American backing vocalists for the Ike & Tina Turner Revue
The Ikettes
The Ikettes in 1968. Left to right: Margaret Ann Thomas, Maxayn Lewis, Pat Powdrill, Mary Jean Brown.
Background information
Genres
R&B, soul, pop
Occupation(s)
Backing vocalists, girl group
Years active
1960–1976; 1988–2000s
Labels
Atco
Teena
Sony
Sonja
Innis
Phi-Dan
Modern
Pompeii
Liberty
United Artists
Past members
Robbie Montgomery
Eloise Hester Jo Armstead Jessie Smith Venetta Fields Pat Arnold (a.k.a. P.P. Arnold) Juanita Hixson Gloria Scott Maxine Smith Pat Powdrill Ann Thomas Rose Smith Shelly Clark Paulette Parker (a.k.a. Maxayn Lewis) Esther Jones Claudia Lennear Edna Richardson Stonye Figueroa Linda Shuford-Williams Alesia Butler Yolanda Goodwin Jeanette Bazzell Turner Randi Love (a.k.a. Michelle Love) Audrey Madison Turner See members section for others
The Ikettes, originally The Artettes, were a trio (sometimes quartet) of female backing vocalists for the Ike & Tina Turner 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)" and "Peaches 'N' Cream". 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.[1]
The group started as "The Artettes", the backing group of Art Lassiter. The first official incarnation of The Ikettes was composed of Delores Johnson, Eloise Hester and Josie Jo Armstead. The most popular line-up consisted of Robbie Montgomery, Venetta Fields, and Jessie Smith. It was this trio that later morphed into The Mirettes.
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. "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.[2] 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.[2]
^"100 Greatest Girl Group Songs of All Time: Critics' Picks". Billboard. July 10, 2017.
^ abSabol, Blair (May 1975). "I Was an lkette for a Night". Esquire.
TheIkettes, originally The Artettes, were a trio (sometimes quartet) of female backing vocalists for the Ike & Tina Turner Revue. Despite their origins...
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 then...
present myself....During the three years I was an Ikette, I never witnessed any physical abuse." After leaving theIkettes in 1970, Lennear worked with...
songwriter. She was the older full sister of singer Tina Turner. Bullock once served as the manager of the girl group theIkettes. She wrote songs for...
leaving theIkettes in 1975. In 1976, Thomas joined the touring musical production of The Wiz. After two years, she left the production and joined the funk...
late 1965, Fields left the revue along with fellow Ikettes Jessie Smith and Robbie Montgomery. Fields later recalled "I was an Ikette for five years. It was...
The Mirettes were a female vocal trio composed of former members of theIkettes in the Ike & Tina Turner Revue. Robbie Montgomery, Venetta Fields and Jessie...
Line MLS 004) 1970: Ike & Tina Turner and TheIkettes – Come Together (uncredited) 1970: Big Brother And The Holding Company – Be a Brother 1971: Freddie...
and the last album by theIkettes, (G)Old & New (1974). In 1974, Ike and Tina released the album The Gospel According to Ike & Tina Turner. The album...
which included the Kings of Rhythm and a girl group, theIkettes, as backing vocalists and dancers. He remained in the background as the bandleader. Ike...
Gonna Work Out Fine" in 1962. Along with the Kings of Rhythm and theIkettes, they toured the Chitlin Circuit as the Ike & Tina Turner Revue. Writer Peter...
Danny Davis occupied. The label released singles by artists including Betty Willis, the Lovelites, and theIkettes. None of the recordings on Phi-Dan...
to the public response to their live performances, Minit Records rushed the release of a studio version. The single, also credited to theIkettes, was...
Usually used in the context of rock bands such as Audioslave and Chickenfoot. The term has been applied to other musical genres such as The Three Tenors...
studio Bolic Sound in Inglewood, California. Turner wanted Khan to become an Ikette; she declined stating she was "really happy with Rufus. But Ike's attention...
and Tina Turner as TheIkettes and with Ray Charles as The Raelettes. This new line-up included Sidney George on saxophone for the recording of Eat It...
to theIkettes. It was a Top 40 hit, peaking at No. 34 on the Billboard pop chart and No. 25 on the R&B chart. Brian Auger & The Trinity covered the song...
rough". After the lyrics are first sung softly by the Turners, the song is then turned into a funk rock vamp with Tina and theIkettes delivering gospel-influenced...
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