December 10, 2024 • 29 mins
Can you imagine the whirlwind of emotions tied to a 60-year musical legacy?
This episode of Almost Live Nashville brings you an intimate conversation with Barbara Hawkins of the Dixie Cups.
In celebration of the 60th anniversary of their timeless hit "Chapel of Love," Barbara recounts the electrifying events in New Orleans, including performances at Loyola University and the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival.
She shares the honor of being featured on the festival poster, offering listeners an insider's view of the group's incredible journey and the profound appreciation from their community.
Ever wondered about the gritty realities behind the glamour of the music industry? Barbara takes us back to the early days of the Dixie Cups, revealing the pivotal moments and key industry figures like Larry McKinley and Joe Jones who helped catapult them to fame.
She narrates the serendipitous meetings, the relentless auditions, and the eventual collaborations with songwriting legends Jeff Barry and Ellie Greenwich.
This chapter paints a vivid picture of the challenges and triumphs that come with pursuing a career in music, highlighting the relentless determination that fueled their dreams.
Barbara's story also touches on personal resilience, as she shares her family's harrowing experience during Hurricane Katrina and their subsequent move to Tampa, Florida.
Despite the hardships, she reflects on the overwhelming support they received from the Tampa community, including organizations like Music Cares.
This heartfelt episode concludes with gratitude for Barbara’s courage and contributions, leaving listeners with a profound appreciation for the strength and tenacity of artists both on and off the stage.
Join us for a captivating journey through the life and legacy of one of music's enduring icons.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:14):
My career in the entertainment industry has
enabled me to work with adiverse range of talent.
Through my years of experience,I've recognized two essential
aspects.
Through my years of experience,I've recognized two essential
aspects.
Industry professionals, whetherfamous stars or
behind-the-scenes staff, havefascinating stories to tell.
Secondly, audiences are eagerto listen to these stories,
(00:42):
which offer a glimpse into theirlives and the evolution of
their life stories.
This podcast aims to sharethese narratives, providing
information on how they evolveinto their chosen career.
We will delve into theirjourney to stardom, discuss
their struggles and successesand hear from people who help
them achieve their goals.
Get ready for intriguingbehind-the-scenes stories and
insights into the fascinatingworld of entertainment.
Hi, I'm Tony Mantor.
(01:05):
Welcome to Almost LiveNashville.
Today, we have the pleasure ofbeing joined by Barbara Hawkins,
a member of the iconic DixieCups.
She will share the tale oftheir origins, their path to
success and how she weatheredthe storm of Hurricane Katrina.
Thanks for coming on, barbara.
Speaker 2 (01:23):
Yeah, yeah, let's see .
This year 2024, marked 60 yearsanniversary for Chapel of Love.
Speaker 1 (01:31):
Oh, wow, okay, yeah, well, that's, yeah, that was.
That was a great song that youguys did, so is there anything
going on for celebration of it?
Speaker 2 (01:41):
Oh, we've done a few things in New Orleans, where
we're from Loyola University,the music department.
He put together a show we didin the university theater.
Speaker 1 (01:57):
Oh, that must have been really great.
Speaker 2 (01:59):
It was packed and it was just awesome.
It was awesome, yeah, and Italked to one of the council
people.
Next time I go in they want todo a special day for us and of
course we did.
The French Quarter Fest that'san annual thing.
(02:20):
Danny Barker Guitar and BluesFestival that's an annual theme.
The New Orleans Jazz andHeritage Festival that's an
annual theme, and this year theJazz Jazz featured us on their
poster.
Speaker 1 (02:35):
Oh nice.
Speaker 2 (02:36):
Every year.
They've been in business like50 some years and each year they
do an artist.
We were honored this year andit was an honor because when you
look back and think about allthe mega artists and everybody
that has been a part of the NewOrleans Jazz Fest, for us to be
chosen it just felt good.
Speaker 1 (02:58):
Yeah, yeah, that's really good.
And plus, when you releasedthat song and, of course, when
you was out there performing andjust getting started, you,
along with other groups likeyourself, was breaking ground
for the future of the females inthe music business.
Speaker 2 (03:17):
Right, right, right.
We came to Tampa, florida,because of Hurricane Katrina.
Speaker 1 (03:25):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (03:26):
We were actually on our way to Tennessee with the
Nevels, because whenever ahurricane would come to New
Orleans, the Nevels and us wewould get together and drive out
of town, go stay somewhere forthree, four days and then go
back home and clean up.
But Katrina said that's notgoing to happen this time.
Speaker 1 (03:46):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (03:49):
So we could not be reached.
Some friends and family membershad called the Red Cross and
they had put out.
People saw it on TV.
We're looking for the DixieCups and if you see them, have
them, call this number.
And my sister's son lives herein Tampa, florida.
(04:09):
He attended Florida StateUniversity and after he
graduated he called and saidwell, hey, I think I want to
stay in Tampa.
So he did, and he had beentrying to get in touch with us
and he couldn't reach us.
So finally, when we reached himI mean it was a teary thing,
you know and he said I want tosee you.
(04:31):
And we said we're okay.
And he said Ma, I want to seeyou.
And she said but, eric, we'regood, we're going to Tennessee
to meet Joelle and Aaron andthem.
And he said, okay, but stophere first.
Joel and Aaron and them, yeah,and he said okay, but stop here
first.
So we drove from Baton Rouge toTampa.
(04:51):
What actually happened was wewere just almost homeless for
like nine months.
Wow, what was good about it?
His in-laws cook for us everyday.
She fed us every day, so weweren't hungry for us every day.
She fed us every day, so weweren't hungry, and when we
stopped at the hotel and I gavemy ID, which showed that I had a
Louisiana driver's license, thehotel put us up so we didn't
(05:15):
have to pay back.
Speaker 1 (05:16):
Oh, that was nice.
Speaker 2 (05:17):
Yeah, and then when it was time to pay, other people
paid for us, and then MusicCares in New York found out that
we didn't have a place to stay.
So they got in touch withsomebody here and they found us
an apartment.
And so we moved into theapartment and Music Cares paid
(05:42):
for it until we were able to geton our feet and get money from
the house, because, you know,the house was really my mom's
house where we moved from.
We were in a no-flood zone andwe had 16 feet of water in a
(06:03):
no-flood zone.
Speaker 1 (06:04):
Wow yeah.
Speaker 2 (06:07):
So that house was totally destroyed and Rosa had
just bought a house and it waskind of up off the ground but
the roof came off.
Speaker 1 (06:17):
Wow.
Speaker 2 (06:18):
And the water came in from the bottom, so we got it
both ways.
Speaker 1 (06:22):
Wow, that's really tough.
Speaker 2 (06:23):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (06:24):
So where are you based now?
Are you in Louisiana or stillin Florida?
Speaker 2 (06:28):
Tampa.
Speaker 1 (06:29):
Tampa Okay, tampa, all right.
Well, that was good that youwas able to get away from that
situation, because Katrina was adisaster for a lot of people.
Speaker 2 (06:40):
Right, right, right.
And the people here in Tampawere really good because the
hotel owner, when he found outwho we are, he called the TV
station.
Okay, they came out andinterviewed us and the hotel
gave us a little tweet afterthat, after he found out who we
(07:01):
were yeah, and then some of theplaces here boutiques they
called us and we were able to goover and pick out some clothes.
Speaker 1 (07:12):
That's nice.
Speaker 2 (07:13):
So they were really good to us here.
Speaker 1 (07:15):
That's really nice.
Okay, so going back in time alittle bit, it was you, your
sister and your cousin thatstarted out in the music, right?
Speaker 2 (07:25):
Right right.
Speaker 1 (07:27):
So I heard that it started out as the Meltones and
then eventually you transformedinto the Dixie Cups, Right?
So how did that transformationhappen?
Speaker 2 (07:36):
Okay, wow, we got together for a talent show in
New Orleans St Augustine HighSchool.
They're known all over theworld.
It's the old boy school, right?
Yeah, so you're familiar withthem.
Yes, so they played for kingsand queens and everybody.
Yes, so they used to do atalent show once a year.
Speaker 1 (07:55):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (07:56):
So this girl I had never met.
I was going to the grocerystore and she say hey, hey, hey,
hey you.
And I said me.
She said yeah.
She said I heard that you sing.
I said okay.
She said and we're puttingtogether a group to do the St
Augustine talent show.
Would you want to be in thegroup?
And I said that sounds nice.
(08:18):
I said, but I have to ask mymom.
She said okay.
So she said well, when can youask your mom?
I said well, I'm on my way tothe store now.
So I said you know, we'll getback to it.
So she was waiting when I cameback from the grocery store and
it was her, her brother, anotherguy and then there were five
(08:38):
other guys that had a groupcalled the Five DJs.
All right, so all these peoplewere standing up there waiting
for me to come from the store.
So she said well, you sayyou're going to ask your mom,
right?
I said yeah.
She said well, when you go askyour mom, can you ask your mom?
I say, well, I guess so.
So we walked to my house and mymom saw us coming and she came
(09:02):
downstairs.
She said what's going on?
Because I mean, I went to thestore just me, and I come back
with like eight, nine people.
So I say I say this girl,what's your name?
She said Joan.
I say Joan asked me to be in thegroup.
So thanks for sending all thethings Count it show.
My mom said, well, do you wantto do it?
And I say yeah, I think so.
So I say is it okay?
(09:24):
And she said yeah, because mymom used to sing with Papa
Stella's same band.
She was the senior singer forhis band.
So we go upstairs and we startrehearsing.
Joan said we got to voicelisten.
I say, well, my sister singsbass.
I just hear Rose all the time.
So she sings second alto.
So I said Rose, you think youwant to be in the group?
(09:46):
And she said I guess it's okaywith mother.
So my mom said yeah, it's good.
So that part of the group wasformed and we named ourselves
the Meltones M-E-L-T-O-N-E-S.
So we did the talent show, didnot win anything, not first,
second or third, but we did thetalent show.
And afterwards my sister and Iused to babysit for Larry
(10:11):
McKinley who worked the big dishjockey in New Orleans, w-y-l-d.
I was at Larry's house.
It was my turn to babysit.
I was at Larry's house it was myturn to babysit and his wife's
niece, whose name is alsoBarbara, she had done the talent
show also.
Well, she came in second placeor first or second place.
So the supposedly talent scouthad talked to her and she had an
(10:37):
appointment to go see him.
So she said she didn't want togo by herself.
So she asked me would I go withher?
I said yeah, let me call my momand let her know what's going
on.
So we went to the musician'sunion where she was supposed to
meet him, and there was a noteon the door saying something
came up, come to my house.
So we look at each other andsay, yeah, right.
So I called my mom to tell her.
(10:58):
Well, the place had beenchanged and I gave her the
address where we were going.
So when we got to his house andhe opened the door for us his
name, by the way, was Joe Jones,ok, so we got to his house and
he opened the door and greetedus and he just kept looking at
me.
He was looking at me so harduntil he made me uncomfortable.
So I asked him why are youlooking at me?
(11:18):
He was looking at me so harduntil he made me uncomfortable.
So I asked him why are youlooking at me like that?
And he said you were on atalent show the girls with the
green dresses, right?
And I said yeah.
So he said wait a minute.
So he went in the back and cameback with the program and he
had circled the male tone.
Who are they?
They were great.
I've got to reach them.
(11:38):
He supposedly had been lookingfor us.
He said you girls werebeautiful.
He said I don't know why youdidn't win, but don't worry
about it.
I want to talk to you guysabout recording and taking you
to New York.
I said okay, I mean, there wasno enthusiasm or anything First.
He said you worried me.
I said yeah, am I?
(11:59):
I said here, I am.
I said but I have to ask my mom.
I got to talk to the rest ofthe group to see if they're
interested.
And he said okay.
And it had another group, itwas an old boy group and he
looked at the program.
He said the five big days.
I said well, they're at myhouse right now.
So he said well, can I come toyour house?
I said I don't know.
Let me call and ask my mom.
He said because I want to talkto them.
(12:20):
I said you have to talk totheir mom.
So he said okay.
So I called my mom and she saidif we wanted to.
So she called Rose and Joan tothe phone and they said yeah,
I'll get through.
I gave him the address and Iwent back to Larry's house and
told him what was going on.
Well, his wife anyway.
And so I went home.
So he came over and when hecame and we sang and the five
(12:46):
DJs sang, joe's eyes popped outso big I thought they were going
to come out of his head.
Speaker 1 (12:51):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (12:52):
So he asked my mom, could he use the phone?
Well, back then you had yourregular line and you had long
distance.
And back then you had yourregular line and you had long
distance.
And you know long distance wasmore.
Speaker 1 (13:02):
Right right.
Speaker 2 (13:02):
So he didn't call my mom.
He was making a long distancecall, which we should have
called it right then.
Right, because Bart was beingdeceitful.
Okay, yeah, so he called Mickey, not Mickey.
He called Sylvia of Mickey andSylvia.
Speaker 1 (13:19):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (13:24):
He was telling her that he had these groups and
they were awesome and blah, blahblah, and he wanted to take
them to New York but he didn'thave the money.
So he was going to drive.
But if she would put up themoney then he was going to sign
up to a manager's contract andshe would get half until she got
her money back, trust whatever.
So she sent him the money.
So we rehearsed in New Orleanswith Earl King, who was also an
(13:45):
artist.
He wrote songs, he had hits, heplayed the guitar.
He wrote two songs for us,maybe more.
One was Thank you Mama, thankyou Papa, and that's the song
that we sang when we got to NewYork.
We drove to New York and we'reput up in this hotel.
Then we walked the pavement.
(14:05):
I didn't know what that meantuntil I did it.
Speaker 1 (14:08):
Yeah, I've done that a few times.
Speaker 2 (14:10):
We'll go from record company to record company to
record company and you sing foreverybody, yeah, and they tell
you they'll get back to youEverywhere we went and Joe
brought other artists.
He brought a guy named MoodyScott and a girl, vivian Bates,
and two of his band members sangAlice Shine, robinson and, oh
(14:33):
God, last Clean Shirt I can'tthink of that man's name, but
anyway he had all these artists.
So we all went to theseappointments and everywhere we
sang, they wanted to sign us,but he kept saying it wasn't the
right deal.
Well, we were happy because wethought he was looking out for
us.
Speaker 1 (14:51):
Sure.
Speaker 2 (14:51):
Finally he got to Lieber and Stoller.
They gave him what he wantedbecause they wanted us.
So when we sang for them, theyput us with Jeff Barry and Ellie
Greenwich, which were two oftheir writers, and they sang
songs for us to see which one wewanted to record.
When they played Chapel, welooked at them and said I said,
(15:14):
well, you want us to sing itlike that.
So they looked at each otherand said, well, how would you
say it?
And I said, well, you want usto sing it like that.
So they looked at each otherand said, well, how would you
sing it?
And I said, well, give me aminute.
So the three of us walked tothe corner of the room and came
up with Chapel, the way it wasrecorded.
Speaker 1 (15:28):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (15:29):
We didn't know at the time that that's producing.
You know, right right, wedidn't know, we were green, we
didn't know.
So Chapel was recorded and theywere so happy when we walked
over there and sang it.
Well, chapel, the rest ishistory, you know.
Speaker 1 (15:45):
Absolutely, that was a number one song for you.
Speaker 2 (15:48):
Yeah, the Beatles had come over, so it was
Beatlemania in the United Statesof America, right, and they had
a lot of songs on the tophundred.
Yeah, our song went up andknocked all their tunes out and
stayed on number one.
I think it was three weeks,three or four weeks, right.
So, and it has done.
(16:10):
Chapel has done a lot for us.
It has gotten us into a lot ofdoors.
We are the only artists that Iknow from that era that did not
do the um, declarke, uh, edSullivan show.
Speaker 1 (16:24):
Oh, ed Sullivan, Okay .
Speaker 2 (16:25):
Well, we did all of DeClarke's stuff.
We did DeClarke tools andeverything.
Speaker 1 (16:29):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (16:30):
And we didn't do the Sullivan show because Joe wanted
them to pay money up front forhim.
Oh okay, and for what?
Because when you do the TVshows, you sign up and they send
you your money after.
Speaker 1 (16:43):
Right right.
Speaker 2 (16:43):
Through the union, but so he ruined that for us.
Speaker 1 (16:47):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (16:47):
And then when the World's Fair came to New Orleans
, he ruined that for us becausewe had left him then and he
wrote a letter to theadministration of the World's
Fair and told them if theybooked us he was going to sue
and all of that.
So they didn't want to gothrough all that.
So who suffered?
We did.
Speaker 1 (17:05):
Right right.
Now you went from Redbird toABC right.
Speaker 2 (17:09):
Yeah, but that was an underhand thing.
Speaker 1 (17:12):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (17:12):
He was angry with Redbird for whatever reason.
So he went to ABC Paramount andtold them that we didn't have a
contract with Redbird forwhatever reason.
So he went to ABC Paramount andtold them that we didn't have a
contract with Redbird anymore.
Oh, so they recorded us.
We did a whole album.
They said that we were going tobe their Andrew sisters.
Speaker 1 (17:30):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (17:31):
So when our first record came out, then Redbird
and ABC were fighting, but guesswho got lost?
The group.
Speaker 1 (17:39):
Yeah, you got yeah.
Speaker 2 (17:40):
Because they pulled the songs that were out at that
time, which were climbing thechart Right, Both of them, the
one on Redbird and the one onABC they pulled them.
So when they pulled them, thathurt us.
Speaker 1 (17:54):
Yeah, I've seen that happen before.
You know?
Yeah, absolutely.
Speaker 2 (17:59):
So we have been through it.
Speaker 1 (18:01):
Yeah, unfortunately, sad to say, you hear that story
from a lot of artists from thatera.
Speaker 2 (18:08):
Mm-hmm, mm-hmm, yep.
Speaker 1 (18:11):
So you and your sister sang together.
I have to say, I've been in thebusiness a long time.
Anytime you hear a brother oryou hear sisters sing together,
it's just awesome.
They know each other so welland they sing so well together
and I mean you guys just hadharmonies that were just so good
.
Speaker 2 (18:30):
Yeah, thank you.
That's because when we werelittle we used to sing with our
mom and we did trios in churchand stuff like that.
Yeah, but I lost my sister in22.
Speaker 1 (18:43):
Yeah, I was sad to hear that.
Speaker 2 (18:45):
Yeah, and it's been really really hard.
It's been really hard, sure,being without her, because she
was my right hand.
Speaker 1 (18:55):
Yeah, well, understandable, you blended so
well together.
Speaker 2 (18:59):
Yeah, we have been together her whole life, right,
just about Because when she wasborn, I was living with my
grandmother, because at thattime my mom didn't have a house
and you know the story about themom and dad not together and
all of this Right and the placewhere my mom was going to live.
(19:19):
You could only have one child,which it sounds harsh.
But now that I'm grown Iunderstand why.
You know.
Speaker 1 (19:27):
Right.
Speaker 2 (19:28):
People don't train their children and they tear
yourself up Right.
So you could only have onechild.
So Rocha was a baby and I wentto live with my grandma until my
mom could get on her feet.
And when she got a place in theCalio Project they didn't have
a two bedroom.
But she said she said I'mdesperate.
(19:49):
And she talked to the peopleover there.
She said I have to have a place.
I want my two children together, sure.
So they gave her thisone-bedroom apartment.
That was our first house as afamily.
Then, a few years later, theygave us a two-bedroom.
So Rose and I shared a bedroomand I can say my mom raised us
(20:10):
by herself.
My dad was no help.
He was one of those dead dadsand my grandmother helped her a
lot.
I can honestly say I never sawa hungry day.
Speaker 1 (20:22):
Yeah, that's good.
Speaker 2 (20:24):
I always had a roof over my head, I always had food
to eat, we had clothes and whenwe were in school my sister and
I was in everything and whateveryou were in you had to buy.
Like I was a cheerleader, soshe had to buy my cheerleader
outfit from head to toe.
Sure, we never wanted foranything.
(20:45):
We had everything we needed andsome of the things we wanted,
and I'm so glad my mother raisedus that way, right, because
Rose raised her child that wayand I raised my daughter that
way.
Speaker 1 (20:58):
Yeah, that's really good.
You know you're okay.
So you took a little breakthere for a while and then I
heard that you went intomodeling.
Speaker 2 (21:05):
When we moved back to New Orleans, rose went to
school and became a model.
And she went to modeling schoolbecause she finished modeling
school and then the instructorasked her to be an instructor,
so she started teaching at themodeling school that then the
instructor asked her to be aninstructor, so she started
teaching at the modeling schoolthat she finished from and she
did a lot of modeling.
She did hand modeling, she didin-store modeling, she did
(21:29):
runway modeling.
She taught me everything.
She worked for two differentmakeup companies.
She worked in stores teachingpeople how to apply the makeup.
Then she got me to do it.
Speaker 1 (21:43):
So after that I heard that you got back to performing
again.
Only this time you had tochange the trio up a little bit
because Joan had made a decisionto leave the band.
So what led up to her makingthe decision to ultimately leave
?
Speaker 2 (21:59):
John got out of the group way back when we were in
New York.
Speaker 1 (22:03):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (22:04):
John was sick.
She had sickle cell anemia.
She used to swell up and shecouldn't eat everything, so she
wasn't eating right.
We weren't getting the rightkind of rest because we were on
tour.
We weren't getting the rightkind of rest because we were on
tour, right, living on the bus,you know.
So she had to quit.
Speaker 1 (22:20):
Right.
Speaker 2 (22:21):
And that, along with the way Joe Jones was treating
us, that really made her quit.
So she left the group.
This was in the 60s and we gota young lady named Beverly Brown
Beverly is the thing in NewOrleans and Beverly was with us
for a while until she got sick.
(22:41):
She had sarcoidosis and we dida lot of traveling then and it
was just too much for her.
Speaker 1 (22:47):
Right right.
Speaker 2 (22:48):
And then we got this young lady from New Orleans.
Her name Dale Michael, so shewas with us for a long time.
Speaker 1 (22:55):
Right.
Speaker 2 (22:56):
And then after her we got a Selga Neville.
Speaker 1 (22:59):
Yeah, the Neville, brothers' sister.
Speaker 2 (23:02):
Neville brothers' sister yeah yeah.
The brothers are like our bigbrothers.
Speaker 1 (23:07):
Oh, that's good.
Speaker 2 (23:08):
What I didn't tell you was, after we recorded
Chapel and everything, we cameback to New Orleans, and when we
got back to New Orleans we usedthe background.
Art Neville.
Speaker 1 (23:21):
Oh, okay.
Speaker 2 (23:21):
He used to tell people that Dixie Cubs had
started in my living roombecause you know, we were with
him, you know, and he took useverywhere.
We sang with him everywhere,right right.
So Thelma and I were friends.
We went to Southern Universitytogether and I used to go to her
house every day, and then herdad used to drive taxis.
(23:42):
He would bring me home.
Speaker 1 (23:43):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (23:44):
So I was part of the Neville house.
Yeah, that's good, we are closefriends like this.
And it was this year Otelga hadbrain surgery.
Wow, we did this gig.
We did the festival, the DannyBarker Festival, that Sunday.
So I came home that Monday Iflew back to Tampa.
Speaker 1 (24:04):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (24:05):
And she was at home and she said she was talking and
the words weren't coming outright.
So she knew something was wrong.
So she called her husband andher daughter and they took her
to the hospital and she had tohave surgery like two days later
.
Wow, she's doing well now,thank God.
Speaker 1 (24:21):
Oh, that's just so good to hear.
Yeah, so your group came insome ways around the time that
the Supremes were going strong.
Is that correct?
Speaker 2 (24:30):
We came after the Supremes.
The first female group reallywas the Shirelles and the
Chantelles, then the Supremes,and then Martha and the
Vandellas and the Angels, thenthe Chiffons and everybody else.
Now, because when we first gotin the business, we did the
(24:51):
policy items and we were onewith the Shirelles.
They are the ones that taughtus what to wear, how to do your
hair, how to do your makeup andall these things, Because we had
only done, we were doing whatwe saw others do and what was on
TV.
This was before Rose became amodel.
Speaker 1 (25:13):
Okay, all right.
Speaker 2 (25:14):
Okay, yeah.
So the Shirelles took us by thehand and they came to our
dressing room because I thinkyou did either four or five
shows a day.
Speaker 1 (25:23):
Yes, that's what I understand, yeah.
Speaker 2 (25:25):
So they said well, you waited for your last show,
you waited for it, then youwaited and you waited, and then
that's when we were introducedto Lorraine.
He was a beautician and he usedto do our hair, but with
traveling and not having abeautician and he used to do our
hair, but with traveling andnot having a beautician with you
, it was hard to keep up withthe hair.
Speaker 1 (25:43):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (25:43):
So that's how we got into the wig.
Yeah, but our first picture,that's my natural hair.
Speaker 1 (25:50):
Okay, yeah, what I really loved about the songs and
the style that you had is thateverything just came across so
natural.
Your harmonies were good, yourvocals were good.
It was just a truly great sound.
Speaker 2 (26:07):
Right, right, and we thank God for that, because he's
the one.
He's the one that created theDixie Cup.
Yeah, because when John askedme about singing, I had no idea
that singing going to New York Iwas going to have.
Oh, and Joe did tell us thetruth about this.
He said your chances at havinga number one record is 150
(26:31):
million to one.
Speaker 1 (26:32):
Yeah, yeah, he's.
Yeah, that's definitely veryhard to do.
Speaker 2 (26:39):
So, but you beat it, you did it Right, right, and
that's how I know.
God was in the plan, because Ididn't know anything.
The three of us didn't know, wedidn't have any idea.
You know what I'm saying.
Speaker 1 (26:51):
Yeah, and the song Chapel of Love, that was just so
good and it opened up so manydoors for you and it was just
one of those songs.
It was the right time, theright song.
Right the right, everythingRight and it stands the test of
time because it's big even todayon stuff.
Speaker 2 (27:08):
Yes, it is, it is.
I was talking to someone and hewas telling me how popular it
is streaming.
Right me how popular it isstreaming Right.
You know, God is good and we'regetting ready to do something
with Ico.
We're trying to get it donebefore Mardi.
Speaker 1 (27:29):
Gras, New Orleans.
Speaker 2 (27:30):
Okay, all right.
So if this comes up, we can dothis, it'll be something really
big.
It'll be great for us.
Speaker 1 (27:37):
Yeah, that's good.
That's really good.
I'm just so glad that thingsare going good for you.
You've had a great career andgreat songs.
Speaker 2 (27:46):
Right right, right right.
My dream.
You know how you have a bucketlist.
Speaker 1 (27:50):
Right.
Speaker 2 (27:51):
On my bucket list is to do a concert at home in New
Orleans at UNO Lakefront Arenathat holds 10,000 people, and
the people I want on the showare Bette Midler, because she
recorded Chapel, so I think thatwould be great to have her on
the show and maybe we could doit together, or something Right.
(28:13):
Dolly Parton, because when shecame to New Orleans we did her
show and we sang.
I Go Together, so that would begreat for that.
The temptation, because thelast time I talked to Otis he
said well, Barbara, he said I'mgoing to call you the Otis
Williams of the Dixie Cup.
I said what?
Speaker 1 (28:35):
Yeah, I saw Otis.
He came here in Nashville aboutfour, five, five years ago, I
think, uh-huh, and I got achance to see him for a while
and talk with him, uh-huh and uh, he was still doing good, yes
yes, yes, he's still doing good,so I want his group on.
Speaker 2 (28:54):
And stevie wonder because, uh, when we did a show
with Stevie, he used to call ushis little Dixie Cup.
Speaker 1 (29:01):
Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2 (29:02):
So yeah, so that's the people I want on my show and
, of course, I'm going to putDee, dee and the Crystals on.
Speaker 1 (29:10):
Yeah, that would be so great.
I hope that happens for you.
I have to say this has been agreat conversation and I've
truly enjoyed you coming on.
Thanks so much, thank you.
I have to say this has been agreat conversation and I've
truly enjoyed you coming on.
Thanks so much, thank you.
Thank you, it's been mypleasure.
Thanks for joining us today.
(29:35):
We hope you enjoyed the show.
Thanks for joining us today.
We hope you enjoyed the show.
This has been a Tony Mantorproduction.
For more information, contactmedia at plateau musiccom.
My career in the entertainment industry has
enabled me to work with adiverse range of talent.
Through my years of experience,I've recognized two essential
aspects.
Through my years of experience,I've recognized two essential
aspects.
Industry professionals, whetherfamous stars or
behind-the-scenes staff, havefascinating stories to tell.
Secondly, audiences are eagerto listen to these stories,
(00:42):
which offer a glimpse into theirlives and the evolution of
their life stories.
This podcast aims to sharethese narratives, providing
information on how they evolveinto their chosen career.
We will delve into theirjourney to stardom, discuss
their struggles and successesand hear from people who help
them achieve their goals.
Get ready for intriguingbehind-the-scenes stories and
insights into the fascinatingworld of entertainment.
Hi, I'm Tony Mantor.
(01:05):
Welcome to Almost LiveNashville.
Today, we have the pleasure ofbeing joined by Barbara Hawkins,
a member of the iconic DixieCups.
She will share the tale oftheir origins, their path to
success and how she weatheredthe storm of Hurricane Katrina.
Thanks for coming on, barbara.
Speaker 2 (01:23):
Yeah, yeah, let's see .
This year 2024, marked 60 yearsanniversary for Chapel of Love.
Speaker 1 (01:31):
Oh, wow, okay, yeah, well, that's, yeah, that was.
That was a great song that youguys did, so is there anything
going on for celebration of it?
Speaker 2 (01:41):
Oh, we've done a few things in New Orleans, where
we're from Loyola University,the music department.
He put together a show we didin the university theater.
Speaker 1 (01:57):
Oh, that must have been really great.
Speaker 2 (01:59):
It was packed and it was just awesome.
It was awesome, yeah, and Italked to one of the council
people.
Next time I go in they want todo a special day for us and of
course we did.
The French Quarter Fest that'san annual thing.
(02:20):
Danny Barker Guitar and BluesFestival that's an annual theme.
The New Orleans Jazz andHeritage Festival that's an
annual theme, and this year theJazz Jazz featured us on their
poster.
Speaker 1 (02:35):
Oh nice.
Speaker 2 (02:36):
Every year.
They've been in business like50 some years and each year they
do an artist.
We were honored this year andit was an honor because when you
look back and think about allthe mega artists and everybody
that has been a part of the NewOrleans Jazz Fest, for us to be
chosen it just felt good.
Speaker 1 (02:58):
Yeah, yeah, that's really good.
And plus, when you releasedthat song and, of course, when
you was out there performing andjust getting started, you,
along with other groups likeyourself, was breaking ground
for the future of the females inthe music business.
Speaker 2 (03:17):
Right, right, right.
We came to Tampa, florida,because of Hurricane Katrina.
Speaker 1 (03:25):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (03:26):
We were actually on our way to Tennessee with the
Nevels, because whenever ahurricane would come to New
Orleans, the Nevels and us wewould get together and drive out
of town, go stay somewhere forthree, four days and then go
back home and clean up.
But Katrina said that's notgoing to happen this time.
Speaker 1 (03:46):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (03:49):
So we could not be reached.
Some friends and family membershad called the Red Cross and
they had put out.
People saw it on TV.
We're looking for the DixieCups and if you see them, have
them, call this number.
And my sister's son lives herein Tampa, florida.
(04:09):
He attended Florida StateUniversity and after he
graduated he called and saidwell, hey, I think I want to
stay in Tampa.
So he did, and he had beentrying to get in touch with us
and he couldn't reach us.
So finally, when we reached himI mean it was a teary thing,
you know and he said I want tosee you.
(04:31):
And we said we're okay.
And he said Ma, I want to seeyou.
And she said but, eric, we'regood, we're going to Tennessee
to meet Joelle and Aaron andthem.
And he said, okay, but stophere first.
Joel and Aaron and them, yeah,and he said okay, but stop here
first.
So we drove from Baton Rouge toTampa.
(04:51):
What actually happened was wewere just almost homeless for
like nine months.
Wow, what was good about it?
His in-laws cook for us everyday.
She fed us every day, so weweren't hungry for us every day.
She fed us every day, so weweren't hungry, and when we
stopped at the hotel and I gavemy ID, which showed that I had a
Louisiana driver's license, thehotel put us up so we didn't
(05:15):
have to pay back.
Speaker 1 (05:16):
Oh, that was nice.
Speaker 2 (05:17):
Yeah, and then when it was time to pay, other people
paid for us, and then MusicCares in New York found out that
we didn't have a place to stay.
So they got in touch withsomebody here and they found us
an apartment.
And so we moved into theapartment and Music Cares paid
(05:42):
for it until we were able to geton our feet and get money from
the house, because, you know,the house was really my mom's
house where we moved from.
We were in a no-flood zone andwe had 16 feet of water in a
(06:03):
no-flood zone.
Speaker 1 (06:04):
Wow yeah.
Speaker 2 (06:07):
So that house was totally destroyed and Rosa had
just bought a house and it waskind of up off the ground but
the roof came off.
Speaker 1 (06:17):
Wow.
Speaker 2 (06:18):
And the water came in from the bottom, so we got it
both ways.
Speaker 1 (06:22):
Wow, that's really tough.
Speaker 2 (06:23):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (06:24):
So where are you based now?
Are you in Louisiana or stillin Florida?
Speaker 2 (06:28):
Tampa.
Speaker 1 (06:29):
Tampa Okay, tampa, all right.
Well, that was good that youwas able to get away from that
situation, because Katrina was adisaster for a lot of people.
Speaker 2 (06:40):
Right, right, right.
And the people here in Tampawere really good because the
hotel owner, when he found outwho we are, he called the TV
station.
Okay, they came out andinterviewed us and the hotel
gave us a little tweet afterthat, after he found out who we
(07:01):
were yeah, and then some of theplaces here boutiques they
called us and we were able to goover and pick out some clothes.
Speaker 1 (07:12):
That's nice.
Speaker 2 (07:13):
So they were really good to us here.
Speaker 1 (07:15):
That's really nice.
Okay, so going back in time alittle bit, it was you, your
sister and your cousin thatstarted out in the music, right?
Speaker 2 (07:25):
Right right.
Speaker 1 (07:27):
So I heard that it started out as the Meltones and
then eventually you transformedinto the Dixie Cups, Right?
So how did that transformationhappen?
Speaker 2 (07:36):
Okay, wow, we got together for a talent show in
New Orleans St Augustine HighSchool.
They're known all over theworld.
It's the old boy school, right?
Yeah, so you're familiar withthem.
Yes, so they played for kingsand queens and everybody.
Yes, so they used to do atalent show once a year.
Speaker 1 (07:55):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (07:56):
So this girl I had never met.
I was going to the grocerystore and she say hey, hey, hey,
hey you.
And I said me.
She said yeah.
She said I heard that you sing.
I said okay.
She said and we're puttingtogether a group to do the St
Augustine talent show.
Would you want to be in thegroup?
And I said that sounds nice.
(08:18):
I said, but I have to ask mymom.
She said okay.
So she said well, when can youask your mom?
I said well, I'm on my way tothe store now.
So I said you know, we'll getback to it.
So she was waiting when I cameback from the grocery store and
it was her, her brother, anotherguy and then there were five
(08:38):
other guys that had a groupcalled the Five DJs.
All right, so all these peoplewere standing up there waiting
for me to come from the store.
So she said well, you sayyou're going to ask your mom,
right?
I said yeah.
She said well, when you go askyour mom, can you ask your mom?
I say, well, I guess so.
So we walked to my house and mymom saw us coming and she came
(09:02):
downstairs.
She said what's going on?
Because I mean, I went to thestore just me, and I come back
with like eight, nine people.
So I say I say this girl,what's your name?
She said Joan.
I say Joan asked me to be in thegroup.
So thanks for sending all thethings Count it show.
My mom said, well, do you wantto do it?
And I say yeah, I think so.
So I say is it okay?
(09:24):
And she said yeah, because mymom used to sing with Papa
Stella's same band.
She was the senior singer forhis band.
So we go upstairs and we startrehearsing.
Joan said we got to voicelisten.
I say, well, my sister singsbass.
I just hear Rose all the time.
So she sings second alto.
So I said Rose, you think youwant to be in the group?
(09:46):
And she said I guess it's okaywith mother.
So my mom said yeah, it's good.
So that part of the group wasformed and we named ourselves
the Meltones M-E-L-T-O-N-E-S.
So we did the talent show, didnot win anything, not first,
second or third, but we did thetalent show.
And afterwards my sister and Iused to babysit for Larry
(10:11):
McKinley who worked the big dishjockey in New Orleans, w-y-l-d.
I was at Larry's house.
It was my turn to babysit.
I was at Larry's house it was myturn to babysit and his wife's
niece, whose name is alsoBarbara, she had done the talent
show also.
Well, she came in second placeor first or second place.
So the supposedly talent scouthad talked to her and she had an
(10:37):
appointment to go see him.
So she said she didn't want togo by herself.
So she asked me would I go withher?
I said yeah, let me call my momand let her know what's going
on.
So we went to the musician'sunion where she was supposed to
meet him, and there was a noteon the door saying something
came up, come to my house.
So we look at each other andsay, yeah, right.
So I called my mom to tell her.
(10:58):
Well, the place had beenchanged and I gave her the
address where we were going.
So when we got to his house andhe opened the door for us his
name, by the way, was Joe Jones,ok, so we got to his house and
he opened the door and greetedus and he just kept looking at
me.
He was looking at me so harduntil he made me uncomfortable.
So I asked him why are youlooking at me?
(11:18):
He was looking at me so harduntil he made me uncomfortable.
So I asked him why are youlooking at me like that?
And he said you were on atalent show the girls with the
green dresses, right?
And I said yeah.
So he said wait a minute.
So he went in the back and cameback with the program and he
had circled the male tone.
Who are they?
They were great.
I've got to reach them.
(11:38):
He supposedly had been lookingfor us.
He said you girls werebeautiful.
He said I don't know why youdidn't win, but don't worry
about it.
I want to talk to you guysabout recording and taking you
to New York.
I said okay, I mean, there wasno enthusiasm or anything First.
He said you worried me.
I said yeah, am I?
(11:59):
I said here, I am.
I said but I have to ask my mom.
I got to talk to the rest ofthe group to see if they're
interested.
And he said okay.
And it had another group, itwas an old boy group and he
looked at the program.
He said the five big days.
I said well, they're at myhouse right now.
So he said well, can I come toyour house?
I said I don't know.
Let me call and ask my mom.
He said because I want to talkto them.
(12:20):
I said you have to talk totheir mom.
So he said okay.
So I called my mom and she saidif we wanted to.
So she called Rose and Joan tothe phone and they said yeah,
I'll get through.
I gave him the address and Iwent back to Larry's house and
told him what was going on.
Well, his wife anyway.
And so I went home.
So he came over and when hecame and we sang and the five
(12:46):
DJs sang, joe's eyes popped outso big I thought they were going
to come out of his head.
Speaker 1 (12:51):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (12:52):
So he asked my mom, could he use the phone?
Well, back then you had yourregular line and you had long
distance.
And back then you had yourregular line and you had long
distance.
And you know long distance wasmore.
Speaker 1 (13:02):
Right right.
Speaker 2 (13:02):
So he didn't call my mom.
He was making a long distancecall, which we should have
called it right then.
Right, because Bart was beingdeceitful.
Okay, yeah, so he called Mickey, not Mickey.
He called Sylvia of Mickey andSylvia.
Speaker 1 (13:19):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (13:24):
He was telling her that he had these groups and
they were awesome and blah, blahblah, and he wanted to take
them to New York but he didn'thave the money.
So he was going to drive.
But if she would put up themoney then he was going to sign
up to a manager's contract andshe would get half until she got
her money back, trust whatever.
So she sent him the money.
So we rehearsed in New Orleanswith Earl King, who was also an
(13:45):
artist.
He wrote songs, he had hits, heplayed the guitar.
He wrote two songs for us,maybe more.
One was Thank you Mama, thankyou Papa, and that's the song
that we sang when we got to NewYork.
We drove to New York and we'reput up in this hotel.
Then we walked the pavement.
(14:05):
I didn't know what that meantuntil I did it.
Speaker 1 (14:08):
Yeah, I've done that a few times.
Speaker 2 (14:10):
We'll go from record company to record company to
record company and you sing foreverybody, yeah, and they tell
you they'll get back to youEverywhere we went and Joe
brought other artists.
He brought a guy named MoodyScott and a girl, vivian Bates,
and two of his band members sangAlice Shine, robinson and, oh
(14:33):
God, last Clean Shirt I can'tthink of that man's name, but
anyway he had all these artists.
So we all went to theseappointments and everywhere we
sang, they wanted to sign us,but he kept saying it wasn't the
right deal.
Well, we were happy because wethought he was looking out for
us.
Speaker 1 (14:51):
Sure.
Speaker 2 (14:51):
Finally he got to Lieber and Stoller.
They gave him what he wantedbecause they wanted us.
So when we sang for them, theyput us with Jeff Barry and Ellie
Greenwich, which were two oftheir writers, and they sang
songs for us to see which one wewanted to record.
When they played Chapel, welooked at them and said I said,
(15:14):
well, you want us to sing itlike that.
So they looked at each otherand said, well, how would you
say it?
And I said, well, you want usto sing it like that.
So they looked at each otherand said, well, how would you
sing it?
And I said, well, give me aminute.
So the three of us walked tothe corner of the room and came
up with Chapel, the way it wasrecorded.
Speaker 1 (15:28):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (15:29):
We didn't know at the time that that's producing.
You know, right right, wedidn't know, we were green, we
didn't know.
So Chapel was recorded and theywere so happy when we walked
over there and sang it.
Well, chapel, the rest ishistory, you know.
Speaker 1 (15:45):
Absolutely, that was a number one song for you.
Speaker 2 (15:48):
Yeah, the Beatles had come over, so it was
Beatlemania in the United Statesof America, right, and they had
a lot of songs on the tophundred.
Yeah, our song went up andknocked all their tunes out and
stayed on number one.
I think it was three weeks,three or four weeks, right.
So, and it has done.
(16:10):
Chapel has done a lot for us.
It has gotten us into a lot ofdoors.
We are the only artists that Iknow from that era that did not
do the um, declarke, uh, edSullivan show.
Speaker 1 (16:24):
Oh, ed Sullivan, Okay .
Speaker 2 (16:25):
Well, we did all of DeClarke's stuff.
We did DeClarke tools andeverything.
Speaker 1 (16:29):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (16:30):
And we didn't do the Sullivan show because Joe wanted
them to pay money up front forhim.
Oh okay, and for what?
Because when you do the TVshows, you sign up and they send
you your money after.
Speaker 1 (16:43):
Right right.
Speaker 2 (16:43):
Through the union, but so he ruined that for us.
Speaker 1 (16:47):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (16:47):
And then when the World's Fair came to New Orleans
, he ruined that for us becausewe had left him then and he
wrote a letter to theadministration of the World's
Fair and told them if theybooked us he was going to sue
and all of that.
So they didn't want to gothrough all that.
So who suffered?
We did.
Speaker 1 (17:05):
Right right.
Now you went from Redbird toABC right.
Speaker 2 (17:09):
Yeah, but that was an underhand thing.
Speaker 1 (17:12):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (17:12):
He was angry with Redbird for whatever reason.
So he went to ABC Paramount andtold them that we didn't have a
contract with Redbird forwhatever reason.
So he went to ABC Paramount andtold them that we didn't have a
contract with Redbird anymore.
Oh, so they recorded us.
We did a whole album.
They said that we were going tobe their Andrew sisters.
Speaker 1 (17:30):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (17:31):
So when our first record came out, then Redbird
and ABC were fighting, but guesswho got lost?
The group.
Speaker 1 (17:39):
Yeah, you got yeah.
Speaker 2 (17:40):
Because they pulled the songs that were out at that
time, which were climbing thechart Right, Both of them, the
one on Redbird and the one onABC they pulled them.
So when they pulled them, thathurt us.
Speaker 1 (17:54):
Yeah, I've seen that happen before.
You know?
Yeah, absolutely.
Speaker 2 (17:59):
So we have been through it.
Speaker 1 (18:01):
Yeah, unfortunately, sad to say, you hear that story
from a lot of artists from thatera.
Speaker 2 (18:08):
Mm-hmm, mm-hmm, yep.
Speaker 1 (18:11):
So you and your sister sang together.
I have to say, I've been in thebusiness a long time.
Anytime you hear a brother oryou hear sisters sing together,
it's just awesome.
They know each other so welland they sing so well together
and I mean you guys just hadharmonies that were just so good
.
Speaker 2 (18:30):
Yeah, thank you.
That's because when we werelittle we used to sing with our
mom and we did trios in churchand stuff like that.
Yeah, but I lost my sister in22.
Speaker 1 (18:43):
Yeah, I was sad to hear that.
Speaker 2 (18:45):
Yeah, and it's been really really hard.
It's been really hard, sure,being without her, because she
was my right hand.
Speaker 1 (18:55):
Yeah, well, understandable, you blended so
well together.
Speaker 2 (18:59):
Yeah, we have been together her whole life, right,
just about Because when she wasborn, I was living with my
grandmother, because at thattime my mom didn't have a house
and you know the story about themom and dad not together and
all of this Right and the placewhere my mom was going to live.
(19:19):
You could only have one child,which it sounds harsh.
But now that I'm grown Iunderstand why.
You know.
Speaker 1 (19:27):
Right.
Speaker 2 (19:28):
People don't train their children and they tear
yourself up Right.
So you could only have onechild.
So Rocha was a baby and I wentto live with my grandma until my
mom could get on her feet.
And when she got a place in theCalio Project they didn't have
a two bedroom.
But she said she said I'mdesperate.
(19:49):
And she talked to the peopleover there.
She said I have to have a place.
I want my two children together, sure.
So they gave her thisone-bedroom apartment.
That was our first house as afamily.
Then, a few years later, theygave us a two-bedroom.
So Rose and I shared a bedroomand I can say my mom raised us
(20:10):
by herself.
My dad was no help.
He was one of those dead dadsand my grandmother helped her a
lot.
I can honestly say I never sawa hungry day.
Speaker 1 (20:22):
Yeah, that's good.
Speaker 2 (20:24):
I always had a roof over my head, I always had food
to eat, we had clothes and whenwe were in school my sister and
I was in everything and whateveryou were in you had to buy.
Like I was a cheerleader, soshe had to buy my cheerleader
outfit from head to toe.
Sure, we never wanted foranything.
(20:45):
We had everything we needed andsome of the things we wanted,
and I'm so glad my mother raisedus that way, right, because
Rose raised her child that wayand I raised my daughter that
way.
Speaker 1 (20:58):
Yeah, that's really good.
You know you're okay.
So you took a little breakthere for a while and then I
heard that you went intomodeling.
Speaker 2 (21:05):
When we moved back to New Orleans, rose went to
school and became a model.
And she went to modeling schoolbecause she finished modeling
school and then the instructorasked her to be an instructor,
so she started teaching at themodeling school that then the
instructor asked her to be aninstructor, so she started
teaching at the modeling schoolthat she finished from and she
did a lot of modeling.
She did hand modeling, she didin-store modeling, she did
(21:29):
runway modeling.
She taught me everything.
She worked for two differentmakeup companies.
She worked in stores teachingpeople how to apply the makeup.
Then she got me to do it.
Speaker 1 (21:43):
So after that I heard that you got back to performing
again.
Only this time you had tochange the trio up a little bit
because Joan had made a decisionto leave the band.
So what led up to her makingthe decision to ultimately leave
?
Speaker 2 (21:59):
John got out of the group way back when we were in
New York.
Speaker 1 (22:03):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (22:04):
John was sick.
She had sickle cell anemia.
She used to swell up and shecouldn't eat everything, so she
wasn't eating right.
We weren't getting the rightkind of rest because we were on
tour.
We weren't getting the rightkind of rest because we were on
tour, right, living on the bus,you know.
So she had to quit.
Speaker 1 (22:20):
Right.
Speaker 2 (22:21):
And that, along with the way Joe Jones was treating
us, that really made her quit.
So she left the group.
This was in the 60s and we gota young lady named Beverly Brown
Beverly is the thing in NewOrleans and Beverly was with us
for a while until she got sick.
(22:41):
She had sarcoidosis and we dida lot of traveling then and it
was just too much for her.
Speaker 1 (22:47):
Right right.
Speaker 2 (22:48):
And then we got this young lady from New Orleans.
Her name Dale Michael, so shewas with us for a long time.
Speaker 1 (22:55):
Right.
Speaker 2 (22:56):
And then after her we got a Selga Neville.
Speaker 1 (22:59):
Yeah, the Neville, brothers' sister.
Speaker 2 (23:02):
Neville brothers' sister yeah yeah.
The brothers are like our bigbrothers.
Speaker 1 (23:07):
Oh, that's good.
Speaker 2 (23:08):
What I didn't tell you was, after we recorded
Chapel and everything, we cameback to New Orleans, and when we
got back to New Orleans we usedthe background.
Art Neville.
Speaker 1 (23:21):
Oh, okay.
Speaker 2 (23:21):
He used to tell people that Dixie Cubs had
started in my living roombecause you know, we were with
him, you know, and he took useverywhere.
We sang with him everywhere,right right.
So Thelma and I were friends.
We went to Southern Universitytogether and I used to go to her
house every day, and then herdad used to drive taxis.
(23:42):
He would bring me home.
Speaker 1 (23:43):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (23:44):
So I was part of the Neville house.
Yeah, that's good, we are closefriends like this.
And it was this year Otelga hadbrain surgery.
Wow, we did this gig.
We did the festival, the DannyBarker Festival, that Sunday.
So I came home that Monday Iflew back to Tampa.
Speaker 1 (24:04):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (24:05):
And she was at home and she said she was talking and
the words weren't coming outright.
So she knew something was wrong.
So she called her husband andher daughter and they took her
to the hospital and she had tohave surgery like two days later
.
Wow, she's doing well now,thank God.
Speaker 1 (24:21):
Oh, that's just so good to hear.
Yeah, so your group came insome ways around the time that
the Supremes were going strong.
Is that correct?
Speaker 2 (24:30):
We came after the Supremes.
The first female group reallywas the Shirelles and the
Chantelles, then the Supremes,and then Martha and the
Vandellas and the Angels, thenthe Chiffons and everybody else.
Now, because when we first gotin the business, we did the
(24:51):
policy items and we were onewith the Shirelles.
They are the ones that taughtus what to wear, how to do your
hair, how to do your makeup andall these things, Because we had
only done, we were doing whatwe saw others do and what was on
TV.
This was before Rose became amodel.
Speaker 1 (25:13):
Okay, all right.
Speaker 2 (25:14):
Okay, yeah.
So the Shirelles took us by thehand and they came to our
dressing room because I thinkyou did either four or five
shows a day.
Speaker 1 (25:23):
Yes, that's what I understand, yeah.
Speaker 2 (25:25):
So they said well, you waited for your last show,
you waited for it, then youwaited and you waited, and then
that's when we were introducedto Lorraine.
He was a beautician and he usedto do our hair, but with
traveling and not having abeautician and he used to do our
hair, but with traveling andnot having a beautician with you
, it was hard to keep up withthe hair.
Speaker 1 (25:43):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (25:43):
So that's how we got into the wig.
Yeah, but our first picture,that's my natural hair.
Speaker 1 (25:50):
Okay, yeah, what I really loved about the songs and
the style that you had is thateverything just came across so
natural.
Your harmonies were good, yourvocals were good.
It was just a truly great sound.
Speaker 2 (26:07):
Right, right, and we thank God for that, because he's
the one.
He's the one that created theDixie Cup.
Yeah, because when John askedme about singing, I had no idea
that singing going to New York Iwas going to have.
Oh, and Joe did tell us thetruth about this.
He said your chances at havinga number one record is 150
(26:31):
million to one.
Speaker 1 (26:32):
Yeah, yeah, he's.
Yeah, that's definitely veryhard to do.
Speaker 2 (26:39):
So, but you beat it, you did it Right, right, and
that's how I know.
God was in the plan, because Ididn't know anything.
The three of us didn't know, wedidn't have any idea.
You know what I'm saying.
Speaker 1 (26:51):
Yeah, and the song Chapel of Love, that was just so
good and it opened up so manydoors for you and it was just
one of those songs.
It was the right time, theright song.
Right the right, everythingRight and it stands the test of
time because it's big even todayon stuff.
Speaker 2 (27:08):
Yes, it is, it is.
I was talking to someone and hewas telling me how popular it
is streaming.
Right me how popular it isstreaming Right.
You know, God is good and we'regetting ready to do something
with Ico.
We're trying to get it donebefore Mardi.
Speaker 1 (27:29):
Gras, New Orleans.
Speaker 2 (27:30):
Okay, all right.
So if this comes up, we can dothis, it'll be something really
big.
It'll be great for us.
Speaker 1 (27:37):
Yeah, that's good.
That's really good.
I'm just so glad that thingsare going good for you.
You've had a great career andgreat songs.
Speaker 2 (27:46):
Right right, right right.
My dream.
You know how you have a bucketlist.
Speaker 1 (27:50):
Right.
Speaker 2 (27:51):
On my bucket list is to do a concert at home in New
Orleans at UNO Lakefront Arenathat holds 10,000 people, and
the people I want on the showare Bette Midler, because she
recorded Chapel, so I think thatwould be great to have her on
the show and maybe we could doit together, or something Right.
(28:13):
Dolly Parton, because when shecame to New Orleans we did her
show and we sang.
I Go Together, so that would begreat for that.
The temptation, because thelast time I talked to Otis he
said well, Barbara, he said I'mgoing to call you the Otis
Williams of the Dixie Cup.
I said what?
Speaker 1 (28:35):
Yeah, I saw Otis.
He came here in Nashville aboutfour, five, five years ago, I
think, uh-huh, and I got achance to see him for a while
and talk with him, uh-huh and uh, he was still doing good, yes
yes, yes, he's still doing good,so I want his group on.
Speaker 2 (28:54):
And stevie wonder because, uh, when we did a show
with Stevie, he used to call ushis little Dixie Cup.
Speaker 1 (29:01):
Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2 (29:02):
So yeah, so that's the people I want on my show and
, of course, I'm going to putDee, dee and the Crystals on.
Speaker 1 (29:10):
Yeah, that would be so great.
I hope that happens for you.
I have to say this has been agreat conversation and I've
truly enjoyed you coming on.
Thanks so much, thank you.
I have to say this has been agreat conversation and I've
truly enjoyed you coming on.
Thanks so much, thank you.
Thank you, it's been mypleasure.
Thanks for joining us today.
(29:35):
We hope you enjoyed the show.
Thanks for joining us today.
We hope you enjoyed the show.
This has been a Tony Mantorproduction.
For more information, contactmedia at plateau musiccom.
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