The Cookies

The Cookies were an American R&B girl group active from 1954 to 1967. Members of the original lineup later became the Raelettes, the backing vocalists for Ray Charles.

The Cookies
The Cookies in 1962
Background information
OriginBrooklyn, New York City, New York, United States
GenresR&B, Pop, Soul
Years active1954–1958;
1962–1967
LabelsLamp/Aladdin Records
Atlantic Records
Dimension Records
Associated actsThe Raelettes
Ray Charles
Past membersDarlene McCrea
Margie Hendricks
Earl-Jean McCrea
Dorothy Jones
Beulah Robertson
Margaret Ross

History

Formed in 1954 in Brooklyn, New York, United States, the Cookies' membership originally consisted of Dorothy Jones, Darlene McCrea and Dorothy's cousin, Beulah Robertson.[1] Robertson was replaced in 1956 by Margie Hendricks (Hendrix). The group was introduced to Ray Charles through their session work for Atlantic Records. In 1958, The Cookies performed with Ray Charles and Ann Fisher for the Cavalcade of Jazz concert produced by Leon Hefflin Sr., held at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, California]], on August 3. The other headliners were Little Willie John, Sam Cooke, Ernie Freeman, and Bo Rhambo.  Sammy Davis Jr. was there to crown the winner of the Miss Cavalcade of Jazz beauty contest.[2] After backing Charles and other Atlantic Records artists, McCrea and Hendricks helped form the Raelettes in 1958.[1] Pat Lyles was a Raelette, but never a Cookie.

Second lineup

In 1961, a new version of the Cookies emerged in New York, with Dorothy Jones joining newcomers Earl-Jean McCrea (Darlene's younger sister) and another of Dorothy's cousins, Margaret Ross. Jones also recorded one solo recording for Columbia in 1961. This trio had the greatest success as the Cookies: under their own name; as backing vocals for other artists, including Neil Sedaka's hit songs "Breaking Up Is Hard to Do", "The Dreamer" and "Bad Girl"; and recording demos for Aldon Music, under the direction of Carole King and Gerry Goffin.[3] They provided the backup vocals for the Little Eva hit song, "The Loco-Motion",[3] as well as her follow-up hit "Let's Turkey Trot", both from 1962; and for Mel Tormé's hit version of "Comin' Home Baby".[4] They scored their biggest hit in 1963 with the song "Don't Say Nothin' Bad (About My Baby)", which reached number 3 on the Billboard R&B chart and #7 on the Billboard Pop chart.[1]

A 1962 hit, "Chains", was recorded by the Beatles on their debut release Please Please Me.[1] Earl-Jean McCrea left the group in 1965 after two solo singles, which included the first recording of the Goffin/King song, "I'm Into Something Good", made famous by Hermans Hermits.

The Cookies also released several recordings under pseudonyms, mostly with Margaret Ross on lead. Their alter egos on recordings were the Palisades (Chairman), the Stepping Stones (Philips), the Cinderellas (Dimension) and the Honey Bees (Fontana 1939 only).[3]

In April 1967, they released their last record, produced by the Tokens. Darlene McCrea returned to replace her sister for this recording.

Dorothy Jones died on Christmas Day 2010, from complications of Alzheimer's disease, in Columbus, Ohio, at the age of 76.[3]

Margaret Ross, now Margaret Williams, tours today as the Cookies with new back-up singers. She also performs with Barbara Harris and the Toys occasionally.

Darlene McCrea died from cancer on February 4, 2013.[5]

Members

Personnel
  • Dorothy Jones - 1954-1958, 1961-1967
  • "Ethel" Darlene McCrea - 1954-1958, 1964-1967
  • Beulah Robertson - 1954-1956
  • Margie Hendricks - 1956-1958
  • Earl-Jean McCrea - 1961-1964
  • Margaret Ross - 1961-1967

Dorothy, Beulah, and Margaret were first cousins; their respective mothers were sisters. Beulah and Margaret were not members of the group during the same period, but both performed with Dorothy. Darlene and Earl-Jean were sisters, but were not members of the group during the same period.

Discography
  • "In Paradise" b/w "Passing Time" (Atlantic 45-2079) 1960
  • "Chains" b/w "Stranger in My Arms" (Dimension 1002) (#17 U.S. Pop, 1962, UK #50, 1963)[6]
  • "Don't Say Nothin' Bad (About My Baby)" b/w "Softly in the Night" (Dimension 1008) (#3 U.S R&B, #7 U.S. Pop, 1963)
  • "Will Power" b/w "I Want a Boy for My Birthday" (Dimension 1012) 1963
  • "Girls Grow Up Faster Than Boys" b/w "Only to Other People" (Dimension 1020) (#33 U.S. R&B, #33 U.S. Pop, 1963)
  • "I Never Dreamed" b/w "The Old Crowd" (Dimension 1032) 1964

Discography as backup singers

References
  1. Colin Larkin, ed. (1997). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Popular Music (Concise ed.). Virgin Books. pp. 300/1. ISBN 1-85227-745-9.
  2. Guralnick, Peter. (2005). Dream boogie : the triumph of Sam Cooke (1st ed.). New York: Little, Brown. ISBN 0316377945. OCLC 57393650.
  3. "The Dead Rock Stars Club 2010 July to December". Thedeadrockstarsclub.com. Retrieved October 14, 2019.
  4. Bob Dorough, "Comin' Home Baby", at Jazz.com Archived 2013-05-18 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 19 February 2014
  5. "The Dead Rock Stars Club 2013 January to June". Thedeadrockstarsclub.com. Retrieved October 14, 2019.
  6. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 119. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.

Bibliography
  • Clemente, John (2000). Girl Groups -- Fabulous Females That Rocked The World. Iola, Wisconsin, Krause Publications. p. 276. ISBN 0-87341-816-6.
  • Clemente, John (2013). Girl Groups -- Fabulous Females Who Rocked The World. Bloomington, Indiana, Authorhouse Publications. p. 623. ISBN 978-1-4772-7633-4
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