This deserves to be remembered for its title, if nothing else. The Ikettes, without Ike and without Tina:
[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=87a8nrANb64&w=550&h=309]
Jessie Smith, Vanetta Fields, and Robbie Montgomery, on Dick Clark's American Bandstand, May 1965.
For the Ikettes this was a chance to take it easy. Their usual stage routines with Tina were frenetic high energy affairs with short short skirts.
As the Swinging Sixties progressed, the Ikettes became known for their sexy onstage appearance; minidresses, long hair and high-energy dance routines which 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. "I also believe in 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."
Leave a Reply