Barbara Hawkins of the Dixie Cups: Celebrating 60 Years of "Chapel of Love

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<v SPEAKER_01>My career in the entertainment industry has enabled me to work with a diverse range of talent.

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<v SPEAKER_01>Through my years of experience, I've recognized two special aspects: industry professionals with a famous star, or behind the scene staff have fascinating stories to tell.

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<v SPEAKER_01>Secondly, audiences are eager to listen to these stories, which offer a glimpse into their lives and the evolution of their life stories.

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<v SPEAKER_01>This podcast aims to share these narratives, providing information on how they evolve into their chosen career.

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<v SPEAKER_01>We will delve into their journey to start them, discuss their struggles and successes, and hear from people who help them achieve their goals.

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<v SPEAKER_01>Get ready for intriguing behind-the-scenes stories and insights into the fascinating world of entertainment.

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<v SPEAKER_01>Hi, I'm Tony Mantor.

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<v SPEAKER_01>Welcome to Almost Live Nashville.

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<v SPEAKER_01>Today we have the pleasure of being joined by Barbara Hawkins, a member of the iconic Dixie Cups.

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<v SPEAKER_01>She will share the tale of their origins, their path to success, and how she weathered the storm of Hurricane Katrina.

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<v SPEAKER_01>Thanks for coming on, Barbara.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Yeah, yeah.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Well see, um, this year, 2024, marked 60 years anniversary for Chapel of Love.

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<v SPEAKER_01>Oh, wow.

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<v SPEAKER_01>Okay.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Yeah.

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<v SPEAKER_01>Oh, that's yeah, that was uh that was the great song that you guys did.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Mm-hmm.

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<v SPEAKER_01>So is there anything going on for celebration of it?

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<v SPEAKER_00>Uh, we've done a few things in New Orleans where we're from.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Uh Loyola University, the music department, he put together a show we did in the University Theater.

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<v SPEAKER_01>Oh, that must have been really great.

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<v SPEAKER_00>It was packed and it was just awesome.

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<v SPEAKER_00>It was hard.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Yeah, and uh I talked to one of the console people.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Next time I go in, they want to do a um a special day for us.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And of course, we did the French Quarter Fest, that's an annual thing.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Danny Barker Guitar and Blues Festival, that's an annual thing.

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<v SPEAKER_00>The New Orleans Bads and Heritage Festival, that's an annual thing.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And this year, the Jazz Fest featured us on their poster.

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<v SPEAKER_01>Oh, nice.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Every year they've been in business like 50 some years, and each year they do an artist.

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<v SPEAKER_00>We were honored this year, and it was an honor because when you look back and think about all the mega artists and everybody that has been a part of the New Orleans Jazz, that for us to be chosen, it it just felt good.

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<v SPEAKER_01>Yeah, yeah, that's really good.

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<v SPEAKER_01>And plus, when you released that song, and of course, when you was out there performing and just getting started, you along with other groups like yourself was breaking ground for the future of the females in the music business.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Right, right, right.

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<v SPEAKER_00>We came to Tampa, Florida because of um Hurricane Katrina.

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<v SPEAKER_03>Okay.

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<v SPEAKER_00>We were actually on our way to Tennessee with the Neville's because whenever a hurricane would come to New Orleans, the Neville's and us, we would get together and drive out of town, go stay somewhere for three, four days, and then go back home and clean up.

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<v SPEAKER_02>Right.

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<v SPEAKER_00>But Katrina said that's not gonna happen this time.

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<v SPEAKER_02>Yeah.

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<v SPEAKER_00>So we we could not be reached.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Some friends and family members had called the Red Cross and they had put out people saw it on TV.

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<v SPEAKER_00>We're looking for the Dixie Cups, and if you see them, have them call this number.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And my sister's son lives here in Tampa, Florida.

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<v SPEAKER_00>He attended uh Florida State University.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And after he graduated, he called and said, Well, hey, I think I want to stay in Tampa.

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<v SPEAKER_00>So he did.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And uh he had been trying to get in touch with us and he couldn't reach us.

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<v SPEAKER_00>So finally, when we reached him, he, I mean, it was a cheery thing, you know.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And he said, I want to see you.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And we said, We're okay.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And he said, Ma, I want to see you.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And she'd say, But Eric, we're good.

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<v SPEAKER_00>We're going to Tennessee to meet Joelle and Aaron and him.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Yeah.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And he'd say, Okay, but stop here first.

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<v SPEAKER_00>So we drove from um Baton Rouge to Tampa.

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<v SPEAKER_00>What actually happened was we were just almost homeless for like nine months.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Wow.

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<v SPEAKER_00>What was good about it, his in-laws cooked for us every day.

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<v SPEAKER_00>She fed us every day, so we weren't hungry.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And uh when we stopped at the hotel and I gave my ID, which showed that I had a Louisiana driver's license, the hotel put us up so we didn't have to pay back.

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<v SPEAKER_01>Oh, that was nice.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Yeah.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And then when it was time to pay, other people paid for us.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And then Music Care in New York found out that we didn't have a place to stay.

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<v SPEAKER_00>So they got in touch with somebody here and they found us an apartment.

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<v SPEAKER_03>Oh, okay.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And so we moved into the apartment and music cares paid for it until we were able to get on our feet and get the money from from the house because you know the house was really uh my mom's house where we moved from.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Oh we were in a no flood zone, and we had sixteen sixteen feet of water in the no flood zone.

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<v SPEAKER_02>Wow.

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<v SPEAKER_02>Yeah.

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<v SPEAKER_00>So that house was totally destroyed, and Rosa had just bought a house and it was kind of up off the ground, but the roof came off.

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<v SPEAKER_01>Wow.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And the water came in from the bottom.

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<v SPEAKER_00>So we got it both ways.

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<v SPEAKER_01>Wow, that's really tough.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Yeah.

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<v SPEAKER_01>So where are you based now?

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<v SPEAKER_01>Are you in Louisiana or still in Florida?

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<v SPEAKER_00>Tampa.

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<v SPEAKER_01>Tampa, okay.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Tampa.

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<v SPEAKER_01>All right.

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<v SPEAKER_01>Well, that was good that you was able to get away from that situation because Katrina was a disaster for a lot of people.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Right, right, right.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And the people here in Tampa were really good because the hotel owner, when he found out uh who we are, he called the TV station.

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<v SPEAKER_03>Okay.

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<v SPEAKER_00>They came out and interviewed us, and the hotel gave us a little suite after that, after he found out who we were.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Yeah.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And then some of the places here, boutiques, they called us and we were able to go over and pick out some clothes.

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<v SPEAKER_01>That's nice.

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<v SPEAKER_00>So they were really good to us here.

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<v SPEAKER_01>That's really nice.

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<v unknown>Mm-hmm.

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<v SPEAKER_01>Okay, so going back in time a little bit, it was you, your sister, and your cousin that started out in the music, right?

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<v SPEAKER_01>Right, right.

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<v SPEAKER_01>So I heard that it started out as the Meltones and then eventually you transformed into the Dixie Cubs.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Right.

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<v SPEAKER_01>So how did that transformation happen?

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<v SPEAKER_00>Okay, wow.

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<v SPEAKER_00>We got together uh for a talent show in New Orleans, St.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Augustine High School.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Um, they're known all over the world.

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<v SPEAKER_00>It's the old boy school.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Right.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Yeah, so you're familiar with them.

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<v SPEAKER_01>Yes.

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<v SPEAKER_00>So they played for kings and queens and everybody.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Yes.

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<v SPEAKER_00>So they used to do a talent show once a year.

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<v SPEAKER_03>Okay.

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<v SPEAKER_00>So this girl I had never met, I was going to the grocery store and she said, Hey, hey, hey, hey, you.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And I said, Me, she said, yeah.

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<v SPEAKER_00>She said, I heard that you sing.

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<v SPEAKER_00>I say, okay.

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<v SPEAKER_00>She said, and we're putting together a group to do the St.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Augustine talent show.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Would you want to be in the group?

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<v SPEAKER_00>And I say, that sounds nice.

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<v SPEAKER_00>I said, but I have to ask my mom.

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<v SPEAKER_00>She said, okay.

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<v SPEAKER_00>So she said, well, when can you ask your mom?

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<v SPEAKER_00>I say, well, I'm on my way to the store now.

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<v SPEAKER_00>So I said, you know, we'll get back to it.

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<v SPEAKER_00>So she was waiting when I came back from the grocery store.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And it was her, her brother, another guy.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And then there were five other guys that had a group called the five DJs.

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<v SPEAKER_00>All right.

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<v SPEAKER_00>So all these people were standing up there waiting for me to come from the store.

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<v SPEAKER_00>So she said, Well, you say you're going to ask your mom, right?

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<v SPEAKER_00>I said, yes.

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<v SPEAKER_00>She said, Well, when are you going to ask your mom?

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<v SPEAKER_00>Can you ask your mom?

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<v SPEAKER_00>I say, well, I guess so.

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<v SPEAKER_00>So we walked to my house and my mom saw us coming.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And she came downstairs.

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<v SPEAKER_00>She said, What's going on?

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<v SPEAKER_00>Because I mean, I went to the store just me and I come back with like eight, nine people.

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<v SPEAKER_00>So I say, I say, this girl, what's your name?

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<v SPEAKER_00>She said, Joan.

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<v SPEAKER_00>I say, Joan asked me to be in the group.

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<v SPEAKER_00>So things for St.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Augustine talent show.

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<v SPEAKER_00>My mom said, Well, do you want to do it?

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<v SPEAKER_00>And I said, Yeah, I think so.

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<v SPEAKER_00>So uh I say, Is it okay?

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<v SPEAKER_00>And she said, Yeah, because my mom used to sing with Papa Sellers and Band.

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<v SPEAKER_00>She was the female singer for his band.

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<v SPEAKER_00>So we go upstairs and we start rehearsing.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Joan said, We got a voice listen.

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<v SPEAKER_00>I say, Well, my sister sang bass.

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<v SPEAKER_00>I just hear Rose all the time, so she sang second L too.

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<v SPEAKER_00>So I said, Rose, you think you want to be in the group?

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<v SPEAKER_00>And she said, I guess it's okay with mother.

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<v SPEAKER_00>So my mom said, Yeah, it's good.

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<v SPEAKER_00>So that part of group was formed.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And we named ourselves the Meltones, M-E-L-T-O-N-E-S.

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<v SPEAKER_00>So we did the talent show, did not win anything, not first, second, or third, but we did the part of the show.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And afterwards, uh, my sister and I used to babysit for Larry McKinley, who was a big dish dopping in New Orleans, W Y L D.

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<v SPEAKER_00>I was at Larry's house.

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<v SPEAKER_00>It was my car and the baby sex.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And his wife's niece, whose name is also Barbara, she had done the talent show also.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Well, she came in second place, uh, second place.

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<v SPEAKER_00>So there's supposedly a talent scout had talked to her and she had an appointment to go see him.

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<v SPEAKER_00>So she said she didn't want to go by herself.

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<v SPEAKER_00>So she asked me, would I go with her?

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<v SPEAKER_00>I said, yeah, let me call my mom and let her know what's going on.

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<v SPEAKER_00>So we went to the musicians' union where she was supposed to meet him, and there was a note on the door saying, something came up, come to my house.

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<v SPEAKER_00>So we looked at each other and said, Yeah, right.

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<v SPEAKER_00>So I called my mom to tell her, well, the place had been changed, and I gave her the address where we were going.

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<v SPEAKER_00>So when we got to his house and he opened the door for us, his name, by the way, uh, was Joe Jones.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Okay.

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<v SPEAKER_00>So we got to his house and he opened the door and um greeted up and he just kept looking at me.

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<v SPEAKER_00>He was looking at me so hard until he made me uncomfortable.

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<v SPEAKER_00>So I asked him, why are you looking at me like that?

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<v SPEAKER_00>And he said, You were on the talent show, the girls with the green dresses, right?

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<v SPEAKER_00>And I said, Yeah.

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<v SPEAKER_00>So he said, wait a minute.

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<v SPEAKER_00>So he went in the back and came back with the program.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And he had circled the meltone.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Who are they?

00:11:36.080 --> 00:11:36.720
<v SPEAKER_00>They were great.

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<v SPEAKER_00>I've got to reach them.

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<v SPEAKER_03>Okay.

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<v SPEAKER_00>He supposedly had been looking for us.

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<v SPEAKER_00>He said you girls were beautiful.

00:11:43.360 --> 00:11:47.039
<v SPEAKER_00>He said, I don't know why you didn't win, but don't worry about it.

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<v SPEAKER_00>I want to talk to you guys about recording and taking you to New York.

00:11:51.600 --> 00:11:53.360
<v SPEAKER_00>I said, um, okay.

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<v SPEAKER_00>I mean, there was no enthusiasm or anything.

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<v SPEAKER_00>So he said, You worry, man.

00:11:58.559 --> 00:11:59.600
<v SPEAKER_00>I said, yeah, I heard you.

00:11:59.759 --> 00:12:01.279
<v SPEAKER_00>I said, but I have to ask my mom.

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<v SPEAKER_00>I gotta talk to the rest of the group to see if they're interested.

00:12:04.559 --> 00:12:05.759
<v SPEAKER_00>And he said, okay.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And it had another group.

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<v SPEAKER_00>It was an old boy group.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And he looked at the program.

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<v SPEAKER_00>He said, the five D days.

00:12:11.519 --> 00:12:13.279
<v SPEAKER_00>I said, well, they're at my house right now.

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<v SPEAKER_00>So he said, Well, can I come to your house?

00:12:15.679 --> 00:12:16.639
<v SPEAKER_00>I said, I don't know.

00:12:16.799 --> 00:12:18.480
<v SPEAKER_00>Let me call and ask my mom.

00:12:18.639 --> 00:12:20.559
<v SPEAKER_00>He said, because I want to talk to them.

00:12:20.639 --> 00:12:22.399
<v SPEAKER_00>I said, you have to talk to their mom.

00:12:22.639 --> 00:12:23.919
<v SPEAKER_00>So we said, okay.

00:12:24.159 --> 00:12:27.919
<v SPEAKER_00>So I called my mom and she said, if we wanted to.

00:12:28.080 --> 00:12:31.919
<v SPEAKER_00>So she called Rose and Joan to the phone and they said, yeah, I guess so.

00:12:32.159 --> 00:12:36.879
<v SPEAKER_00>I gave him the address and I went back to Larry's house and told him what was going on.

00:12:37.039 --> 00:12:38.399
<v SPEAKER_00>Well, his wife anyway.

00:12:38.559 --> 00:12:40.080
<v SPEAKER_00>And so I went home.

00:12:40.320 --> 00:12:51.679
<v SPEAKER_00>So he came over, and when he came and we sang and the five DJ saying, Joe's eyes popped out so big I thought they were gonna come out his head.

00:12:51.840 --> 00:12:52.080
<v SPEAKER_03>Yeah.

00:12:52.240 --> 00:12:54.799
<v SPEAKER_00>So he asked my mom, could he use the phone?

00:12:54.960 --> 00:13:01.840
<v SPEAKER_00>Well, back then, you had your regular line and you had long distance, and you know, long distance was what's more.

00:13:02.080 --> 00:13:02.720
<v SPEAKER_02>Right, right.

00:13:02.879 --> 00:13:08.480
<v SPEAKER_00>So he didn't call my mom he was making a long distance call, which we should have called it right then.

00:13:08.639 --> 00:13:08.960
<v SPEAKER_03>Right.

00:13:09.279 --> 00:13:12.159
<v SPEAKER_00>Because what was being deceitful, okay?

00:13:12.320 --> 00:13:12.639
<v SPEAKER_03>Yeah.

00:13:12.879 --> 00:13:18.720
<v SPEAKER_00>So he called Mickey, uh, not Mickey, he called Sylvia of Mickey and Sylvia.

00:13:18.879 --> 00:13:19.120
<v SPEAKER_02>Okay.

00:13:19.440 --> 00:13:24.559
<v SPEAKER_00>He was telling her that he had these groups and they were awesome and blah, blah, blah.

00:13:24.639 --> 00:13:30.000
<v SPEAKER_00>And he wanted to take them to New York, but he didn't have the money, so he was gonna drive.

00:13:30.159 --> 00:13:39.600
<v SPEAKER_00>But if she would put up the money, then he was gonna sign up to a manager's contract, and she would get half until she got her money back to us, whatever.

00:13:39.759 --> 00:13:41.200
<v SPEAKER_00>So she sent him the money.

00:13:41.360 --> 00:13:45.919
<v SPEAKER_00>So we rehearsed in New Orleans with Earl King, who was also an artist.

00:13:46.159 --> 00:13:46.399
<v SPEAKER_00>Okay.

00:13:46.559 --> 00:13:47.519
<v SPEAKER_00>He wrote songs.

00:13:47.679 --> 00:13:49.840
<v SPEAKER_00>He had hits, he played the guitar.

00:13:50.000 --> 00:13:52.639
<v SPEAKER_00>He wrote two songs for us, maybe more.

00:13:52.799 --> 00:13:54.960
<v SPEAKER_00>One was Thank You Mama, Thank You Papa.

00:13:55.360 --> 00:14:00.080
<v SPEAKER_00>And that's the song that we sang when we got to New York.

00:14:00.159 --> 00:14:06.000
<v SPEAKER_00>We drove to New York and we'll put up in this hotel, then we walked the pavement.

00:14:06.080 --> 00:14:08.159
<v SPEAKER_00>I didn't know what that meant until I did it.

00:14:08.399 --> 00:14:09.840
<v SPEAKER_01>Yeah, I've done that a few times.

00:14:10.159 --> 00:14:14.399
<v SPEAKER_00>We go from record company to record company to record company.

00:14:14.480 --> 00:14:16.159
<v SPEAKER_00>And you sang for everybody.

00:14:16.240 --> 00:14:16.559
<v SPEAKER_03>Yeah.

00:14:16.720 --> 00:14:18.960
<v SPEAKER_00>And they tell you they'll get back to you.

00:14:19.200 --> 00:14:22.960
<v SPEAKER_00>Everywhere we went, and Joe brought other artists.

00:14:23.039 --> 00:14:34.720
<v SPEAKER_00>He brought a guy named Moody Scott and a girl, Vivian Bates, and uh one of his, or two of his band members sang, Alice Shine Robinson and oh God, last clean shirt.

00:14:34.799 --> 00:14:36.320
<v SPEAKER_00>I can't think of that man's name.

00:14:36.480 --> 00:14:38.639
<v SPEAKER_00>But anyway, he had all these artists.

00:14:38.879 --> 00:14:41.840
<v SPEAKER_00>So we all went to these appointments.

00:14:42.080 --> 00:14:47.279
<v SPEAKER_00>And everywhere we sang, they wanted to sign us, but he kept saying it wasn't the right deal.

00:14:47.440 --> 00:14:51.120
<v SPEAKER_00>Well, we were happy because we thought he was looking out for us.

00:14:51.279 --> 00:14:51.600
<v SPEAKER_03>Sure.

00:14:51.840 --> 00:14:54.159
<v SPEAKER_00>Finally, he got to Libra and Solar.

00:14:54.320 --> 00:14:57.120
<v SPEAKER_00>They gave him what he wanted because they wanted us.

00:14:57.519 --> 00:15:09.360
<v SPEAKER_00>So when we sang for them, they put us with Jeff Barry and Ellie Greenwich, which were two of their writers, and they sang songs for us to see which one we wanted to record.

00:15:09.679 --> 00:15:16.480
<v SPEAKER_00>Or when they played chapel, we looked at them and said, I said, Well, you want us to sing it like that?

00:15:16.799 --> 00:15:20.480
<v SPEAKER_00>So they looked at each other and said, Well, how would you say it?

00:15:20.639 --> 00:15:22.399
<v SPEAKER_00>And I said, Well, give me a minute.

00:15:22.639 --> 00:15:28.320
<v SPEAKER_00>So the three of us walked to the corner of the room and came up with chapel the way it was recorded.

00:15:28.559 --> 00:15:28.879
<v SPEAKER_03>Okay.

00:15:29.120 --> 00:15:32.960
<v SPEAKER_00>We didn't know at the time that that's producing, you know.

00:15:33.200 --> 00:15:33.919
<v SPEAKER_02>Right, right.

00:15:34.159 --> 00:15:42.639
<v SPEAKER_00>Uh, we didn't know, we were green, we didn't know, so chapel was recorded, and they were so happy when we walked over there and sang it.

00:15:42.720 --> 00:15:45.519
<v SPEAKER_00>Well, chapel, the rest is history, you know.

00:15:45.840 --> 00:15:46.559
<v SPEAKER_01>Absolutely.

00:15:46.720 --> 00:15:48.480
<v SPEAKER_01>That was a number one song for you.

00:15:48.720 --> 00:15:54.480
<v SPEAKER_00>Yeah, the Beatles had come over, so it was Beatle Mania in the United States of America.

00:15:54.639 --> 00:15:55.039
<v SPEAKER_02>Right.

00:15:55.200 --> 00:15:58.159
<v SPEAKER_00>And they had a lot of songs on the top hundred.

00:15:58.480 --> 00:15:58.799
<v SPEAKER_02>Yeah.

00:15:58.960 --> 00:16:04.480
<v SPEAKER_00>Our song went up and knocked all their rooms out and stayed uh number one.

00:16:04.559 --> 00:16:06.639
<v SPEAKER_00>I think it was three weeks, three or four weeks.

00:16:06.879 --> 00:16:07.120
<v SPEAKER_00>Right.

00:16:07.360 --> 00:16:12.399
<v SPEAKER_00>So, um, and it has done Chapel has done a lot for us.

00:16:12.480 --> 00:16:14.720
<v SPEAKER_00>It has gotten us into a lot of doors.

00:16:14.960 --> 00:16:22.159
<v SPEAKER_00>We are the only artists that I know from that era that did not do the um De Clark?

00:16:22.399 --> 00:16:23.840
<v SPEAKER_00>Uh Ed Sullivan show.

00:16:24.000 --> 00:16:25.200
<v SPEAKER_01>Oh, Ed Sullivan.

00:16:25.360 --> 00:16:25.600
<v SPEAKER_01>Okay.

00:16:25.840 --> 00:16:27.519
<v SPEAKER_00>Well, we did all the clerk stuff.

00:16:27.600 --> 00:16:29.440
<v SPEAKER_00>We did the club tours and everything.

00:16:29.600 --> 00:16:29.919
<v SPEAKER_01>Okay.

00:16:30.080 --> 00:16:35.759
<v SPEAKER_00>And we didn't do that Sullivan show because Joe wanted them to pay money up front for him.

00:16:36.000 --> 00:16:36.639
<v SPEAKER_03>Oh, okay.

00:16:36.799 --> 00:16:38.000
<v SPEAKER_00>And they say, for what?

00:16:38.159 --> 00:16:42.720
<v SPEAKER_00>Because when you do the TV shows, you sign up and they send you your money after.

00:16:42.960 --> 00:16:43.440
<v SPEAKER_02>Right, right.

00:16:43.759 --> 00:16:44.639
<v SPEAKER_00>Through the union.

00:16:44.879 --> 00:16:47.039
<v SPEAKER_00>But uh, so he ruined that for us.

00:16:47.200 --> 00:16:47.519
<v SPEAKER_03>Yeah.

00:16:47.679 --> 00:16:54.559
<v SPEAKER_00>And then when the World Fair came to New Orleans, he ruined that for us because we had left him then.

00:16:54.720 --> 00:17:01.840
<v SPEAKER_00>And he wrote a letter to the administration of the World's Fair and told him if they booked us, he was going through and all of this.

00:17:01.919 --> 00:17:03.679
<v SPEAKER_00>So they didn't want to go through all that.

00:17:03.759 --> 00:17:04.720
<v SPEAKER_00>So who suffered?

00:17:04.880 --> 00:17:05.279
<v SPEAKER_00>We did.

00:17:05.519 --> 00:17:06.160
<v SPEAKER_01>Right, right.

00:17:06.319 --> 00:17:09.839
<v SPEAKER_01>You know, so now you went from Red Bird to ABC, right?

00:17:10.079 --> 00:17:12.240
<v SPEAKER_00>Yeah, but that was an underhand thing.

00:17:12.400 --> 00:17:12.720
<v SPEAKER_01>Okay.

00:17:12.960 --> 00:17:16.319
<v SPEAKER_00>He was angry with Red Bird for whatever reason.

00:17:16.400 --> 00:17:23.359
<v SPEAKER_00>So he went to ABC Paramount and told them that we didn't have a contract with Red Bird anymore.

00:17:23.599 --> 00:17:25.680
<v SPEAKER_00>Um so they recorded us.

00:17:25.839 --> 00:17:27.200
<v SPEAKER_00>We did a whole album.

00:17:27.359 --> 00:17:30.400
<v SPEAKER_00>They said that we were gonna be their Andrew sister.

00:17:30.720 --> 00:17:30.960
<v SPEAKER_03>Okay.

00:17:31.519 --> 00:17:38.400
<v SPEAKER_00>So when our first record came out, then Red Bird and ABC were fighting, but guess who got lost?

00:17:38.640 --> 00:17:39.200
<v SPEAKER_00>The group.

00:17:39.359 --> 00:17:40.640
<v SPEAKER_03>Yeah, you got, yeah.

00:17:40.960 --> 00:17:46.240
<v SPEAKER_00>Because they pulled the the the songs that were out at that time, which were crime in the charts.

00:17:46.480 --> 00:17:46.799
<v SPEAKER_02>Right.

00:17:46.960 --> 00:17:52.480
<v SPEAKER_00>Both of them, the one on Red Bird and the one on ABC, they pulled them.

00:17:52.720 --> 00:17:54.559
<v SPEAKER_00>So when they pulled them, that hurt us.

00:17:54.720 --> 00:17:56.400
<v SPEAKER_01>Yeah, I've seen that happen before.

00:17:56.640 --> 00:17:57.119
<v SPEAKER_00>You know?

00:17:57.279 --> 00:17:58.640
<v SPEAKER_01>Yeah, absolutely.

00:17:58.960 --> 00:18:00.799
<v SPEAKER_00>So we have been through it.

00:18:01.119 --> 00:18:08.000
<v SPEAKER_01>Yeah, unfortunately, sad to say, you hear that story from a lot of artists from that era.

00:18:08.480 --> 00:18:09.039
<v SPEAKER_00>Mm-hmm.

00:18:09.279 --> 00:18:09.839
<v SPEAKER_00>Mm-hmm.

00:18:10.319 --> 00:18:10.720
<v SPEAKER_00>Yep.

00:18:11.200 --> 00:18:13.440
<v SPEAKER_01>So you and your sister sang together.

00:18:13.680 --> 00:18:16.960
<v SPEAKER_01>I have to say, I've been in the business a long time.

00:18:17.200 --> 00:18:23.279
<v SPEAKER_01>Anytime you hear a brother or you hear sisters sing together, it's just awesome.

00:18:23.519 --> 00:18:26.960
<v SPEAKER_01>There's they know each other so well and they sing so well together.

00:18:27.039 --> 00:18:30.000
<v SPEAKER_01>And I mean you guys just had harmonies that were just so good.

00:18:30.240 --> 00:18:31.440
<v SPEAKER_00>Yeah, thank you.

00:18:31.599 --> 00:18:39.519
<v SPEAKER_00>That's because when we were little, we used to sing with our mom and we did trios in church and stuff like that.

00:18:39.680 --> 00:18:40.000
<v SPEAKER_01>Yeah.

00:18:40.240 --> 00:18:42.720
<v SPEAKER_00>But I lost my sister in twenty-two.

00:18:43.119 --> 00:18:45.119
<v SPEAKER_01>Yeah, I was sad to hear that.

00:18:45.359 --> 00:18:48.799
<v SPEAKER_00>Yeah, and uh it's been really, really hard.

00:18:48.960 --> 00:18:50.480
<v SPEAKER_00>It's been really hard.

00:18:50.720 --> 00:18:51.119
<v SPEAKER_01>Sure.

00:18:51.359 --> 00:18:55.119
<v SPEAKER_00>Being without her because she was my right hand.

00:18:55.519 --> 00:18:57.359
<v SPEAKER_01>Yeah, well, understandable.

00:18:57.440 --> 00:18:59.119
<v SPEAKER_01>You blended so well together.

00:18:59.359 --> 00:19:02.240
<v SPEAKER_00>Yeah, we have been together her whole life.

00:19:02.480 --> 00:19:02.799
<v SPEAKER_01>Right.

00:19:03.039 --> 00:19:15.200
<v SPEAKER_00>Just about because when she was born, I was living with my grandmother because at that time my mom didn't have a house, and you know the story about the mom and dad not together and all of this.

00:19:15.440 --> 00:19:15.759
<v SPEAKER_02>Right.

00:19:16.000 --> 00:19:21.279
<v SPEAKER_00>And the place where my mom was going to live, you could only have one child.

00:19:21.440 --> 00:19:26.960
<v SPEAKER_00>Which it sounds harsh, but now I'm grown, I understand why.

00:19:27.119 --> 00:19:32.240
<v SPEAKER_00>You know, people don't train their children and they tear your stuff up.

00:19:32.400 --> 00:19:32.640
<v SPEAKER_02>Right.

00:19:32.799 --> 00:19:34.400
<v SPEAKER_00>So you can only have one child.

00:19:34.480 --> 00:19:41.279
<v SPEAKER_00>So Rosa was a baby, and I went to live with my grandmother until my mom could get on her feet.

00:19:41.440 --> 00:19:49.599
<v SPEAKER_00>And when she got a place in the Calio project, uh, they didn't have a two-bedroom, but she said she said, I'm desperate.

00:19:49.680 --> 00:19:51.359
<v SPEAKER_00>And she talked to the people over there.

00:19:51.519 --> 00:19:53.200
<v SPEAKER_00>She said, I have to have a place.

00:19:53.279 --> 00:19:55.119
<v SPEAKER_00>I want my two children together.

00:19:55.359 --> 00:19:55.680
<v SPEAKER_03>Sure.

00:19:55.920 --> 00:19:59.039
<v SPEAKER_00>So they gave her this one-bedroom apartment.

00:19:59.119 --> 00:20:01.759
<v SPEAKER_00>Uh that was our first house as a family.

00:20:01.920 --> 00:20:05.039
<v SPEAKER_00>Then a few years later, they gave us a two-bedroom.

00:20:05.119 --> 00:20:07.119
<v SPEAKER_00>So Rose and I shared a bedroom.

00:20:07.279 --> 00:20:11.119
<v SPEAKER_00>And I can say my mom raised us by herself.

00:20:11.279 --> 00:20:12.640
<v SPEAKER_00>My dad was no help.

00:20:12.799 --> 00:20:14.640
<v SPEAKER_00>He was one of those baby dads.

00:20:14.799 --> 00:20:17.920
<v SPEAKER_00>And my grandmother helped her a lot.

00:20:18.400 --> 00:20:22.640
<v SPEAKER_00>I can honestly say I never saw a hungry day.

00:20:22.799 --> 00:20:23.759
<v SPEAKER_01>Yeah, that's good.

00:20:24.000 --> 00:20:26.400
<v SPEAKER_00>I always had a roof over my head.

00:20:26.640 --> 00:20:28.559
<v SPEAKER_00>I always had food to eat.

00:20:28.720 --> 00:20:29.839
<v SPEAKER_00>We had clothes.

00:20:30.000 --> 00:20:34.640
<v SPEAKER_00>And when we were in school, my sister and I was in everything.

00:20:34.799 --> 00:20:42.880
<v SPEAKER_00>And whatever you were in, you had to buy, like I was a cheerleader, so she had to buy my cheerleader outfit from head to toe.

00:20:43.119 --> 00:20:43.440
<v SPEAKER_00>Sure.

00:20:43.680 --> 00:20:45.519
<v SPEAKER_00>We never wanted for anything.

00:20:45.680 --> 00:20:49.920
<v SPEAKER_00>We had everything we needed and some of the things we wanted.

00:20:50.000 --> 00:20:52.799
<v SPEAKER_00>And I'm so glad my mother raised us that week.

00:20:52.960 --> 00:20:53.279
<v SPEAKER_00>Right.

00:20:53.519 --> 00:20:57.920
<v SPEAKER_00>Because Rose raised her child that way, and I raised my daughter that way.

00:20:58.240 --> 00:20:59.359
<v SPEAKER_01>Yeah, that's really good.

00:20:59.599 --> 00:21:00.559
<v SPEAKER_00>You know, you you okay.

00:21:00.960 --> 00:21:05.039
<v SPEAKER_01>So you took a little break there for a while, and then I heard that you went into modeling.

00:21:05.279 --> 00:21:10.240
<v SPEAKER_00>When we moved back to New Orleans, Rose went to school and became a model.

00:21:10.400 --> 00:21:18.079
<v SPEAKER_00>And she went to modeling school because she finished modeling school, and then the instructor asked her to be an instructor.

00:21:18.319 --> 00:21:22.000
<v SPEAKER_00>So she started teaching at the modeling school that she finished from.

00:21:22.160 --> 00:21:24.000
<v SPEAKER_00>And she did a lot of modeling.

00:21:24.079 --> 00:21:26.079
<v SPEAKER_00>She did hand modeling.

00:21:26.319 --> 00:21:28.640
<v SPEAKER_00>She did in-store modeling.

00:21:28.799 --> 00:21:30.720
<v SPEAKER_00>She did runaway modeling.

00:21:30.960 --> 00:21:32.799
<v SPEAKER_00>She taught me everything.

00:21:33.039 --> 00:21:36.880
<v SPEAKER_00>She worked for two different makeup companies.

00:21:37.200 --> 00:21:41.599
<v SPEAKER_00>She worked in-store teaching people how to apply their makeup.

00:21:41.759 --> 00:21:43.440
<v SPEAKER_00>Then she got me to do it.

00:21:43.759 --> 00:21:47.599
<v SPEAKER_01>So after that, I heard that you got back to performing again.

00:21:47.839 --> 00:21:54.319
<v SPEAKER_01>Only this time you had to change the trio up a little bit because Joan had made a decision to leave the band.

00:21:54.559 --> 00:21:59.039
<v SPEAKER_01>So what led up to her making the decision to ultimately leave?

00:21:59.359 --> 00:22:03.279
<v SPEAKER_00>Joan got out the group way back when we were in New York.

00:22:03.440 --> 00:22:03.759
<v SPEAKER_01>Okay.

00:22:04.079 --> 00:22:05.519
<v SPEAKER_00>Joan was was sick.

00:22:05.680 --> 00:22:08.000
<v SPEAKER_00>She had sick sicker cell anemia.

00:22:08.480 --> 00:22:12.079
<v SPEAKER_00>She used to swell up and she couldn't eat everything.

00:22:12.160 --> 00:22:13.599
<v SPEAKER_00>So she wasn't eating right.

00:22:13.680 --> 00:22:16.880
<v SPEAKER_00>We weren't getting the right kind of rest because we were on tour.

00:22:16.960 --> 00:22:17.279
<v SPEAKER_02>Right.

00:22:17.440 --> 00:22:20.640
<v SPEAKER_00>Living on the bus, you know, so she had to quit.

00:22:20.799 --> 00:22:21.119
<v SPEAKER_02>Right.

00:22:21.279 --> 00:22:27.599
<v SPEAKER_00>And that along with the way Joe Jones was treating us, that really made her quit.

00:22:27.839 --> 00:22:31.519
<v SPEAKER_00>So she left the group, uh, this was in the 60s.

00:22:31.680 --> 00:22:34.480
<v SPEAKER_00>And we got a young lady named Beverly Brown.

00:22:34.640 --> 00:22:36.640
<v SPEAKER_00>Beverly used to sing in New Orleans.

00:22:36.720 --> 00:22:40.559
<v SPEAKER_00>And Beverly was with us for a while until she got sick.

00:22:40.720 --> 00:22:46.880
<v SPEAKER_00>She had sarcadosis and we did a lot of traveling then and it was just too much for her.

00:22:47.119 --> 00:22:47.920
<v SPEAKER_02>Right, right.

00:22:48.079 --> 00:22:52.400
<v SPEAKER_00>And then we got this young lady from New Orleans her name Dale Michael.

00:22:52.559 --> 00:22:52.880
<v SPEAKER_02>Uh-huh.

00:22:53.119 --> 00:22:55.200
<v SPEAKER_00>So she was with us for a long time.

00:22:55.440 --> 00:22:55.759
<v SPEAKER_02>Right.

00:22:56.000 --> 00:22:59.519
<v SPEAKER_00>And then after her we got Selga Neville.

00:22:59.759 --> 00:23:02.000
<v SPEAKER_01>Yeah the uh Neville brother's sister.

00:23:02.319 --> 00:23:03.680
<v SPEAKER_00>Neville Brothers sister.

00:23:03.920 --> 00:23:07.599
<v SPEAKER_00>Yeah yeah the brothers are like our big brothers.

00:23:07.759 --> 00:23:08.640
<v SPEAKER_01>Oh that's good.

00:23:08.880 --> 00:23:20.480
<v SPEAKER_00>What I didn't tell you was after we recorded chapel and everything we came back to New Orleans and when we got back to New Orleans we used to background art neville.

00:23:20.880 --> 00:23:21.359
<v SPEAKER_00>Oh okay.

00:23:21.599 --> 00:23:31.039
<v SPEAKER_00>He used to tell people the Dixie Cups got started in my living room because you know we were with him you know and he took us everywhere we sang with him everywhere.

00:23:31.279 --> 00:23:31.920
<v SPEAKER_00>Right, right.

00:23:32.240 --> 00:23:40.079
<v SPEAKER_00>So Othelga and I were friends we went to Southern University together and I used to go to her house every day.

00:23:40.240 --> 00:23:42.559
<v SPEAKER_00>And then her dad used to drive taxis.

00:23:42.640 --> 00:23:43.519
<v SPEAKER_00>He would bring me home.

00:23:43.680 --> 00:23:43.920
<v SPEAKER_01>Yeah.

00:23:44.079 --> 00:23:46.000
<v SPEAKER_00>So I was part of the Neville House.

00:23:46.160 --> 00:23:46.880
<v SPEAKER_01>Yeah that's good.

00:23:47.039 --> 00:23:53.200
<v SPEAKER_00>We are close friends like sisters and it was this year Othelga had uh brain surgery.

00:23:53.440 --> 00:23:53.759
<v SPEAKER_02>Wow.

00:23:53.920 --> 00:24:04.480
<v SPEAKER_00>We did this gig we did the festival the Danny Barker festival that Sunday so I came home that Monday I flew back to to Tampa.

00:24:04.640 --> 00:24:04.960
<v SPEAKER_03>Okay.

00:24:05.279 --> 00:24:12.079
<v SPEAKER_00>And she was at home and she said she was talking and the words weren't coming out right so she knew something was wrong.

00:24:12.240 --> 00:24:18.319
<v SPEAKER_00>So she called her husband and her daughter and they took her to the hospital and she had to have surgery like two days late.

00:24:18.480 --> 00:24:18.799
<v SPEAKER_01>Wow.

00:24:18.960 --> 00:24:20.799
<v SPEAKER_00>She's doing well now thank God.

00:24:21.119 --> 00:24:22.640
<v SPEAKER_01>Oh that's just so good to hear.

00:24:22.799 --> 00:24:23.279
<v SPEAKER_01>Yeah.

00:24:23.519 --> 00:24:29.759
<v SPEAKER_01>So your group came in some ways around the time that the Supremes were going strong is that correct?

00:24:30.000 --> 00:24:46.559
<v SPEAKER_00>We came after the Supremes the first female groups really was the Sherelles and the Chantell then the uh Supremes and then Martha Vandela's and the angels and the chiffons and everybody else.

00:24:46.720 --> 00:24:55.839
<v SPEAKER_00>Now because when we first got in the business we did the Apollo theater and we were one with the Sherell.

00:24:56.240 --> 00:25:13.440
<v SPEAKER_00>They are the ones that taught us what to wear how to do your hair how to do your makeup and all these things because we had only done we were doing what we saw others do and what was on the this was before Rose became a model.

00:25:13.680 --> 00:25:22.960
<v SPEAKER_00>Okay all right okay yeah so the Sherelle took us by the hand and they came to our dressing room because I think you did either four or five shows a day.

00:25:23.200 --> 00:25:24.960
<v SPEAKER_01>Yes that's what I understand yeah.

00:25:25.200 --> 00:25:30.000
<v SPEAKER_00>So they said well you wear this for your last show you wear this first and you wear this and you wear this.

00:25:30.160 --> 00:25:42.960
<v SPEAKER_00>And then that's when we were introduced to Larrae he was a beautician and he used to do our hair but with traveling and not having a beautician with you it was hard to keep up with the hair.

00:25:43.119 --> 00:25:43.440
<v SPEAKER_03>Okay.

00:25:43.599 --> 00:25:50.400
<v SPEAKER_00>So that's how we got into the wig yeah but uh our first picture that's my natural hair.

00:25:50.720 --> 00:26:00.880
<v SPEAKER_01>Okay yeah what I really loved about the songs and the style that you had is that everything just came across so natural.

00:26:01.039 --> 00:26:03.680
<v SPEAKER_01>Your harmonies were good, your vocals were good.

00:26:03.839 --> 00:26:06.799
<v SPEAKER_01>It was just a truly great sound.

00:26:07.039 --> 00:26:12.720
<v SPEAKER_00>Right, right and we thank God for that because he's the one he's the one that created the Dixie Cup.

00:26:12.799 --> 00:26:57.519
<v SPEAKER_00>Yeah because when John asked me about singing I had no idea that singing going to New York I was going to have oh and Joe did tell us the truth about this he said your chances at having a number one record is a hundred and fifty million to one yeah yeah he's yeah there that's definitely uh very hard to do so but you beat it you did it right right and that's how I know God was in the plan because I didn't know anything the three of us didn't know we didn't have any idea you know what I'm saying yeah and the song Chapel of Love that was just so good and it opened up so many doors for you.

00:26:58.319 --> 00:27:03.759
<v SPEAKER_01>And it was just one of those songs that was the right time the right song the right everything.

00:27:04.000 --> 00:27:04.319
<v SPEAKER_01>Right.

00:27:04.480 --> 00:27:08.559
<v SPEAKER_01>And it's and it stands the test of time because it's big even today on stuff.

00:27:08.880 --> 00:27:17.839
<v SPEAKER_00>Yeah it is it is I was talking to someone and he was telling me how popular it is uh streaming.

00:27:18.160 --> 00:27:18.799
<v SPEAKER_02>Right.

00:27:19.119 --> 00:27:25.759
<v SPEAKER_00>You know God is good and we're getting ready to um do something with ICO.

00:27:26.000 --> 00:27:29.359
<v SPEAKER_00>We're trying to get it done before Mighty Grays.

00:27:29.680 --> 00:27:30.000
<v SPEAKER_03>Okay.

00:27:30.400 --> 00:27:36.960
<v SPEAKER_00>All right so if this comes up we can do this it'll be something really big it'll be great for us.

00:27:37.200 --> 00:27:39.440
<v SPEAKER_01>Yeah that's good that's really good.

00:27:39.680 --> 00:27:42.400
<v SPEAKER_01>I'm just so glad that things are going good for you.

00:27:42.640 --> 00:27:46.000
<v SPEAKER_01>You've had a great career and great songs.

00:27:46.319 --> 00:27:50.720
<v SPEAKER_00>Right, right right right my dream you know how you have a bucket list?

00:27:50.960 --> 00:27:51.359
<v SPEAKER_02>Right.

00:27:51.599 --> 00:28:06.960
<v SPEAKER_00>On my bucket list is to do a concert at home in New Orleans at UNO Lake Fun Arena that holds 10,000 people and the people I want on the show are Bet Midler because she recorded chapel.

00:28:07.200 --> 00:28:13.119
<v SPEAKER_00>So I think that would be great to have her on the show and maybe we could do it together or something.

00:28:13.359 --> 00:28:13.599
<v SPEAKER_02>Right.

00:28:13.839 --> 00:28:21.039
<v SPEAKER_00>Dolly Pardon because when she came to New Orleans we did her show and we sang I go together.

00:28:21.440 --> 00:28:23.519
<v SPEAKER_00>So that would be great for that.

00:28:23.680 --> 00:29:46.880
<v SPEAKER_01>The temptations because the last time I talked to Otis he said well Barbara she say I'm gonna call you the Otis Williams of the Dixie Cup I say Yeah I saw Otis he came here in Nashville about four or five years ago I think uh and I got a chance to see him for a while and talk with him uh and uh he was still doing good yes yes yes he's still doing good so I want him his group on and Stevie Wanda because uh when we did a show with Stevie he used to call us his little Dixie Cup yeah yeah so yeah so that's the people I want on my show and of course I'm gonna put uh Didi and the crystals on yeah that would be so great I hope that happens for you I have to say this has been a great conversation and I've truly enjoyed you coming on thanks so much thank you thank you it's been my pleasure thanks for joining us today we hope you enjoyed the show this has been a Tony Mantor production for more information contact media at plateau music.com