vessie simmons
MEMPHIS TN (IFS) -- The Ribbons 1963
Ain't Gonna Kiss Ya Marsh 45 202
The Ribbons aka
The Sequins (6) aka The Sandpapers (Los Angeles) Personnel : Evelyn Doty
Arthetta Gibson Lovie ? Vessie Simmons Discography : The Ribbons 1962 - Ain't
Gonna Kiss Ya / My ...
This review is
from: My Baby Said - Ain't Gonna Kiss Ya (Vinyl)
The only thing
known for certain about the 1960s Girl Group known as The Ribbons (Arthetta
Givan, Lovie Kinchion,
Evelyn Doty and
Vessie Simmons) is that they had one nationally charting single in February
1963 and that was the # 81 Billboard Pop Hot 100 Ain't Gonna Kiss Ya, written
by James Marcus Smith (better known as P.J. Proby), and which was produced by
Marshall Lieb and distributed on the tiny Los Angeles-based Marsh M-202 b/w My
Baby Said.
Devoted
collectors of everything and anything by the Girl Groups will tell you it's
impossible to find in a quality CD. In fact, I was surprised that the great Ace
of London series Early Girls didn't have it, as those volumes are replete with
such groups who are not only even more obscure than The Ribbons, but who never
did boast a nationally-charted single.
They do have a
version of the song in Volume 3 of that series, but it's the one done that year
by Suzie Clark on Rendezvous 196, which did not chart. In the liner notes, Mick
Patrick indicates his preference for the latter by saying "while not
necessarily proving that the original is always best, the fight was won by The
Ribbons."
That, of course,
boils down to nothing more than a matter of opinion, and in choosing to ignore
The Ribbons' version they figuratively thumb their noses at that element of the
market seeking hits.
And, apart from
three releases a bit later at the equally-obscure Renfro Records billed as The
Sequins, that seems to be the only time they appeared on record as The Ribbons.
So, the mere fact
they were able to break into the Hot 100 at all and for a label that likely had
zero funding for promotion, tells you this is one Girl Group whose lone claim
to national fame should at least be included in one quality CD compilation with
appropriately cleaned up sound.
It's certainly
good enough to have become a higher-charting entry on both the Hot 100 and R
&B charts had it been in the hands of at least one of the better
independents.
As The Sequins it
appears they released That Boy b/w He's A Flirt (Renfro 113), He's A Flirt
(re-issue) b/w A Case Of Love (Renfro 126) and He's A Flirt (re-issue) b/w
You're All I Need (Renfro 218). They may also have performed - if not recorded
- as The Sandpapers.
The Ikettes – Was
Vessie Simmons A Member Or Not?
Does anyone know
if Vessie Simmons was ever an Ikette? Vessie
was from LA and made some good solo records in the early to mid 70's, prior to
that she had been in a number of groups.
While in Los
Angeles in late 1994, Kenny Smith, then CEO/president of D-Town Records was in negotiations
with Merrell Fankhauser to manufacturer and distribute his new Impacts release “Surfin’
101” and to film Merrell’s Channel America Television show.
On the show was
Vessie Simmons, Marvin and Johnny, Jewel Atkins, Frankie Ervin (of the Shields)
and Mars Bonfire (of Steppenwolf). The
after party included the company of Simmons and Smith talking about helping her
with distribution for her Simco Records label.
Along this line
of promotion and distribution, Smith agreed to handle the Simco label and other
past, present and future products. Smith
explained to Simmons that he was working on a plan to use “Digital Distribution”,
as it was a young idea and very new to the music industry.
Simmons career is
varied as any artist in the business.
Simmons did say to Smith, that she was a member of the Ikettes for a
very short time, as she received her teaching degree and began her full time
career in the Los Angeles School District for many years.
As a member of
the Ikettes, it was between 1963-64 for one season. The issue came about the use of drugs, as
Simmons was not into “getting up” before the show that was full powered behind
Tina Turner. The dancing moves were very
difficult and she was not that physical on moving that way on stage. So her career as an Ikette came to a sudden
end.
As with most
artists of that time, it was not uncommon to “cover” for other artists in
different groups on tour. Simmons,
Darlene Love, Clydie King, Carlena Williams, and many many others “covered” for
sick members who failed to get to the job, and a quick telephone call would
make the act very whole, where they could collect their nights money and get on
to the next show. In those days, it was
all about the “body count”, you had to have “X” bodies on the stage according
to the contract to get paid.
A Short
discography of the Ribbons with Vessie Simmons
The Ribbons --
Ain't Gonna Kiss Ya / My Baby Said (Marsh 202; 1962)
--- " --- --
After Last Night /* This Is Our* (Marsh 203; 1963)
--- " --- --
They Played A Sad Song / Melodie D'amour (Parkway 912; 1964)
Evelyn Doty &
The Ribbons*-- Teach Me How To*Dance / I'd Like To Be (Gramo 107; 1964)****
The Sequins* --
I'll Be Satisfied / Who Says You Can't Jerk (A & M 761; 1965)
The Sandpapers --
Ain't Gonna Kiss Ya / My Baby Said (Charger 114; 1965 - JUST A RE-RELEASE)
..............
she was also probably in another group ...........
The Buttons &
Beaus - "Never Leave Your Sugar/Twistin' Blues"* (Zen 104)*
"Ain't Gonna
Kiss Ya" was a big hit in LA & made the US charts, the song being
composed by P.J. Proby.*
The Claim of the “Fake”
Shirelles and Federal Government prosecution
Anyway, she was
solo (& recording again) by 1970 and later she ran a 'fake' set of
Shirelles (though she always claimed that she had been in the group in earlier
days). She was prosecuted by the Federal Government for her 'Shirelles'
activities in 1975 and so stopped running her version of the group from then.
Simmons was a “spare”
singer for most of the groups in Los Angeles at that time in history, including
a short career with Gladys Horton and the Marvelettes. As it was stated above, to fill a contract,
it was all about “bodies” on the stage, and Simmons was in demand to help a
performing group fill the bill of the group when a member was unable to
perform.
 |
| Marvellettes |
When one of the
original members of one of the Shirelles splinter groups quit, Simmons was a
member of the group with that one original member. As time passed, and the dates for
performances and payments made in advance to the promoter, Simmons found
herself in the middle of a court law suit, that really had nothing to do with
her, but mostly with the promoter who kept booking the group.
 |
| Shirelles |
It’s the same old
song, with the Temptations; David Ruffin’s Temptations; Eddie Kendrick’s
Temptations; Richard Street’s Temptations, etc., and the beat goes on.
Simmons’s story
in the law suit was so important, it was only printed on page 12 of the Redland
Daily Facts in June 26, 1975.
As to the Federal
Government’s case, it was very weak, but do to the expense of the case,
Simmons ended up working for free and had to reimbursed all of the money she
made to the “real” Shirelles. Upon that
decision, Simmons who had earned her teaching degree began full time in the Los
Angeles City Schools District, thereby “disappearing” into her career.
However, Simmons
did not just disappear, she continued recording and releasing records on her
Simco Records label for many year after that, with distribution deals in Japan,
United Kingdom and Canada.
Simmons also
worked with Bobby Sanders as a background singer in “sweetening” many sessions,
including Charles Wright, Barry White, Aretha Franklin, Peter Frampton, and
many other groups of that time.
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