Song:Chapel Of Love
Album:The Complete Red Bird Recordings
Chapel Of Love was a number one hit in 1964 for the girl group The Dixie Cups. They had a few other hits especially Iko Iko but Chapel Of Love was their most memorable song. The Dixie Cups were from New Orleans with sisters Barbara Ann and Rosa Lee Hawkins and cousin Joan Marie Johnson. At first they were called The Meltones. They were discovered by Joe Jones who had a hit in 1960 with You Talk Too Much. He changed the group name to Little Miss and the Muffets and took them to New York to get them a record deal. Chapel Of Love was written for The Ronettes by Phil Spector, Jeff Barry and Ellie Greenwich. Spector had The Ronettes, The Crystals and Darlene Love record the song. He didn't like any of the recordings and didn't release them. Meanwhile, Ellie liked this new girl group from New Orleans and changed their name to The Dixie Cups. She had them rehearse Chapel Of Love and then audition for Jerry Lieber and Mike Stoller for their new label Red Bird Records. Supposedly Lieber hated Chapel Of Love but Ellie Greenwich was very persistent that it would be a hit. It topped the Billboard Hot 100 in 1964. The Dixie Cups also had a top 20 hit in 1965 with Iko Iko. You can get all their Red Bird hits on this Varese CD. The Dixie Cups left Red Bird for ABC-Paramount in 1966 but were unsuccessful. They moved back to New Orleans in 1969. The Hawkins sisters both became makeup artists but they continued The Dixie Cups. Joan Johnson found religion and was replaced by Dale Mickle. The Hawkins sisters moved to Florida after Hurricane Katrina. The Dixie Cups still tour the oldies circuit. Athelgra Neville is currently the third member. They were inducted into the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame in 2007. Here are The Dixie Cups performing Chapel Of Love on Hollywood-A-Go-Go Dec. 1965.
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