The Raelettes

Ray Charles & The Raelettes
Origin	United States
Genres	R&B, pop, soul
Occupation(s)	Girl group
Years active	1950s–1990s
Labels	Tangerine/ABC-Paramount
Associated acts	Ray Charles
Past members	Mary Ann Fisher Darlene McCrea Margie Hendricks Clydie King Patricia Lyles Rita Graham Beverly LeSure Gwendolyn Berry Merry Clayton Mable John Minnie Riperton Alexandra Brown Susaye Greene Vernita Moss Dorothy Berry Avis Harrell Madelyn Quebeck Brianna Perry-Tucker Estella Yarbrough Cynthia Scott Trudy Cohran Pat Peterson Janice Mitchell Kay Nickerson Renee Collins Georges Tammy McCann Tonett McKinney Karen Evans Regi Brown Paula Moye Angela Workman Tracey Whitney Barbara Franklin-Perrault[1]

The Raelettes (or occasionally The Raelets or The Raeletts) were an American girl group from the 1950s to the 1990s, formed, as the name suggests, to provide backing vocals for Ray Charles. Separate from Charles, the Raelettes had a number of pop and R&B hits, although they never gained fame for their singles. Several members later went on to solo careers.

History

Before becoming the Raelettes, the group was known as the Cookies. Its membership originally consisted of Darlene McCrea, Margie Hendricks, Patricia Lyles, and Gwendolyn Berry. Of Hendricks, Ray Charles said, "Aretha, Gladys, Etta James—these gals are all bad, but on any given night, Margie will scare you to death."

Later members included Mable John, Merry Clayton, Clydie King, Minnie Riperton, Susaye Greene, Dorothy Berry, Beverly LeSure and Rita Graham. Graham recorded the album Rita Graham Vibrations, produced by Ray Charles on his Tangerine label, the only major recording production Charles produced for a single female artist on that label.

The 1980s set of Raelettes included Avis Harrell, Madlyne Qubeck, Estella Yarbrough, Trudy Cohran, Janice Mitchell, Pat Peterson and Alexandra "Alex" Brown, who had a minor hit with the single "(Come On,) Shout", which was featured on the soundtrack of the movie Girls Just Want to Have Fun.

The 1990s set of Raelettes included Paula Moye, Angela Workman and Tracey Whitney.

Singles

• "One Hurt Deserves Another" (#76 Pop / #24 R&B))
• "I Want To (Do Everything For You)" (#96 Pop / #39 R&B)
• "Bad Water" (#58 Pop / #40 R&B)
• "I've Been Gett'n Long Alright" (#23 R&B)
• "I Want To Thank You" (#47 R&B)
• "Leave My Man Alone"

References

1. Sister of Ermant Franklin (co-founder of Mighty Clouds of Joy).

External links

• The Raelettes at AllMusic
• Rita Graham interview by Rob Jones