The Ikettes .

The Ikettes were originally the backing vocal group of female singers of the Ike & Tina Turner Revue but were so talented that they eventually began releasing their own records in addition to recording and touring with Ike & Tina. Their first single as a separate entity away from Ike & Tina was I’m Blue (The Gong Gong Song) released in 1962 with Tina appearing with some background vocals.

Throughout the 1960’s and into the very early 1970’s the line-up frequently changed but they were always a highlight whenever the Ike & Tina Turner Revue appeared on various television shows like Ed Sullivan, Smothers Brothers, Shindig, Where The Action Is, American Palace, Merv Griffin and many others. I always tried to catch the act on those shows for the music and certainly for Tina (her voice, and other things, were h-o-t) but I can clearly recall being captivated by the Ikettes, beautiful women who could sing and, damn, son, they could dance!

Another quality that caught my fancy were those amazing white miniskirts! (But we won’t go there.) Needless to say, the Ikettes were sexy, talented and full of explosive energy, just damn entertaining.

Among early members were Robbie Montgomery, Venetta Fields and Jessie Smith. Soon after P.P. Arnold would join the Ikettes as would Shelley Clarke who would go on to the Honeycombs. Other members throughout the run of the band would include such beautiful talents as Bonnie Bramlett, Jean Brown, Mary Brown, Brenda Holloway, Janice Singleton, Delores Johnson, Gloria Scott, Diane Rutherford, Jackie Stanton, Linda Sims, Marcy Thomas, Adrienne Williams, Debbie Wilson, Flora Williams and several others.

Among some of the singles the Ikettes released throughout the years included Troubles On My Mind, Heavenly Love, Prisoner of Love, (He’s Gonna Be) Fine, Fine, Fine, I’m So Thankful, Peaches & Cream, Da Doo Ron Ron, The Biggest Players and many others on such labels as Teena, Innis, Atco and others.