Biography
Three labels put out the Persianettes' "It Happens Every Day" b/w "Call On Me": Strata in May 1965, Open in 1966, and OR Records in 1969. Songwriting credits went to Leon Huff and Cindy Scott, née Sundray Tucker; Huff would later form a celebrated partnership with Kenny Gamble that earned Hall of Fame recognition. The group originated in Camden, New Jersey, and cycled through personnel before settling on Vera Carey, lead singer Lucille Dunbar, and Helen Hutchinson. All three attended Camden High School, although Helen, being somewhat older, finished earlier than the other two. Their initial recording credit came while backing Timmy Carr, née Carstaphen and older brother of songwriter Vic Carstarphen, on Guyden Records' "Only Know And Then" b/w "I Could Never Stop Cryin'." Still high-school students at the time, Lucille and Vera supplied those harmonies. Capitalizing on Beatlemania, they cut "Dance Baby Dance" for Jamie under the name the Beatlettes. In 1966 Swan released "What Good Is It," yet the single, like its predecessor, made little headway beyond Philadelphia. Their scarcity of further solo releases stemmed from steady demand as background vocalists; producers repeatedly hired them to support Timmy Carr, Ben Krass, Dee Dee Sharp, Crystal Mansion, and additional acts. The trio disbanded in 1966, primarily because Lucille grew more absorbed in church music and declined to address a growing weight issue. Their thrice-issued single appears on the Philly Soul Girls compilation, which also features the group accompanying Cindy Scott on three tracks. Vera Carey later sang on Cindy Scott's Driving Wheel Records album The Loving Country.
Albums