A backing vocalist is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists. A backing vocalist may also sing alone as a lead-in to the main vocalist's entry or to sing a counter-melody . Backing vocalists are used in a broad range of popular music , traditional music , and world music styles.
31-580: The Ikettes , originally The Artettes , were a trio (sometimes quartet) of female backing vocalists for the Ike & Tina Turner Revue. Despite their origins, the Ikettes became successful artists in their own right. In the 1960s they had hits such as " I'm Blue (The Gong-Gong Song) " and " Peaches 'N' Cream ". In 2017, Billboard ranked "I'm Blue (The Gong-Gong Song)" No. 63 on its list of 100 Greatest Girl Group Songs of All Time. The group started as "The Artettes",
62-479: A backup singer due to his distinctive voice, sings backing vocals in such tracks as " The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill " and " Carry That Weight ". Examples of three-part harmonies by Lennon, McCartney and Harrison include " Nowhere Man ", " Because ", " Day Tripper ", and " This Boy ". The members of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young and Bee Gees each wrote songs, sang backup or lead vocals, and played various instruments in their performances and recordings. In
93-399: A differing style (e.g., either more muted or pitched up) so as to complement rather than compete with the main parts. In the recording studio, some lead singers record their own backing vocals by overdubbing with a multitrack recording system, record their own backing vocals, then recording the lead part over them. Some lead vocalists prefer this approach because multiple parts recorded by
124-469: A few lineup changes in 1973 with the absence of Ester Jones and Enda Richardson. Jones temporarily left after she was fined for being late onstage. The Ikettes weren't paid much and were often fined by the Turners for "inexcusables" such as tardiness, no-shows at rehearsals, miscues onstage, sloppy appearance, and disruptive behavior. Jones was the "longest-lasting Ikette" and was referred to as "Motha" Ikette. She
155-565: A piece of the Philles action," Davis said. The label name is a hybrid of Spector and Davis' first names. Spector also wanted to capitalize on Davis winning the industry's Promotional Man of the Year award in '64 and '65. A handful of singles were released on Phi-Dan by artist including Betty Willis , the Lovelites , and the Ikettes . According to Davis, the records on Phi-Dan consisted of "permutations of
186-547: A recording session in early 1960, Ike Turner took Lassiter's backup singers, the Artettes (Robbie Montgomery, Frances Hodges, and Sandra Harding) and had them accompany Tina Turner on the recording " A Fool in Love ." Following the success of the single, Ike formed the Ike & Tina Turner Revue, but with a new group of backup singers: Delores Johnson, Eloise Hester, and Jo Armstead . Montgomery
217-428: The power trio ), the musicians doing backing vocals also play instruments, such as guitar, electric bass or keyboards. In Latin or Afro-Cuban groups, backing singers may play percussion instruments or shakers while singing. In some pop and hip-hop groups and in musical theater , they may be required to perform dance routines while singing through headset microphones. Styles of background vocals vary according to
248-895: The 1990s. Turner formed new sets of Ikettes, which included Jeanette Bazzell, Nina Hill, Randi Love, a.k.a. Michelle Love, Stonye Figueroa, Vera Hamilton and Audrey Madison. positions The Ikettes had 3 songs chart on the Billboard Hot 100 and 3 songs on the Billboard Hot R&;B which include 1 top 10 hit. They have also charted on records with Ike & Tina Turner. b/w "Find My Baby" b/w "Come On and Truck" b/w "Zizzy Zee Zum Zum" b/w "I Do Love You" b/w Pee Wee b/w "Those Words" b/w "I'm Leaving You" b/w "Mind In A Whirl" "Here's Your Heart (Instrumental)" b/w "Nobody Loves Me" b/w "The Biggest Players" b/w "How Come" b/w "Don't Feel Sorry for Me" b/w " Sally Go Round
279-762: The Disco , Simon Le Bon of Duran Duran , and Brad Delp of Boston . With the exception of a few songs on each album, Michael Jackson , Janet Jackson , Prince , Dan Fogelberg , Eddie Rabbitt , David Bowie , Harry Nilsson , and Richard Marx sing all of the background vocals for their songs. Robert Smith of the Cure sings his own backing vocals in the studio, and doesn't use backing vocalists when performing live. Prominent vocalists who provide backing vocals in other artists' recordings are often uncredited to avoid conflicts with their own recording agreements, and for other reasons. Examples include: Phi-Dan Records Phi-Dan
310-624: The Family Stone 's " I Want to Take You Higher ." In November 1969, The Rolling Stones once again asked Ike & Tina Turner to open for them, but this time on their American tour . The Ikettes on that tour were Claudia Lennear, Ester Jones and Pat Powdrill. This lineup performed on Playboy After Dark in December 1969. Stonye Figueroa along with Ester Jones, and Claudia Lennear performed on The Ed Sullivan Show with Ike & Tina Turner on January 11, 1970. That month, they performed In Las Vegas at
341-475: The Hilton Hotel opposite Redd Foxx . Vera Hamilton and Jean Brown joined Jones in 1970, and this trio performed on The Andy Williams Show and The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson . In 1971, Liberty Records was absorbed into United Artists Records . the Ikettes released their first single "Got What It Takes (To Get What I Want)," on United Artists later that year. In 1972, "Two Timin', Double Dealin'"
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#1732851023754372-463: The Ikette visual. I don't see it as cheap or vulgar. Nor do I see myself as that. Sex is not cheap or vulgar. And I always loved the look of long straight hair. Ike says he patterned me after Sheena of the jungle . She was white, you know. But I still love the look and action of long hair movin' and the short skirts shimmying. I want action on that stage at all times. When Art Lassiter did not show up for
403-504: The Ikettes) and "Prisoner in Love." Soon after its release, the title of "Prisoner in Love" was changed to "No Bail in This Jail" in order to avoid confusion with "Prisoner of Love" by James Brown . During this period Bonnie Bramlett was briefly an Ikette, becoming the first white Ikette. According to Bramlett, Smith briefly quit the Ikettes after Turner fired her boyfriend Sam Rhodes, who was
434-498: The Ikettes, it charted at No. 50 on the R&;B chart. In Summer 1968, a revised lineup of Ikettes was formed with Edna Richardson , Claudia Lennear , and Ester Jones . Minit Records and its parent label Liberty Records issued singles credited to The Ikettes (with Ike & Tina Turner) in 1969 and 1970 respectively, resulting in the hits " Come Together " by the Beatles and Sly &
465-659: The Roses " b/w "Da Doo Ron Ron" b/w "Down, Down" b/w "So Blue Over You" b/w "Beauty Is Just Skin Deep" b/w "Honky Tonk Women" b/w "Contact High" b/w "If You Take A Close Look" b/w "Two Timin' Double Dealin'" "—" denotes a recording that did not chart. (filmed November 29, 1965) (filmed Apr 1968) (filmed December 3, 1969) Backing vocalist Solo artists may employ professional backing vocalists in studio recording sessions as well as during concerts. In many rock and metal bands (e.g.,
496-448: The Roses " and " Da Doo Ron Ron " did not go as well; neither did "He's Gonna Be Fine, Fine, Fine," though it sounded like a precursor to the music Betty Davis did later. When "Peaches and Cream" became rapidly popular, Ike sent a different set of Ikettes — Janice Singleton (Hughes), Diane Rutherford and Marquentta Tinsley — on the road with "The Dick Clark Caravan of Stars" and kept Montgomery, Smith, and Fields on tour with his revue. In
527-841: The United States and Canada, backup singer, background singer , or harmony . While some bands use performers whose sole on-stage role is backing vocals, backing singers commonly have other roles. Two notable examples of band members who sang back-up are The Beach Boys and The Beatles . The Beach Boys were well known for their close vocal harmonies, occasionally with all five members singing at once such as " In My Room " and " Surfer Girl ". The Beatles were also known for their close style of vocal harmonies – all of them sang both lead and backing vocals at some point, especially John Lennon and Paul McCartney , who frequently supported each other with harmonies, often with fellow Beatle George Harrison joining in. Ringo Starr , while not as prominent as
558-838: The Zorros of Rhythm ) and Venetta Fields (a gospel singer from Buffalo, New York) to form the first official incarnation of The Ikettes. The revue toured constantly through the U.S. on the Chitlin' Circuit in the segregated South . Occasionally they'd play at major venues such as the Apollo Theater in New York, Howard Theater in Washington, D.C., and Uptown Theater in Philadelphia. In 1962, Ike switched them to his Teena record label for two singles: "Crazy in Love" (credited as Robbie Montgomery &
589-684: The backing group of Art Lassiter . The first official incarnation of The Ikettes was composed of Delores Johnson, Eloise Hester and Josie Jo Armstead . The most popular line-up consisted of Robbie Montgomery , Venetta Fields , and Jessie Smith . It was this trio that later morphed into The Mirettes . As the 1960s progressed, the Ikettes became known for their sexy onstage appearance; minidresses , long hair and high-energy dance routines that mirrored their mentor Tina Turner . "They represent me, and in my act they gotta look outta sight at all times. There's simply no room for sloppiness and unprofessionalism," Tina told Esquire . She added: I also believe in
620-647: The bass player in the Kings of Rhythm . Bramlett recalled that she was an Ikette for three days when she was 17. She put on a dark wig to cover her blonde hair and used Man Tan to darken her skin. The single "Here's Your Heart" came out on Innis Records in 1964 but failed to go national; nor did "What'cha Gonna Do (When I Leave You)" released on Phi-Dan Records in 1966. From 1964 through 1966, they released six singles on Modern Records , including "The Camel Walk" (1964), and two hits " Peaches 'N' Cream " (1965) and " I'm So Thankful " (1965). Ultra-funky remakes of " Sally Go Round
651-544: The final lineup for the Ike & Tina Turner Revue by late 1975. They performed on Don Krishner's Rock Concert in March 1976, before the Ike & Tina Turner Revue disbanded later that year. In 1988, Ike Turner attempted an ill-fated return to the stage with Marcy Thomas, Bonnie Johnson, and Jeanette Bazzell as his Ikettes. He was arrested on drug charges the following year. After serving 18-months in prison he managed to rehabilitate his cocaine addiction and he revived his career in
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#1732851023754682-403: The lyrics, the backing vocals are standardly written in parentheses to differentiate them from the main vocals, which are written without any markup. The backing vocals for a line may come in mid-line, or even after the main lyrics have already been sung. Vocalizing is fairly common so as to not detract from the meaning of the lyrics of the primary vocals. The sound of the backing vocals is often in
713-654: The meantime, Turner hired new Ikettes after Montgomery, Fields and Smith left to form the Mirettes . The first set included Pat Arnold (a.k.a. P.P. Arnold ), Gloria Scott , and Maxine Smith. The first album by the Ikettes, Soul The Hits , was released on Modern Records in 1966. Instead of the Ikettes, the Blossoms provided backing vocals for Tina Turner on the Phil Spector -produced 1966 record " River Deep – Mountain High ." Following
744-677: The music program Hits à Gogo in Switzerland. Sims and Wilson along with Tina Turner provided backing vocals on Frank Zappa 's albums Over-Nite Sensation (1973) and Apostrophe (') (1974), recorded at the Turners' Bolic Sound studio. The last album by the Ikettes, (G)Old & New , was released on United Artists in January 1974. In March, Edna Richardson, Stonye Figueroa and Linda Sims appeared on Don Krishner's Rock Concert . Ester Jones, Yolanda Goodwin and Marcy Thomas soon replaced them for most of 1974. Richardson, Goodwin and Jones became
775-410: The same singer blend well. A famous example overdubbing is Freddie Mercury 's multipart intro to Queen 's " Bohemian Rhapsody ". Other artists who have recorded multitrack lead and backing vocals include Patrick Stump of Fall Out Boy , Tom DeLonge of Blink-182 and Angels and Airwaves , Wednesday 13 in his own band and Murderdolls , Ian Gillan of Deep Purple , Brendon Urie of Panic! at
806-663: The success of the single in Europe, Ike & Tina Turner were asked to tour with The Rolling Stones during their British tour in the fall of 1966. The Ikettes on that tour were Rose Smith, Pat Arnold, and Ann Thomas. Shelly Clark (later of Honey Cone ) was also an Ikette in 1966 until she was injured in a bus accident in Wichita, Kansas. Other Ikettes during this period include Pat Powdrill , Paulette Parker (later of Maxayn ), Jean Brown, and Juanita Hixson. In 1968, Pompeii Records issued " So Fine " credited to Ike & Tina Turner &
837-414: The type of song and genre of music. In pop and country songs, backing vocalists may sing harmony to support the lead vocalist. In hardcore punk or rockabilly , other band members who play instruments may sing or shout backing vocals during the chorus (refrain) section of the songs. Alternative terms for backing vocalists include backing singer , backing vocals , additional vocals or, particularly in
868-422: Was an American subsidiary record label of Phil Spector Productions formed in 1965 by producer Phil Spector . By 1965, Phil Spector had achieved great success with his label Philles. He produced chart topping singles such as " He's A Rebel " and " You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin ." Phi-Dan was partly created to keep promoter Danny Davis occupied. "He wanted to give me a piece of the action because I didn't have
899-556: Was pregnant and unable to tour. They recorded " I'm Blue (The Gong-Gong Song) " the following year, produced by Ike and leased to Atco Records . Released in November 1961, the single reached No. 3 on the Billboard R&;B chart and No. 19 on the Hot 100 . Montgomery rejoined the revue shortly after having her baby and was teamed with Jessie Smith (recruited from a group named Benny Sharp and
930-538: Was released, the last known single by the Ikettes. Edna Richardson returned to the group in 1971 and remained an Ikette on-and-off until 1976. Richardson, Jean Brown and Ester Jones performed on Soul Train in April 1972. They also provided backing vocals on Gayle McCormick 's album Flesh & Blood (1972). In October 1972, Tina Turner and the Ikettes performed at the political fundraising concert Star-Spangled Women for McGovern–Shriver at Madison Square Garden. There were
961-412: Was the group's trainer and came up with most of the choreography. In February 1973, the Ikettes, consisting of Linda Sims, Linda-Shuford Williams and Alesia Butler, performed on The Midnight Special . The Ikettes performed on The Midnight Special again in November 1973; Linda Sims was joined by Edna Richardson and Charlotte Lewis. The next month Linda Sims, Charlotte Lewis and Debbie Wilson performed on