Maxayn was an American soul group of the 1970s. The band took its name from the lead singer Maxayn Lewis (born Paulette Parker), former Ikette and wife of band keyboardist Andre Lewis. The band also included Marlo Henderson (guitar) and Emry Tho ...
), Jean Brown, and Juanita Hixson.
In 1968,
Pompeii Records
Pompeii Records was an American record company and label formed in 1968 in Dallas by Joe Perry, president, and Pat Morgan, chairman of the board. Distributed by Atco Records in the US and by London Records internationally, the company is noted ...
issued "
So Fine" credited to Ike & Tina Turner & the Ikettes, it charted at No. 50 on the R&B chart.
In Summer 1968, a revised lineup of Ikettes was formed with
Edna Richardson
Edna Woods (born August 23, 1949), also known as LeJeune Richardson, is an American singer, dancer and actress. She was an Ikette in the Ike & Tina Turner Revue in the 1960s and 1970s, and later a dancer for Tina Turner in the 1980s and 1990s. Ri ...
,
Claudia Lennear
Claudia Lennear (born Claudia Joy Offley; 1946) is an American soul singer and educator. Lennear began her performing with the Superbs before becoming an Ikette in the Ike & Tina Turner Revue. She was also a background vocalist for various acts ...
, and
Esther Jones.
1969–1976
Minit Records
Minit Records was an American independent record label, originally based in New Orleans and founded by Joe Banashak in 1959. Ernie K. Doe, Aaron Neville, Irma Thomas, and Benny Spellman were early artists on the label. Later artists included Bobb ...
and its parent label
Liberty Records
Liberty Records was a record label founded in the United States by chairman Simon Waronker in 1955 with Al Bennett as president and Theodore Keep as chief engineer. It was reactivated in 2001 in the United Kingdom and had two previous revival ...
issued singles credited to The Ikettes (with Ike & Tina Turner) in 1969 and 1970 respectively, resulting in the hits "
Come Together
"Come Together" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles, written by John Lennon and credited to Lennon–McCartney. The song is the opening track on their 1969 album ''Abbey Road'' and was also released as a single coupled with "Somethin ...
" by
the Beatles
The Beatles were an English Rock music, rock band, formed in Liverpool in 1960, that comprised John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. They are regarded as the Cultural impact of the Beatles, most influential band of al ...
and
Sly & the Family Stone
Sly and the Family Stone was an American band from San Francisco. Active from 1966 to 1983, it was pivotal in the development of funk, soul, rock, and psychedelic music. Its core line-up was led by singer-songwriter, record producer, and multi-i ...
's "
I Want to Take You Higher
"I Want to Take You Higher" is a song by the soul/ rock/funk band Sly and the Family Stone, the B-side to their Top 30 hit "Stand!". Unlike most of the other tracks on the ''Stand!'' album, "I Want to Take You Higher" is not a message song; inst ...
."
In November 1969, The Rolling Stones once again asked Ike & Tina Turner to open for them, but this time on their
American tour.
The Ikettes on that tour were Claudia Lennear, Esther Jones and Pat Powdrill. This lineup performed on ''
Playboy After Dark
''Playboy After Dark'' is an American television show hosted by Hugh Hefner. It aired in syndication through Screen Gems from 1969 to 1970 and was taped at CBS Television City in Los Angeles.
Overview
''Playboy After Dark'' followed much the sa ...
'' in December 1969. Stonye Figueroa along with Esther Jones, and Claudia Lennear performed on ''
The Ed Sullivan Show
''The Ed Sullivan Show'' is an American television program, television variety show that ran on CBS from June 20, 1948, to March 28, 1971, and was hosted by New York City, New York entertainment columnist Ed Sullivan. It was replaced in Septembe ...
'' with Ike & Tina Turner on January 11, 1970. That month, they performed In Las Vegas at the Hilton Hotel opposite
Redd Foxx
John Elroy Sanford (December 9, 1922 – October 11, 1991), better known by his stage name Redd Foxx, was an American stand-up comedian and actor. Foxx gained success with his raunchy nightclub act before and during the civil rights movement. ...
.
Vera Hamilton
Vera Hamilton (July 17, 1945 – August 31, 2013) was an American soul singer. Best known as an Ikette in The Ike & Tina Turner Revue, she also performed as an Otisette with Johnny Otis and recorded as a solo artist.
Life and career
Hamilton w ...
and Jean Brown joined Jones in 1970, and this trio performed on ''
The Andy Williams Show
''The Andy Williams Show'' was an American television variety show that ran from 1962 to 1971 (alternating during the summer of 1970 with ''Andy Williams Presents Ray Stevens'')Tim Brooks and Earle Marsh, ''The Complete Directory to Prime Time N ...
'' and ''
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
''The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson'' was an American late-night talk show hosted by Johnny Carson on NBC, the third iteration of the ''Tonight Show'' franchise. The show debuted on October 1, 1962, and aired its final episode on May 22, ...
''.
In 1971, Liberty Records was absorbed into
United Artists Records
United Artists Records was an American record label founded by Max E. Youngstein of United Artists in 1957 to issue movie soundtracks. The label expanded into other genres, such as easy listening, jazz, pop, and R&B.
History Genres
In 1959, ...
. the Ikettes released their first single "Got What It Takes (To Get What I Want)," on United Artists later that year. In 1972, "Two Timin', Double Dealin'" was released, the last known single by the Ikettes. Edna Richardson returned to the group in 1971 and remained an Ikette on-and-off until 1976. Richardson, Jean Brown and Esther Jones performed on ''
Soul Train
''Soul Train'' is an American musical variety television show. It aired in syndication from October 2, 1971, to March 25, 2006. Across its 35-year history the show primarily featured performances by R&B, soul, and hip hop artists. The series w ...
'' in April 1972. They also provided backing vocals on
Gayle McCormick
Gayle McCormick (November 26, 1948 – March 1, 2016) was an American singer, best known for her work with the rock band Smith. She attended Pattonville High School in Maryland Heights, Missouri and sang high soprano with the Suburb Choir, a 150-v ...
's album ''Flesh & Blood'' (1972). In October 1972, Tina Turner and the Ikettes performed at the political fundraising concert
Star-Spangled Women for McGovern–Shriver
Star-Spangled Women for McGovern–Shriver (styled as Star-Spangled Women for McGovern★Shriver) was a political variety show held on October 27, 1972, produced by Shirley MacLaine and Sid Bernstein as a late-campaign push to help the 1972 pres ...
at Madison Square Garden.
There were a few lineup changes in 1973 with the absence of Esther Jones and Enda Richardson. Jones temporarily left after she was fined for being late onstage. The Ikettes weren't paid much and were often fined by the Turners for "inexcusables" such as tardiness, no-shows at rehearsals, miscues onstage, sloppy appearance, and disruptive behavior.
Jones was the "longest-lasting Ikette" and was referred to as "Motha" Ikette. She was the group's trainer and came up with most of the choreography.
In February 1973, the Ikettes, consisting of Linda Sims, Linda-Shuford Williams and Alesia Butler, performed on ''
The Midnight Special''. The Ikettes performed on ''The Midnight Special'' again in November 1973; Linda Sims was joined by Edna Richardson and Charlotte Lewis. The next month Linda Sims, Charlotte Lewis and Debbie Wilson performed on the music program ''Hits à Gogo'' in Switzerland. Sims and Wilson along with Tina Turner provided backing vocals on
Frank Zappa
Frank Vincent Zappa (December 21, 1940 – December 4, 1993) was an American musician, composer, and bandleader. His work is characterized by wikt:nonconformity, nonconformity, Free improvisation, free-form improvisation, sound experimen ...
's albums ''
Over-Nite Sensation
''Over-Nite Sensation'' is the ninth studio album by Frank Zappa and The Mothers of Invention, released in September 1973. It was followed by Zappa's solo album ''Apostrophe (')'' (1974), which was recorded during the same sessions.
Recording
...
'' (1973) and ''
Apostrophe (')'' (1974), recorded at the Turners'
Bolic Sound
Bolic Sound Studios was a recording studio complex in Inglewood, California. It was built by musician Ike Turner in 1970, and remained in operation until it burned down in 1981.
History
As a young bandleader, Ike Turner had grown skeptical of the ...
studio.
The last album by the Ikettes, ''
(G)Old & New'', was released on United Artists in January 1974. In March, Edna Richardson, Stonye Figueroa and Linda Sims appeared on
''Don Krishner's Rock Concert''. Esther Jones, Yolanda Goodwin and
Marcy Thomas soon replaced them for most of 1974.
Richardson, Goodwin and Jones became the final lineup for the Ike & Tina Turner Revue by late 1975. They performed on ''Don Krishner's Rock Concert'' in March 1976, before the Ike & Tina Turner Revue disbanded later that year.
1988–2000s
In 1988, Ike Turner attempted an ill-fated return to the stage with Marcy Thomas, Bonnie Johnson, and Jeanette Bazzell as his Ikettes.
He was arrested on drug charges the following year. After serving 18-months in prison he managed to rehabilitate his cocaine addiction and he revived his career in the 1990s. Turner formed new sets of Ikettes, which included Jeanette Bazzell, Randi Love, a.k.a. Michelle Love, Stonye Figueroa, Vera Hamilton and Audrey Madison.
Post-Ikette careers
*
Jo Armstead
Josephine Armstead (born October 8, 1944), also known as "Joshie" Jo Armstead, is an American soul singer and songwriter. Armstead began her career singing backing vocals for blues musician Bobby "Blue" Bland before becoming an Ikette in the Ike ...
, the first of the originals to leave, went solo and sang with groups before hooking up with a pre-Motown
Nickolas Ashford
Ashford & Simpson were an American husband-and-wife songwriting-production team and recording duo of Nickolas Ashford (May 4, 1941 – August 22, 2011) and Valerie Simpson (born August 26, 1946).
Ashford was born in Fairfield, South Carolina, ...
and
Valerie Simpson
Ashford & Simpson were an American husband-and-wife songwriting-production team and recording duo of Nickolas Ashford (May 4, 1941 – August 22, 2011) and Valerie Simpson (born August 26, 1946).
Ashford was born in Fairfield, South Carolina, ...
to form the formidable songwriting/production team of Ashford/Simpson/Armstead.
*
Bonnie Bramlett
Bonnie Bramlett (born Bonnie Lynn O'Farrell, November 8, 1944) is an American singer and occasional actress known for performing with her husband, Delaney Bramlett, as Delaney & Bonnie. She continues to sing as a solo artist.
Life and career ...
formed the duo
Delaney & Bonnnie with her then-husband
Delaney Bramlett between 1967 and 1972. They're best known for their singles "
Never Ending Song of Love
"Never Ending Song of Love" is a song written by Delaney Bramlett, and, according to some sources, by his wife Bonnie Bramlett. It was originally recorded with their band, Delaney & Bonnie & Friends, in 1971 on the album ''Motel Shot''. Released ...
", which peaked at No. 13 on the
''Billboard'' Hot 100 and "
Only You Know and I Know
"Only You Know and I Know" is a song written and originally recorded by Dave Mason in 1970. It is a track from his LP, '' Alone Together''. The song was his first charting single, and it became a modest hit for him in the U.S. and Canada.
Dela ...
", which peaked at No. 20.
*
Venetta Fields
Venetta Lee Fields (born 1941) is an American-born singer, musical theater actress and vocal coach. She was a backing vocalist for American and British rock and pop acts of the 1960s and 1970s, including Ike & Tina Turner, Pink Floyd, Humble ...
had a successful career after leaving Ike & Tina, joining
Ray Charles
Ray Charles Robinson Sr. (September 23, 1930 – June 10, 2004) was an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. He is regarded as one of the most iconic and influential singers in history, and was often referred to by contemporaries as "The Ge ...
as a
Raelette
The Raelettes (or occasionally The Raelets or The Raeletts) were an American girl group formed in 1958 to provide backing vocals for Ray Charles. They were reformed from the group The Cookies. Between 1966 and 1973, the Raelettes recorded on T ...
, the rock bands
Humble Pie
Humble Pie are an English rock band formed by guitarist and singer Steve Marriott in Moreton, Essex, in 1969. They are known as one of the first supergroups of the late 1960s and found success in the early 1970s with songs such as " Black Cof ...
and
Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd are an English rock band formed in London in 1965. Gaining an early following as one of the first British psychedelic music, psychedelic groups, they were distinguished by their extended compositions, sonic experimentation, philo ...
as one of
The Blackberries
The Blackberries were a female vocal trio composed of experienced backing vocalists. They backed various artists, including Pacific Gas & Electric, Humble Pie, Ringo Starr, and Pink Floyd. The Blackberries recorded for Motown's West Coast subsid ...
,
as well as a brief stint with Delaney & Bonnie. She also appear as backing vocalists on the first album by
Steely Dan
Steely Dan is an American rock band founded in 1971 in New York by Walter Becker (guitars, bass, backing vocals) and Donald Fagen (keyboards, lead vocals). Initially the band had a stable lineup, but in 1974, Becker and Fagen retired from live ...
. Fields acted as
Barbra Streisand
Barbara Joan "Barbra" Streisand (; born April 24, 1942) is an American singer, actress and director. With a career spanning over six decades, she has achieved success in multiple fields of entertainment, and is among the few performers List ...
's backing singers (The Oreos) in the 1976 musical film, ''
A Star Is Born'' (1976), and sang on its associated
film soundtrack
A soundtrack is recorded music accompanying and synchronised to the images of a motion picture, drama, book, television program, radio program, or video game; a commercially released soundtrack album of music as featured in the soundtrack o ...
. She also worked with Humble Pie, Elkie Brooks, Neil Diamond, Steely Dan, Bob Seger, and the Rolling Stones. After emigrating to Australia in 1982, she became an Australian citizen. She recorded or toured as a backing singer for Australian artists Richard Clapton, Australian Crawl, Cold Chisel, Jimmy Barnes, James Morrison and John Farnham.
*
Edna Richardson
Edna Woods (born August 23, 1949), also known as LeJeune Richardson, is an American singer, dancer and actress. She was an Ikette in the Ike & Tina Turner Revue in the 1960s and 1970s, and later a dancer for Tina Turner in the 1980s and 1990s. Ri ...
(née Woods) was married to Kings of Rhythm drummer
Soko Richardson
Eulis Soko Richardson (December 8, 1939 – January 29, 2004) was an American rhythm and blues drummer. His career spanned almost fifty years, during which he performed and recorded with seminal groups including John Mayall's Bluesbreakers and ...
, and they later divorced.
[Nevill, Brian]
"Looking for Pat Powdrill,"
''SpectroPop'' (2006). In 1974, Richardson had a minor role in the
blaxploitation
Blaxploitation is an ethnic subgenre of the exploitation film that emerged in the United States during the early 1970s. The term, a portmanteau of the words "black" and "exploitation", was coined in August 1972 by Junius Griffin, the president o ...
movie ''
Truck Turner
''Truck Turner'', also known as ''Black Bullet'', is a 1974 blaxploitation film, starring Isaac Hayes and Yaphet Kotto, and directed by Jonathan Kaplan. The screenplay was written by Michael Allin, Leigh Chapman (under a pseudonym, Jerry Wilke ...
.'' She played Frenchie, one of Dorinda's Girls. She later became a backup dancer for
Tina Turner
Tina Turner (born Anna Mae Bullock; November 26, 1939) is an American-born Swiss retired singer and actress. Widely referred to as the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, Queen of Rock 'n' Roll", she rose to prominence as the lead singer o ...
during her solo years under the name LeJeune Richardson.
* Janice Singleton (Hughes) left the Ikettes to lead groups on A&M (The Secrets: lead vocals on A&M recording by Diane Rutherford-Swann) and Verve (The Unit Plus), then teamed with ex-Ikette Maxine Smith (Green) on world tours with
Leo Sayer
Gerard Hugh "Leo" Sayer (born 21 May 1948) is an English-Australian singer and songwriter whose singing career has spanned five decades. He has been an Australian citizen and resident since 2009.
Sayer launched his career in the United Kingdom ...
,
Martha Reeves
Martha Rose Reeves (born July 18, 1941) is an American R&B and pop singer. She is the lead singer of the Motown girl group Martha and the Vandellas which scored over a dozen hit singles, including "Come and Get These Memories", " Nowhere to R ...
,
Boz Scaggs
William Royce "Boz" Scaggs (born June 8, 1944) is an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist. An early bandmate of Steve Miller in The Ardells and the Steve Miller Band, he began his solo career in 1969, though he lacked a major hit until h ...
, and
Joe Cocker
John Robert "Joe" Cocker (20 May 1944 – 22 December 2014) was an English singer known for his gritty, bluesy voice and dynamic stage performances that featured expressive body movements. Most of his best known singles were recordings of son ...
, among others. In 2007, Singleton and Smith joined the
Mohegan Sun
Mohegan Sun is an American casino, owned and operated by the Mohegan Tribe on of their reservation, along the banks of the Thames River in Uncasville, Connecticut. It has of gambling space.
It is in the foothills of southeastern Connecticut, ...
All Stars.
* Paulette Parker later went by the name
Maxayn Lewis
Maxayn Lewis is an American soul singer, musician, songwriter, and producer. She began her career in the 1960s, under her birth name Paulette Parker, as member of the Ikettes in the Ike & Tina Turner Revue. In the 1970s, Lewis sang lead in the ba ...
and formed the band
Maxayn
Maxayn was an American soul group of the 1970s. The band took its name from the lead singer Maxayn Lewis (born Paulette Parker), former Ikette and wife of band keyboardist Andre Lewis. The band also included Marlo Henderson (guitar) and Emry Tho ...
with her husband
Andre Lewis in the early 1970s. She has toured with
Gino Vannelli
Gino Vannelli (born June 16, 1952) is a Canadian rock singer and songwriter who had several hit songs in the 1970s and 1980s. His best-known singles include "People Gotta Move" (1974), "I Just Wanna Stop" (1978), "Living Inside Myself" (1981) an ...
,
Donna Summer
LaDonna Adrian Gaines (December 31, 1948May 17, 2012), known professionally as Donna Summer, was an American singer and songwriter. She gained prominence during the disco era of the 1970s and became known as the " Queen of Disco", while her mus ...
, and
Rufus
Rufus is a masculine given name, a surname, an Ancient Roman cognomen and a nickname (from Latin ''rufus'', "red"). Notable people with the name include:
Given name
Politicians
* Rufus Ada George (born 1940), Nigerian politician
* Rufus Al ...
.
*
Esther Jones sang with the funk/soul band Formula 5 in the 1980s. She had a stroke in 1992 and suffered from
multiple myeloma
Multiple myeloma (MM), also known as plasma cell myeloma and simply myeloma, is a cancer of plasma cells, a type of white blood cell that normally produces antibodies. Often, no symptoms are noticed initially. As it progresses, bone pain, an ...
. She died at the age of 61 on December 8, 2006.
*
Robbie Montgomery
Robbie Montgomery (born June 16, 1940) is an American singer and restaurateur. She is noted for being one of the original Ikettes in the Ike & Tina Turner Revue in the 1960s. After her tenure as an Ikette, she was a member of the Mirettes, and t ...
became a Night Tripper for
Dr. John
Malcolm John Rebennack Jr. (November 20, 1941 – June 6, 2019), better known by his stage name Dr. John, was an American singer and songwriter. His music encompassed New Orleans blues, jazz, funk, and R&B.
Active as a session musician from ...
. She also sang backup for
Barbra Streisand
Barbara Joan "Barbra" Streisand (; born April 24, 1942) is an American singer, actress and director. With a career spanning over six decades, she has achieved success in multiple fields of entertainment, and is among the few performers List ...
,
Debbie Reynolds
Mary Frances "Debbie" Reynolds (April 1, 1932 – December 28, 2016) was an American actress, singer, and businesswoman. Her career spanned almost 70 years. She was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Most Promising Newcomer for her portra ...
,
Joe Cocker
John Robert "Joe" Cocker (20 May 1944 – 22 December 2014) was an English singer known for his gritty, bluesy voice and dynamic stage performances that featured expressive body movements. Most of his best known singles were recordings of son ...
and
Stevie Wonder
Stevland Hardaway Morris ( Judkins; May 13, 1950), known professionally as Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, who is credited as a pioneer and influence by musicians across a range of genres that include rhythm and blues, Pop musi ...
.
She later became a successful restaurateur and star of the reality series ''
Welcome to Sweetie Pie's
''Welcome to Sweetie Pie's'' is an American reality television series starring the family of former Ikette Robbie Montgomery, and also focuses on the running of their collection of soul food restaurants, Sweetie Pie's. The series premiered on Oc ...
.'' In 2018, Montgomery released an EP, ''What They Call Me,'' her first release in 40 years.
*
Claudia Lennear
Claudia Lennear (born Claudia Joy Offley; 1946) is an American soul singer and educator. Lennear began her performing with the Superbs before becoming an Ikette in the Ike & Tina Turner Revue. She was also a background vocalist for various acts ...
dated
Mick Jagger
Sir Michael Philip Jagger (born 26 July 1943) is an English singer and songwriter who has achieved international fame as the lead vocalist and one of the founder members of the rock band the Rolling Stones. His ongoing songwriting partnershi ...
whom she met during Ike & Tina's U.S. tour with the
Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones are an English Rock music, rock band formed in London in 1962. Active for six decades, they are one of the most popular and enduring bands of the album era, rock era. In the early 1960s, the Rolling Stones pioneered the g ...
in 1969. She is reportedly the inspiration for the Rolling Stones song "
Brown Sugar
Brown sugar is unrefined or partially refined soft sugar.
Brown Sugar may also refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media Films
* ''Brown Sugar'' (1922 film), a 1922 British silent film directed by Fred Paul
* ''Brown Sugar'' (1931 film), a 1931 ...
." She also dated
David Bowie
David Robert Jones (8 January 194710 January 2016), known professionally as David Bowie ( ), was an English singer-songwriter and actor. A leading figure in the music industry, he is regarded as one of the most influential musicians of the ...
and reportedly is the inspiration for his song "
Lady Grinning Soul
"Lady Grinning Soul" is a ballad written by English musician David Bowie, released on the album ''Aladdin Sane'' in 1973. It was a last-minute addition, replacing the "sax version" of "John, I'm Only Dancing" as the closing track. The composer's f ...
." Lennear sang backup for Joe Cocker and
Humble Pie
Humble Pie are an English rock band formed by guitarist and singer Steve Marriott in Moreton, Essex, in 1969. They are known as one of the first supergroups of the late 1960s and found success in the early 1970s with songs such as " Black Cof ...
and released a solo album entitled ''Phew!'' in 1973. She also played a secretary in the 1974
Clint Eastwood
Clinton Eastwood Jr. (born May 31, 1930) is an American actor and film director. After achieving success in the Western TV series '' Rawhide'', he rose to international fame with his role as the "Man with No Name" in Sergio Leone's "''Doll ...
movie ''
Thunderbolt and Lightfoot
''Thunderbolt and Lightfoot'' is a 1974 American crime comedy film written and directed by Michael Cimino and starring Clint Eastwood, Jeff Bridges, George Kennedy, and Geoffrey Lewis.
Plot
A young ne'er-do-well, Lightfoot steals a car. Elsewh ...
''. The same year, she appeared in ''
Playboy
''Playboy'' is an American men's lifestyle and entertainment magazine, formerly in print and currently online. It was founded in Chicago in 1953, by Hugh Hefner and his associates, and funded in part by a $1,000 loan from Hefner's mother.
K ...
'' magazine photo spread. Lennear left the music industry to become a teacher. She appeared in the
Academy Award
The Academy Awards, better known as the Oscars, are awards for artistic and technical merit for the American and international film industry. The awards are regarded by many as the most prestigious, significant awards in the entertainment ind ...
-winning documentary ''
20 Feet from Stardom'' (2013).
*
P.P. Arnold
PP, pp or Pp may refer to:
Arts and entertainment
* ''Pianissimo'', a music term meaning ''very quiet'', from musical dynamics
* Production code for the 1967–1968 ''Doctor Who'' serial ''The Enemy of the World''
* Police Procedural - a subgen ...
left the Ikettes after Ike & Tina's UK tour with the Rolling Stones in the fall of 1966. Mick Jagger encouraged her to go solo and she had a successful career in the UK with hits such as "
The First Cut Is The Deepest
"The First Cut Is the Deepest" is a 1967 song written by British singer-songwriter Cat Stevens, originally released by P. P. Arnold in May 1967. Stevens's own version originally appeared on his album ''New Masters'' in December 1967.
The song ...
" and "
Angel of the Morning
"Angel of the Morning" is a popular song written by Chip Taylor, originally recorded by Evie Sands, but first charting by Merrilee Rush. The song has been covered by many artists including P. P. Arnold, Connie Eaton, Mary Mason, Guys 'n' Dolls ...
."
*
Shelly Clark
Shelly Clark (born July 27, 1947) is an American singer, dancer and actress, best known as a founding member of the 1970s R&B girls group, Honey Cone who had the No. 1 Billboard Hot 100 hit single, "Want Ads" released in March 1971.
Early life
S ...
formed the group
Honey Cone
Honey Cone was an American R&B and soul girl group formed by lead singer Edna Wright (sister of Darlene Love) with Carolyn Willis and Shelly Clark in 1968. They are best remembered for their number-one ''Billboard'' Hot 100 single, "Want Ads" ...
with Edna Wright (sister of
Darlene Love
Darlene Wright (born July 26, 1941), known professionally as Darlene Love, is an American singer and actress. She was the lead singer of the girl group the Blossoms and she also recorded as a solo artist.
She began singing as a child with her ...
) and Carolyn Willis in 1968. They had a
number-one pop hit "
Want Ads
"Want Ads" is a song that was a million-selling #1 pop and R&B hit recorded by female group, Honey Cone for their second album '' Sweet Replies'' and also appears on their third album ''Soulful Tapestry''. The song on the Detroit-based Hot Wax ...
" in 1971. Clark is married to
Earth, Wind & Fire
Earth, Wind & Fire (EW&F or EWF) is an American band whose music spans the genres of jazz, R&B, soul, funk, disco, pop, big band, Latin, and Afro pop. They are among the best-selling bands of all time, with sales of over 90 million re ...
bassist
Verdine White
Verdine Adams White (born July 25, 1951) is an American musician, best known as a founding member and bassist for the band Earth, Wind & Fire. White was placed at No. 19 on Rolling Stone's list of The 50 Greatest Bassists of All Time.
Early lif ...
.
*
Marcy Thomas later performed with Ike Turner. She became known as Lyrica Garrett and appeared on the reality show ''
Love & Hip Hop: Hollywood'' with her daughter
Lyrica Anderson
Lyrica Nasha Anderson is an American R&B singer and songwriter. She is the daughter of singer and former Ikette Lyrica Garrett. Anderson has appeared on the VH1 reality show '' Love & Hip Hop: Hollywood''.
Career
In 2009, Anderson co-wrote th ...
.
* Ann Thomas left the Ikettes after she became pregnant by Ike Turner in 1968.
After she gave birth to their daughter Mia Turner in 1969, she returned to work for the Ike & Tina Turner Revue; handling their wardrobe.
Thomas was married to Turner from 1981 to 1990.
*
Jeanette Bazzell Turner was married to Ike Turner from 1995 to 2000. She continues to perform and also works as a real estate broker.
*
Audrey Madison Turner
Audrey Madison Turner is an American singer and songwriter known for her collaborations with musician Ike Turner. Madison was one of Turner's backup singers before she became his lead singer, they married in 2006. She was a contestant on the Amer ...
is Ike Turner's last wife. She appeared as a contestant on ''
The X Factor
''The X Factor'' is a television music competition franchise created by British producer Simon Cowell and his company Syco Entertainment. It originated in the United Kingdom, where it was devised as a replacement for ''Pop Idol'' (2001–2003 ...
'' in 2011. In 2016, she released the memoir ''Love Had Everything to Do with It'', which details her volatile relationship with Turner due to his
bipolar disorder
Bipolar disorder, previously known as manic depression, is a mental disorder characterized by periods of depression and periods of abnormally elevated mood that last from days to weeks each. If the elevated mood is severe or associated with ...
.
Members
1960s–1970s
*Shirley Alexander, a.k.a. Shirley Butler (1969–70)
*
Jo Armstead
Josephine Armstead (born October 8, 1944), also known as "Joshie" Jo Armstead, is an American soul singer and songwriter. Armstead began her career singing backing vocals for blues musician Bobby "Blue" Bland before becoming an Ikette in the Ike ...
(1960–c.1962)
*
P.P. Arnold
PP, pp or Pp may refer to:
Arts and entertainment
* ''Pianissimo'', a music term meaning ''very quiet'', from musical dynamics
* Production code for the 1967–1968 ''Doctor Who'' serial ''The Enemy of the World''
* Police Procedural - a subgen ...
(1965–1966)
* Mary Bennett (April–July 1978)
*
Bonnie Bramlett
Bonnie Bramlett (born Bonnie Lynn O'Farrell, November 8, 1944) is an American singer and occasional actress known for performing with her husband, Delaney Bramlett, as Delaney & Bonnie. She continues to sing as a solo artist.
Life and career ...
(c. 1963–1964),
first white member
[Eve Zibart, "Bonnie Bramlett Belts Them Out at Cellar Door", ''The Washington Post'', May 11, 1978, C7.]
* Mary "Jean Brown" Burks (1967–1968, 1970–1972)
* Alesia "Sugar" Butler (1972–1974)
*
Judy Cheeks
Judy Cheeks (born February 13, 1954) is an American singer and actress. In the 1970s and 1980s, she recorded as a soul and R&B singer, before releasing more dance-oriented music in the 1990s. Cheeks performed with Ike & Tina Turner as an Ikette ...
(1975)
*
Shelly Clark
Shelly Clark (born July 27, 1947) is an American singer, dancer and actress, best known as a founding member of the 1970s R&B girls group, Honey Cone who had the No. 1 Billboard Hot 100 hit single, "Want Ads" released in March 1971.
Early life
S ...
(c. 1966),
later a member of
Honey Cone
Honey Cone was an American R&B and soul girl group formed by lead singer Edna Wright (sister of Darlene Love) with Carolyn Willis and Shelly Clark in 1968. They are best remembered for their number-one ''Billboard'' Hot 100 single, "Want Ads" ...
*
Venetta Fields
Venetta Lee Fields (born 1941) is an American-born singer, musical theater actress and vocal coach. She was a backing vocalist for American and British rock and pop acts of the 1960s and 1970s, including Ike & Tina Turner, Pink Floyd, Humble ...
(c. 1961–1965)
* Stonye Figueroa, a.k.a. Barbara Cook (1969–1974)
['']The Ed Sullivan Show
''The Ed Sullivan Show'' is an American television program, television variety show that ran on CBS from June 20, 1948, to March 28, 1971, and was hosted by New York City, New York entertainment columnist Ed Sullivan. It was replaced in Septembe ...
'', 1970 and Don Kristner's Rock Concert, 1974; also ''20 Feet From Stardom''
* Yolanda Goodwin (1974–1976)
* Martha Graham (c. 1968)
*
Vera Hamilton
Vera Hamilton (July 17, 1945 – August 31, 2013) was an American soul singer. Best known as an Ikette in The Ike & Tina Turner Revue, she also performed as an Otisette with Johnny Otis and recorded as a solo artist.
Life and career
Hamilton w ...
(1970–1971; died August 31, 2013)
* Eloise Hester (1960–?)
* Juanita Hixson (1964–?)
* Frances Hodges (1960)
* Sandra Harding (1960)
*
Brenda Holloway
Brenda Holloway (born June 26, 1946) is an American singer and songwriter, who was a recording artist for Motown Records during the 1960s. Her best-known recordings are the soul hits, "Every Little Bit Hurts", " When I'm Gone", and " You've Ma ...
*
Patrice Holloway
Patrice Yvonne Holloway (March 23, 1951 – October 3, 2006)
was an American soul and pop singer, and songwriter.
Career
Patrice Yvonne Holloway was born on March 23, 1951 in Los Angeles, California, the youngest of three children born to Wade ...
* Delores "Dee Dee" Johnson (c. 1961–1962)
* Johnnie B. Johnson-Day (early 1960s)
*
Esther Jones, a.k.a. Esther Burton & Ester Bills
(1968–1976; died in 2006) "longest-lasting Ikette"
*
Claudia Lennear
Claudia Lennear (born Claudia Joy Offley; 1946) is an American soul singer and educator. Lennear began her performing with the Superbs before becoming an Ikette in the Ike & Tina Turner Revue. She was also a background vocalist for various acts ...
, a.k.a. Joy Lennear
(1968–1970)
* Charlotte Lewis
*
Kathi McDonald
Kathryn Marie "Kathi" McDonald (September 25, 1948 – October 3, 2012) was an American blues and rock singer and songwriter. As a teenager she sang with different bands around the Pacific Northwest before she was discovered by Ike Turner. She s ...
(c. 1969)
*
Robbie Montgomery
Robbie Montgomery (born June 16, 1940) is an American singer and restaurateur. She is noted for being one of the original Ikettes in the Ike & Tina Turner Revue in the 1960s. After her tenure as an Ikette, she was a member of the Mirettes, and t ...
(1960–1965)
* Paulette Parker, a.k.a.
Maxayn Lewis
Maxayn Lewis is an American soul singer, musician, songwriter, and producer. She began her career in the 1960s, under her birth name Paulette Parker, as member of the Ikettes in the Ike & Tina Turner Revue. In the 1970s, Lewis sang lead in the ba ...
(c. 1966–1968)
*
Pat Powdrill
Pat Powdrill (January 21, 1948 – April 11, 1996) was an American soul singer and songwriter. Powdrill was best known for being a member of the Ikettes in the 1960s. She began her career as a solo artist recording for Reprise Records and Downey ...
(c. 1967– 1970; died April 11, 1996)
* Vermettya Royster
*
Edna "LeJeune" Richardson, a.k.a. Edna Woods
(1968–1969; 1971–1976)
* Diane Rutherford-Swann (c. 1964–1966)
*
Gloria Scott (c. 1965)
* Linda Shuford-Williams, a.k.a. Linda Jones (1972–1974)
* Linda Sims
* Janice Singleton (c. 1964–1966)
*
Jessie Smith (c. 1961–1965)
* Maxine Smith (1965–?)
* Rose Smith (c. 1966)
* Jackie Stanton
* Gail Stevens (1972)
*
The Stovall Sisters
The Stovall Sisters were a gospel trio of recording artists consisting of Lillian, Netta, and Joyce Stovall. Definitive works include the album ''The Stovall Sisters'' ( Reprise Records 1970) which included the funk/soul track “Hang on in There ...
(1967)
* (Margaret) Ann Thomas (1966–1968), "non-singing Ikette"
* Marcy Thomas, a.k.a.
Lyrica Garrett
Marcy Thomas (born December 8, 1950), also known as Lyrica Garrett is an American singer and actress. She started off her career as an The Ikettes, Ikette in the Ike & Tina Turner Revue in the 1970s. She also sang with The Undisputed Truth, Rick ...
(1974–1975)
* Marquentta Tinsley (c. 1964–?)
* Adrienne Williams
*
Carlena "Flora" Williams (c. 1963–64)
* Debbie Wilson
1980s–2000s
*
Jeanette Bazzell Turner (1988–2000)
* Bonnie Johnson (1988)
* Marcy Thomas, a.k.a. Lyrica Garrett (1988)
* Vera Hamilton (mid-1990s)
* Stonye Figueroa, a.k.a. Barbara Cook (1998)
* Randi Love, a.k.a. Michelle Love (mid 1990s–early 2000s)
*
Audrey Madison Turner
Audrey Madison Turner is an American singer and songwriter known for her collaborations with musician Ike Turner. Madison was one of Turner's backup singers before she became his lead singer, they married in 2006. She was a contestant on the Amer ...
(1993–early 2000s)
Discography
Albums
Compilations
* 1987: ''Fine Fine Fine'' (
Kent Records
Kent Records was a Los Angeles-based record label, launched in 1958 by the Bihari brothers. It was subsidiary of Crown Records Corporation. Kent was a follow-up to Modern Records which ceased operations in 1958. The label reissued Modern's singles, ...
)
*2007: ''Can't Sit Down... 'Cos It Feels So Good: The Complete Modern Recordings'' (Kent Records)
Singles
The Ikettes had 3 songs chart on the
''Billboard'' Hot 100 and 3 songs on the
''Billboard'' Hot R&B which include 1 top 10 hit. They have also charted on records with Ike & Tina Turner.
Filmography/Selected TV appearances
References
External links
*
*
Ikettes/Mirettes Biography and Discographyon Doo Wop Heaven
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ikettes, The
American girl groups
Ike & Tina Turner members
American soul musical groups
Musical groups from St. Louis
Atco Records artists
Sonja Records artists
Phi-Dan Records artists
Modern Records artists
Liberty Records artists
United Artists Records artists
American rhythm and blues musical groups
Musical groups established in 1960
Musical groups disestablished in 1976
African-American girl groups
Musical backing groups
1960 establishments in the United States
1976 disestablishments in the United States