Biography
Ike Turner assembled the Ikettes as replacements for the Artettes within the Ike & Tina Turner Revue. Although they originated in that supporting role, the Ikettes quickly established independent success, outpacing Ike & Tina with more notable chart entries during the early and middle 1960s through the 1961 single "I'm Blue (The Gong, Gong Song)", the 1964 release "The Camel Walk", and the pair of 1965 recordings "Peaches and Cream" plus "I'm So Thankful". Despite limited recognition, they stand among the ten foremost R&B female groups ever. Minimal pay from Ike drove repeated personnel turnover, and no royalties were ever issued. Once "Peaches and Cream" surged in popularity, Ike dispatched a substitute lineup of Ikettes for road work while retaining the actual recording members on his revue.
The Ikettes entered the studio in 1960 when lead vocalist Delores Johnson (also known as Flora Williams), Eloise Hester, and Joshie Armstead supported Tina Turner on her debut release, "A Fool in Love". The following year they recorded "I'm Blue", after which Tina reciprocated by providing background vocals on the Ikettes track "Salt N' Pepa", later reworked by the group of the same name into the major hit "Shoop". Ike handled production and placed the master with Atco Records, which put out three additional unsuccessful Ikettes singles in 1962. The next year he moved them to his own Teena label for two releases: "Crazy in Love", credited to Robbie Montgomery & the Ikettes, and "Prisoner in Love". "Here's Your Heart" appeared on Innis in 1964 without national impact, as did a 1965 single on Phi-Dan.
A six-single period on Modern Records between 1964 and 1966 featured a revised lineup of Robbie Montgomery, formerly an Artette, alongside Vanetta Fields and Jessie Smith. Armstead, the earliest original to depart, pursued solo work and group singing before joining a pre-Motown Nicholas Ashford and Valerie Simpson to create the songwriting and production unit Ashford/Simpson/Armstead. The Ikettes achieved three Modern hits with "The Camel Walk", "Peaches and Cream", and "I'm So Thankful". Their ultra-funky versions of "Sally Go Round the Roses" and "Da Doo Ron Ron" met with less response, and the same held for "He's Gonna Be Fine, Fine, Fine", even though it anticipated later material by Betty Davis.
Following the Modern era, Fields, Montgomery, and Smith departed Ike Turner, adopted the name the Mirettes, and recorded for Mirwood Records across 1966-67. Their stint on Revue proved more rewarding, yielding the first two singles, the suggestive "In the Midnight Hour" and "Take for a Little While", both of which registered. A third Revue release, "First Love", and the 1968 Minit single "Help Wanted" failed to connect. Delores Johnson, the Ikettes' original lead singer, also performed with the Mirettes, supporting those who combine the two groups' discographies. In 1968 Innis released previously unissued material as "So Blue Over You" b/w "So Fine" under the billing Ike & Tina Turner & the Ikettes.
Singles credited to the Ikettes appeared on Pompeii in 1969 and Liberty in 1970, though only their cover of Sly & the Family Stone's "I Want to Take You Higher" attracted attention. The Mirettes found greater traction after switching to Uni Records, where the tracks, while not major hits, remain noteworthy. Zea Records issued the suggestive "Ain't My Stuff Good Enough" in 1970. Two further singles followed on United Artists under the Ikettes name, including a 1971 remake of "Camel Walk" and "Two Timin', Double Dealin'" in 1973, the final known release by either the Ikettes or the Mirettes. The group's conclusion arrived when the Ikettes exited the Revue; under management by Tina's sister Alline, they attempted to secure a 60-day tour billed as the Mariettes, formerly the Ikettes, until Ike halted the effort through legal means via restraining order and physical intervention by blocking stage access, leading to their disbandment.
The Ikettes entered the studio in 1960 when lead vocalist Delores Johnson (also known as Flora Williams), Eloise Hester, and Joshie Armstead supported Tina Turner on her debut release, "A Fool in Love". The following year they recorded "I'm Blue", after which Tina reciprocated by providing background vocals on the Ikettes track "Salt N' Pepa", later reworked by the group of the same name into the major hit "Shoop". Ike handled production and placed the master with Atco Records, which put out three additional unsuccessful Ikettes singles in 1962. The next year he moved them to his own Teena label for two releases: "Crazy in Love", credited to Robbie Montgomery & the Ikettes, and "Prisoner in Love". "Here's Your Heart" appeared on Innis in 1964 without national impact, as did a 1965 single on Phi-Dan.
A six-single period on Modern Records between 1964 and 1966 featured a revised lineup of Robbie Montgomery, formerly an Artette, alongside Vanetta Fields and Jessie Smith. Armstead, the earliest original to depart, pursued solo work and group singing before joining a pre-Motown Nicholas Ashford and Valerie Simpson to create the songwriting and production unit Ashford/Simpson/Armstead. The Ikettes achieved three Modern hits with "The Camel Walk", "Peaches and Cream", and "I'm So Thankful". Their ultra-funky versions of "Sally Go Round the Roses" and "Da Doo Ron Ron" met with less response, and the same held for "He's Gonna Be Fine, Fine, Fine", even though it anticipated later material by Betty Davis.
Following the Modern era, Fields, Montgomery, and Smith departed Ike Turner, adopted the name the Mirettes, and recorded for Mirwood Records across 1966-67. Their stint on Revue proved more rewarding, yielding the first two singles, the suggestive "In the Midnight Hour" and "Take for a Little While", both of which registered. A third Revue release, "First Love", and the 1968 Minit single "Help Wanted" failed to connect. Delores Johnson, the Ikettes' original lead singer, also performed with the Mirettes, supporting those who combine the two groups' discographies. In 1968 Innis released previously unissued material as "So Blue Over You" b/w "So Fine" under the billing Ike & Tina Turner & the Ikettes.
Singles credited to the Ikettes appeared on Pompeii in 1969 and Liberty in 1970, though only their cover of Sly & the Family Stone's "I Want to Take You Higher" attracted attention. The Mirettes found greater traction after switching to Uni Records, where the tracks, while not major hits, remain noteworthy. Zea Records issued the suggestive "Ain't My Stuff Good Enough" in 1970. Two further singles followed on United Artists under the Ikettes name, including a 1971 remake of "Camel Walk" and "Two Timin', Double Dealin'" in 1973, the final known release by either the Ikettes or the Mirettes. The group's conclusion arrived when the Ikettes exited the Revue; under management by Tina's sister Alline, they attempted to secure a 60-day tour billed as the Mariettes, formerly the Ikettes, until Ike halted the effort through legal means via restraining order and physical intervention by blocking stage access, leading to their disbandment.
Albums
Live
