THE DIXIE CUPS

Biography

The Dixie Cups were a pioneering American girl group from New Orleans, Louisiana, active primarily in the 1960s. The original trio consisted of sisters Barbara Ann Hawkins and Rosa Lee Hawkins, along with their cousin Joan Marie Johnson. They began singing together in grade school and initially performed locally under the name The Meltones. In 1963, they were discovered at a talent show by singer and producer Joe Jones, who became their manager and introduced them to the legendary songwriting and production team Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller in New York City. Leiber and Stoller signed the group to their newly formed Red Bird Records, where they were renamed The Dixie Cups—a nod to their New Orleans roots. Their debut single, 'Chapel of Love,' written by Phil Spector, Ellie Greenwich, and Jeff Barry, became a massive hit in 1964, knocking the Beatles off the top of the charts and selling over a million copies. The group followed up with other notable hits such as 'People Say,' 'You Should Have Seen the Way He Looked at Me,' and their sprightly rendition of the New Orleans standard 'Iko Iko.'

The Dixie Cups' musical style blended doo-wop harmonies with pop and R&B influences, reflecting the vibrant New Orleans sound of the era. After their initial success, the group moved to ABC-Paramount in 1966 but did not achieve further chart-topping hits. The Hawkins sisters continued to perform with various replacements for Joan Marie Johnson, including Dale Mickle and later Althelgra Neville. The group has remained active in touring and personal appearances, earning recognition such as the Pioneer Award from the Rhythm & Blues Foundation in 2003 and induction into the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame in 2007. Their legacy endures as one of the most influential girl groups of the 1960s.

Fun Facts

• The group was almost named 'Little Miss and the Muffets' before settling on The Dixie Cups.
• 'Chapel of Love' was originally intended for The Ronettes, Darlene Love, or The Crystals, but was ultimately released by The Dixie Cups.
• The Hawkins sisters returned to New Orleans in the 1970s and worked as models and makeup artists before resuming their music career.
• The Dixie Cups knocked the Beatles off the top of the charts in 1964 with 'Chapel of Love.'

Members

• Barbara Anne Hawkins
• Rosa Lee Hawkins
• Athelgra Neville
• Joan Marie Johnson

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Joe Jones - Discovered the group at a talent show and became their manager (Red Bird Records debut) [1963-1964]
• Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller - Signed the group to Red Bird Records and produced their early work (Red Bird Records releases) [1964-1966]

Key Collaborators

• Barbara Ann Hawkins - Original member, sister of Rosa Lee Hawkins (All Dixie Cups recordings and performances) [1963-1966, 1970s-present]
• Rosa Lee Hawkins - Original member, sister of Barbara Ann Hawkins (All Dixie Cups recordings and performances) [1963-1966, 1970s-present]
• Joan Marie Johnson - Original member, cousin of the Hawkins sisters (Early Dixie Cups recordings) [1963-1966]
• Dale Mickle - Replaced Joan Marie Johnson in later lineups (Dixie Cups performances and tours) [1970s-1980s]
• Althelgra Neville - Later replacement member (Dixie Cups performances and tours) [1980s-present]

Artists Influenced

• Various girl groups - Pioneered the girl group sound of the 1960s, influencing later acts (Girl group genre development) [1960s-present]

Discography

Albums

Top Tracks

1. Chapel Of Love (The Very Best of The Dixie Cups: Chapel of Love)
2. Chapel Of Love (All Grown Up)
3. Iko Iko (The Very Best of The Dixie Cups: Chapel of Love)
4. Chapel Of Love (Full Metal Jacket (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack))
5. Iko Iko (All Grown Up)
6. I'm Gonna Get You Yet (The Very Best of The Dixie Cups: Chapel of Love)
7. Chapel of Love (Chapel of Love)
8. Chapel Of Love - Mono / Remastered 2022 (Chapel of Love (Sun Records 70th / Mono / Remastered 2022))
9. Iko Iko - Original (The Dixie Cups' Another Boy Like Mine)
10. People Say (The Very Best of The Dixie Cups: Chapel of Love)

External Links

• Spotify
• Wikipedia
• MusicBrainz