The Dixie Cups are a legendary American girl group whose harmonious blend of pop and rhythm & blues helped define the sound of the 1960s. Hailing from New Orleans, Louisiana, the original trio consisted of Barbara Ann Hawkins, her sister Rosa Lee Hawkins, and their cousin Joan Marie Johnson. The group began singing together in grade school and initially performed under the name The Meltones. They were briefly considered for names like Little Miss and the Muffets before settling on The Dixie Cups in 1964—a name that would soon become iconic.

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Breakthrough and Career Highlights

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Their big break came when singer and producer Joe Jones discovered them and brought them to New York City. There, they signed with Red Bird Records, founded by legendary producers Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. Their debut single, “Chapel of Love”, written by Phil Spector, Jeff Barry, and Ellie Greenwich, was originally intended for The Ronettes or The Crystals. But The Dixie Cups made it their own, and the song soared to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in June 1964, selling over a million copies and earning a gold disc. It remains a beloved wedding anthem and was ranked #279 on Rolling Stone’s list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time1.

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Following their breakout success, the group released several other hits:

• “People Say” – #12 (1964)

• “You Should Have Seen the Way He Looked at Me” – #39 (1964)

• “Little Bell” – #51 (1965)

• “Iko Iko” – #20 (1965), a playful rendition of a traditional New Orleans chant, famously recorded during a spontaneous studio session.

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Though their chart-topping era was brief, The Dixie Cups left a lasting mark on American pop music. They were inducted into the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame in 2007 and received the Rhythm & Blues Foundation Pioneer Award in 2003.

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Group Members

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Original Members:

• Barbara Ann Hawkins

• Rosa Lee Hawkins (1944–2022)

• Joan Marie Johnson (1944–2016)

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Later Members:

• Dale Mickle (replaced Joan Marie Johnson in the 1970s)

• Athelgra Neville Gabriel (joined after Mickle’s departure)

• Naydja Cojoe (current performer)

 

Today, The Dixie Cups continue to perform, keeping the spirit of 1960s girl group music alive with their timeless harmonies and New Orleans soul.