(secular female vocal group) were the female backing vocal group for Ike & Tina Turner between about 1960 and 1973. Their material was frequently pop-oriented but the group is of interest partly because of the identities of its members, many of whom came and went over a period of years. Wilhelmina, a girl from Washington, D.C. (possibly Mary Brown), toured with Ike in about early 1960, before the name Ikettes was adopted. She recorded duets with Jimmy Thomas as JIMMY AND JEAN. Fontella Bass was working with the band at about that time, also. In about mid-1960, there was a St. Louis – based group originally known as The Artettes (through association with Art Lassiter). Its members were: Sandra Harding (contrast Sandra Harrell of the Olivettes), Frances Hodge (later of the Olivettes) and Robbie Montgomery. They were intended to record A FOOL IN LOVE behind Lassiter, but he failed to attend the session, so Tina recorded the song instead (Sue #730, LP #2001). The first three months after Tina’s hit, A FOOL IN LOVE, found the Ikettes consisting of three local St. Louis area girls, presumably including Dolores Johnson. Although credited to THE IKETTES, the group’s early hit, I’M BLUE (THE GONG-GONG SONG), was a collaboration between Ike, Tina and Dolores Johnson, reportedly recorded at Los Angeles, California on 12 October 1961, released as Atco #6212. After the initial period of three months, Robbie Montgomery of the Artettes joined Ike & Tina’s Revue. With Jessie Smith, from a Benny Sharp group and later Sam Rhodes’ girlfriend, and possibly other members of the Artettes, Robbie began touring with the Revue. The girls’ group name was The Ikettes. The Ikettes made I DO LOVE YOU, reportedly credited to IKE TURNER & THE IKETTES for Atco #6243, recorded or acquired on 1 December 1961. The reverse, I HAD A DREAM THE OTHER NIGHT, was credited simply to THE IKETTES, and came from their 13 June 1962 session. The group was based at Los Angeles from late 1961. Venetta Fields had reportedly joined in the late (northern) fall of 1961 when the Ike & Tina Turner Revue played her home town, Buffalo, New York, but the year may have been 1962. The Ikettes shared a session with Jimmy Thomas at Los Angeles, TROUBLES ON MY MIND being issued as Atco #6223, recorded or acquired on 21 March 1962. The reverse, COME ON AND TRUCK, was purchased by Atco, presumably from Ike Turner. That session also produced THOSE WORDS (Atco unreleased/ presumably the same take as was issued by Teena #1702). The reverse of Teena #1702 was PRISONER IN LOVE (also entitled NO BAIL IN THIS JAIL), featuring solo vocal by Tina herself. The Ikettes recorded PEE WEE (Atco unreleased, but presumably later released as Teena #1701), reportedly under the performer credit ROBBIE MONTGOMERY with the IKETTES. The Atco files give the recording date, presumably at New York City, on 31 May 1962. Their final Atco session, including HEAVENLY LOVE (Atco #6232), was held at New York City on 13 June 1962. The Ikettes group in mid-1962 included: Eloise Faye (also known as Eloise Carter and as Eloise Hester); Joshie Armstead; and Robbie Johnson (also known as Robbie Montgomery). They sang backing vocals, for example, for Ike & Tina Turner’s songs, THE ARGUMENT and MIND IN A WHIRL (Sue #772). By November 1962, when PLEASE DON’T HURT ME (Sue #774) was recorded, Venetta Fields (from Buffalo, New York) and Jessie Smith (from Alton, Illinois) had replaced Joshie Armstead and Eloise Faye. Venetta Fields was with the group between about late 1962 and September 1965. During December 1962 the same trio of Fields, Montgomery and Smith recorded THOSE WORDS for Teena #1702 as THE IKETTES. The Ikettes also backed Vernon Guy for Teena #1703 in 1963. Late in 1963, they backed Ike & Tina Turner at Memphis for Sonja #2001, later reissued by KENT LP #519. Before May 1963, the group recorded, with VENETTA FIELDS featured, for Sony #112. They also recorded behind Stacy Johnson for Sony. The group featured its only white Ikette, Bonnie Lynn “Bonnie Bramlett” O’Farrell, briefly in about 1963, when Bonnie replaced Jessie Smith. They recorded HERE’S YOUR HEART for Innis #3000, in about 1964. They backed Ike & Tina for Cenco LP #104 during 1964. In about late 1964 the Ikettes, as members of the IKE & TINA TURNER REVUE, were exclusively booked by Buffalo Booking Agency, of Houston, Texas. They were credited in promotional advertising as THE IKE – ETTES (sic). Flora Williams (possibly from Buffalo), who recorded for Teena in own right, joined the group briefly by the (northern) Summer late in 1964, and was the fourth member of the Ikettes when they recorded live in Texas, eventually being leased or sold by Ike for issue by Warner Bros. LP #1579. Similar sessions took place at the Club Imperial, 6324 West Florissant Avenue, St. Louis, and at the Harlem Club, East St. Louis, eventually issued as KENT LP #5014. The trio of Fields, Montgomery and Smith recorded for Modern #1003 late in 1964, and in 1965 for Modern #1005, 1008, 1011 and 1015 and LP #102. Their hits included CAMEL WALK (Modern #1003); PEACHES ‘N CREAM (Modern #1005, with lead vocal by Jessie Smith); and I’M SO THANKFUL. Frank Wilson produced PEACHES ‘N CREAM and I’M SO THANKFUL. The group continued to back Ike & Tina Turner’s recordings for Loma and Modern during 1965. The Ikettes, consisting of Venetta Fields, Robbie Montgomery and Jessie Smith, left Ike in September 1965 (as did Alline Bullock, who assisted them for the business side) and called themselves THE MIRETTES. They recorded at Los Angeles for Mirwood, including their hit, a cover of MIDNIGHT HOUR. They backed Jimmy Thomas for Mirwood #5522. Vermeyetta Royster was a member of the Ikettes group in about the mid-1960s. ‘Claudia’ (who in 1970 toured America and Europe with Joe Cocker and Leon Russell: possibly Lennear); and Shellie Clark were also members of the group at about that time. Ann Thomas (contrast Ann Hill of the Olivettes) joined the Ikettes upon leaving school in September 1965. The Ikettes, on 30 September 1966, when touring England, included: Pat (P. P.) Arnold; ‘Rose’; and Ann Thomas. Pat Powdrill joined soon after the 1966 English tour. The Ikettes recorded SO BLUE OVER YOU early in 1968 for Isonic #6667/ Pompeii #6667, reportedly credited as THE IKETTES. The reverse, SO FINE, was reportedly credited as IKE & TINA & IKETTES. The Ikettes who toured England in April 1968 with The Ike & Tina Turner Revue comprised: Mary ‘Jean’ Brown; Paulette Parker; Pat Powdrill; and Ann Thomas. Both Pat Powdrill and Ann Thomas planned to leave the Ikettes after the 1968 English tour. From July 1968, the three new members of the Ikettes were: Ester Burton (sic: nee Bills, but later Ester Jones), Joy Lennear and Edna Woods (later Edna Richardson). Joy had left by 1975. Ester Jones was with the group continually from June 1968 to at least March 1975, except the latter part of 1972 and early 1973. Edna Woods stayed from July 1968 to 1972 or early 1973, and replaced Marcie Thomas temporarily for the Australian tour of February/ March 1975. Mona Richardson recorded, and toured, with the group in about 1971 or 1972. The Ikettes’s “Sunshine” LP featured Ester Jones, Marcie Thomas and some non-Ikette session singers. Martha “Marcie” Thomas was a member up to and as of February 1975, but was replaced temporarily by Edna Woods when Marcie was unable to tour Australia. She may be the same as Martha Turner, who had been a member of the group shortly before 1975. Yolanda Goodwin was a member of the group for 7 or 8 months during 1974. Emmaretta Marks (married name Bradshaw) temporarily joined the group for the Australian tour of February/ March 1975.
SMW 16; SMW 21; SMW 29; BU 141/19; 141/27; 143/12