Jessie Smith

Jessie Smith (November 28, 1941 – February 4, 2021) was an American R&B vocalist. She began her career singing with musician Benny Sharp, recording as Little Miss Jessie, and became best known as one of the original Ikettes in the Ike & Tina Turner Revue. She later sang backing vocals for various artists, including Dr. John, Paul Williams, Al Kooper, José Feliciano, and Leon Ware.

Biography

Jessie Smith was born in Clarksdale, Mississippi, the daughter of Georgia and Israel Smith, and was raised in Alton, Illinois. She was a member of the Belle Street Temple Church Of God In Christ, under the leadership of Superintendent R.J. Monroe, and sang gospel solos and with choirs as a teenager. She was a part of The Monroe-Ettes, a female gospel group, with Missionary Norma Smith and Wanda Thompson. Sharp's band included New Breed, a vocal trio consisting of Stacy Johnson, Vernon Guy, and Horise O'Toole. Backed by Sharp and his band, Smith released the single, "My Baby Has Gone" / "St. Louis Sunset Twist," on Chicago's Mel-O Records under the name Little Miss Jessie in 1961.

By 1962, Smith, Johnson, and Guy had left Sharp to join the Ike & Tina Turner Revue which had relocated to Los Angeles. The revue toured throughout the country performing a grueling schedule of one-nighters. They performed at prominent venues such as the Apollo Theater in New York, the Howard Theatre in Washington, D.C., and the Uptown Theater in Philadelphia. Smith briefly quit and was replaced by Bonnie Bramlett, after Ike Turner fired her boyfriend Sam Rhodes, who was the bass player in the Kings of Rhythm.

As an Ikette, Smith performed on the television shows American Bandstand, Hollywood A Go-Go, and Shindig!. Two of the Ikettes' biggest hits were released on Modern Records in 1965, "Peaches 'N' Cream" (Pop No. 36, R&B No. 28) and "I'm So Thankful" (Pop No. 74, R&B No. 12).

Smith, Fields and Montgomery left the revue in 1965. Prevented by Turner from using the name Ikettes, They released a few singles, including "In the Midnight Hour" (Pop No. 45, R&B No. 18) in 1968. After they disbanded, Smith continued to record as a backing vocalist in the 1970s, with singers including Al Kooper, Bryan Ferry, and Jose Feliciano.

Discography Singles 1961: "My Baby Has Gone" / "St. Louis Sunset Twist: (Mel-O 101)

Albums featured as an Ikette/Mirette 1965: Live! The Ike & Tina Turner Show 1967: The Ike & Tina Turner Show (Vol. 2) 1966: Soul The Hits (Modern Records) 1968: In The Midnight Hour (Revue Records) 1969: Whirlpool (Uni Records) 2004: The Bad Man: Rare & Unreissued Ike Turner Produced Recordings 1962-1965 (Night Train International) 2012: Ike Turner Studio Productions: New Orleans and Los Angeles 1963–1965 (Ace Records)

Backing vocal credits 1971: Al Kooper – New York City (You're a Woman) 1973: Bryan Ferry – These Foolish Things 1973: Dr. John – In the Right Place 1973: Mike Bloomfield / John Paul Hammond / Dr. John – Triumvirate 1973: Gloria Jones – Share My Love 1974: Badger – White Lady 1974: Dr. John – Desitively Bonnaroo 1974: José Feliciano – Compartments 1974: Paul Williams – A Little Bit of Love 1975: Johnny Bristol – Feeling the Magic 1976: Leon Ware – Musical Massage