Jo Armstead facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jo Armstead
Joshie Jo Armstead in NYC at a Melvin Van Peebles performance
Background information
Birth name	Josephine Armstead
Also known as	Joshie Jo Armstead Joshie Armstead Jossie Armstead Deena Johnson
Born	(1944-10-08) October 8, 1944 (age 80) Yazoo City, Mississippi, U.S.
Genres	R&B, soul
Occupation(s)	Singer, songwriter, actress
Instruments	Vocals
Years active	1961 – 1990s
Labels	De-Lex, Infinity, Giant, Gospel Truth, Preacher Rose

Josephine Armstead (born October 8, 1944), also known as "Joshie" Jo Armstead, is an American soul singer and songwriter. She started her music journey singing background vocals for blues artist Bobby "Blue" Bland. Later, in the early 1960s, she became an Ikette in the Ike & Tina Turner Revue.

Jo Armstead also found success as a solo singer. Her most popular song was "A Stone Good Lover" in 1968. As a songwriter, she worked with Nick Ashford and Valerie Simpson. Together, they wrote hit songs for many famous artists. These included Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, and Tina Britt. In the 1970s, Armstead also performed in Broadway musicals like Don't Play Us Cheap and Seesaw.

Early Life and Music Career

Jo Armstead was born in Yazoo City, Mississippi, on October 8, 1944. Her parents were Wilton and Rosie Armstead. She began singing in the church where her mother was a minister. Her grandfather introduced her to blues music, which led her to sing in local clubs and at dances. She first sang in a club as part of Bobby "Blue" Bland's band. As a teenager, she joined a local band called Little Melvin & The Downbeats.

Becoming an Ikette

In 1960, Jo Armstead, along with Eloise Hester and Delores Johnson, became the first members of The Ikettes. They were part of the Ike & Tina Turner Revue. Jo was recommended to Ike Turner by her sister, Velma Dishman. As an Ikette, Armstead recorded the song "I'm Blue (The Gong-Gong Song)". This song became a hit, reaching No. 19 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and No. 3 on the R&B chart.

In 1962, Armstead moved to New York City. She recorded music under the name Deena Johnson to avoid being found by Ike Turner. However, she remembered her time as an Ikette fondly. She said it was "the greatest" experience, even though traveling the "Chitlin' Circuit" (a network of venues for Black entertainers) was tough. She added, "I have the utmost respect for Ike Turner as an artist and what he created."

Songwriting Success

After leaving The Ikettes, Armstead recorded songs for commercials. She also sang background vocals for artists like James Brown and B.B. King. Then, she met Nick Ashford and Valerie Simpson by chance. They started writing songs together. One of their first big successes was a song that became a No. 1 R&B hit for Ray Charles in 1966. Another hit they wrote for Ray Charles was "I Don't Need No Doctor".

The trio also wrote successful songs for Chuck Jackson, Maxine Brown, and Tina Britt. Armstead also wrote or co-wrote hits for other artists. These included "Cry Like a Baby" by Aretha Franklin and "Jealous Kind of Fella" by Garland Green. She also wrote "Come On Sock It to Me" for Syl Johnson.

Solo Career and Later Work

After Ashford and Simpson joined Motown, Armstead moved to Chicago in 1967. She started her own company, Giant Productions, with her husband, Mel Collins. Her single "I Feel An Urge Coming On" was released on the Giant label. While not a big hit at the time, it later became very popular with Northern soul fans in the UK. Two of her next songs, "A Stone Good Lover" and "I've Been Turned On," both reached the R&B chart in 1968.

Armstead later returned to New York and continued singing and writing commercials. She sang background vocals on Bob Dylan's 1971 song "George Jackson". She also contributed to Roberta Flack's album Quiet Fire (1971). In 1972, Armstead had a role in Melvin Van Peebles' Broadway musical, Don't Play Us Cheap. She also appeared in its 1973 film version.

In the early 1970s, she signed with Gospel Truth, a label connected to Stax. She recorded several songs as Joshie Jo Armstead. Her most successful song from this period was "Stumblin' Blocks, Steppin' Stones" in 1974. She also sang background vocals for Stax. After Stax Records closed, Armstead continued writing songs through her own company. She also worked as a fashion designer. In the 1980s, she managed a boxer named Alfonso Ratliff. She released music on her own Prairie Rose Records in the 1990s.

In 2006, Armstead was honored with a STAR (Special Thanks And Recognition) award. This award was given by the Metro New York Chapter of the Jackson State University Alumni Association. A version of one of Armstead's songs has been used in TV shows like Riverdale and Black Lightning.

Selected Songs

Singles

Backing Vocal Credits

Songwriting Credits

Stage Performances