One man's view of music - past, present, and future. A look at recordings and music from many genres
from the Mad Doctor of Musical Mayhem
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
The Ikettes: I'm Blue (The Gong-Gong Song)
While The Ikettes had several R&B hits, they only charted once within the Top 40 with the song “I’m Blue (the Gong-Gong Song). Leased by Ike Turner to ATCO Records, “I’m Blue” peaked at #3 on the R&B chart and at #19 within the Hot 100 in 1962. I have a copy of the white label promo of this single that my brother got from his college buddy, Russ (The Mad) Hatter, a DJ at WGOH radio in Grayson, KY.
The song features the original lineup of The Ikettes: Flora Williams, Eloise Hester, and Joshie Armstead. Flora, whose birth name was Dolores Johnson, sang lead for The Ikettes. Named for their founder, Ike Turner, the original role of the group was to provide backing vocals on the Ike and Tina Turner Review. Their first recording with Ike and Tina came with “A Fool in Love” in 1960. “I’m Blue (the Gong-Gong Song) was recorded in 1961.
Since The Ikettes were contract employees of Ike Turner, they never received royalties and their pay was low. Because of remuneration issues, The Ikettes were a revolving door of vocalists. A final blow came when The Ikettes left Ike Turner and renamed themselves as The Mariettes formerly The Ikettes. Law suits ensued and The Mariettes were prohibited from singing under the double billing of the band.
Horribly wrong. Flora Williams was Carlena Williams. Delores Johnson, who was an original Ikette unlike Flora, was a different woman. Their singing is quite different.
Also, when Venetta Fields, Jessie Smith and Robbie Montgomery left The Ikettes they became The Mirettes, named after Mirwood Records. Many other talented singers passed through the ranks of The Ikettes.
Associate Provost and Professor of Mass Communication at Alderson Broaddus University and an adjunct faculty member at Southern New Hampshire University.
Graduate of Marshall University, West Virginia University, Southern New Hampshire University, Kentucky Christian University and Mountain State University.
Dissertation on institutional rebranding (see newriver.net) was the 2009 international winner of the Alice L. Beeman Dissertation Award for Outstanding Research in Communications and Marketing for Higher Education Advancement and was the 2008 Leo and Margaret Goodman-Malamuth Outstanding Dissertation Award for Research in Higher Education Administration.
Placed as a winner in five Active Industry Research Contemporary Hit Radio "Pick the Hits" competitions from 1983 through 1987. Each competition had 31 winners. Placed 2nd (1st among radio participants), 6th, 10th (twice), and 21st in the five competitions.
Awarded 14 gold & platinum records and an international sales award from various record companies. Winner of 30 Public Relations awards.
Horribly wrong. Flora Williams was Carlena Williams. Delores Johnson, who was an original Ikette unlike Flora, was a different woman. Their singing is quite different.
ReplyDeleteAlso, when Venetta Fields, Jessie Smith and Robbie Montgomery left The Ikettes they became The Mirettes, named after Mirwood Records. Many other talented singers passed through the ranks of The Ikettes.
Bad boy!