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 .........
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.*

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.
Vessie also claimed that she had been hired by Ike T to become an Ikette. She further claimed that she had gone on to lead a set of 'Ikettes', but I can find no mention of her amongst the dozens of femme singers who were actually Ikettes.
Anyone know if she was in the group & if so, during which time period [[late 60's perhaps when she seemed to disappear off the radar).