P. P. Arnold facts for kids

Quick facts for kids P. P. Arnold
Arnold in 2007
Background information
Birth name	Patricia Ann Cole
Also known as	Pat Arnold
Born	(1946-10-03) October 3, 1946 (age 78) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Genres	Soul, pop
Occupation(s)	Singer
Years active	1965–present
Labels	Phi-Dan, Immediate

Patricia Ann Cole (born October 3, 1946), who is known by her stage name P. P. Arnold, is an American soul singer who became famous in the United Kingdom. She started her music career in 1965 as a member of the Ikettes, the backup singers for the famous duo Ike & Tina Turner. A year later, she moved to London to start her own solo career.

Arnold became a star in the U.K. with her hit songs "The First Cut Is the Deepest" in 1967 and "Angel of the Morning" in 1968. She has worked with many famous musicians, including the Small Faces, Peter Gabriel, and Roger Waters of Pink Floyd. She continues to make music and perform for audiences around the world.

Early Life

P. P. Arnold was born in Los Angeles, California, into a family of gospel singers. She began singing in public at just four years old. Growing up, she lived in the Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles. She married at a young age and had two children, Kevin and Debbie. To support her family, she worked two jobs, one in an office and another at a food company.

Music Career

Starting in the 1960s

Arnold's life changed in 1965. A friend told her about an audition to become an Ikette, a singer and dancer for the Ike & Tina Turner Revue. Arnold, who loved to sing, went to the audition with two friends. They were all hired on the spot.

At first, Arnold wasn't sure about joining the group. But after an unhappy situation at home, she decided to leave her husband. She asked her parents to care for her children and joined the Ike & Tina Turner Revue. She said her friendship with Tina Turner was very important and that Turner was a great mentor to her.

As an Ikette, Arnold sang on several recordings. In 1966, the group toured the United Kingdom with The Rolling Stones. The tour was a huge success, and Arnold loved England. With encouragement from Rolling Stones singer Mick Jagger, she decided to stay in London and start a solo career. Jagger helped her get a record deal with Immediate Records.

Arnold in 1967

In the U.K., Arnold quickly became a star. She had several hit songs, including "The First Cut Is the Deepest" (written by Cat Stevens) and "(If You Think You're) Groovy." She often worked with the popular band the Small Faces. She toured with them and sang backup vocals on their famous songs "Itchycoo Park" and "Tin Soldier".

In 1968, she released her album Kafunta. It featured a full orchestra and included her versions of songs like "Angel of the Morning" and The Beatles' "Eleanor Rigby". She also recorded a duet with Rod Stewart called "Come Home Baby."

When Immediate Records closed down, Arnold began working with Barry Gibb of the Bee Gees. They recorded several songs together, but a full album was not finished at the time.

Music in the 1970s

Arnold performing on Dutch TV in 1968

In 1970, Arnold starred in the rock musical Catch My Soul. She also formed a new band that included future members of famous groups like Yes. She continued to work with many other artists, singing backup vocals on the original album of Jesus Christ Superstar and for musicians like Nick Drake and Eric Clapton.

During this time, Arnold faced personal challenges. Her relationship with musician Fuzzy Samuels ended, and shortly after, her daughter Debbie tragically died in a car accident. Heartbroken, Arnold stepped away from her music career to grieve. She returned in 1978, ready to make music again.

Return in the 1980s and 1990s

Arnold came back to the music scene in the 1980s. In 1983, she had a hit song with the group Kane Gang, a cover of "Respect Yourself." In 1986, she sang powerful backup vocals on Peter Gabriel's worldwide hit song "Sledgehammer".

In 1988, she collaborated with The Beatmasters on the dance track "Burn It Up," which became another big hit in the U.K. Throughout the 80s and 90s, she continued to work as a session singer for artists like Roger Waters and The KLF.

In the 1990s, she connected with a new generation of musicians. She worked with the band Ocean Colour Scene, singing a duet with their lead singer on the song "It's a Beautiful Thing".

Career from 2000 to Today

In the 2000s, Arnold toured the world with Roger Waters of Pink Floyd, performing in his popular In the Flesh and Dark Side of the Moon Live tours.

In 2017, she finally released the songs she had recorded with Barry Gibb and Eric Clapton nearly 50 years earlier. The album was called The Turning Tide. To celebrate, she went on a tour marking her 50th anniversary in the music business.

In 2019, she released a brand-new album, The New Adventures of... P. P. Arnold. It was her first album of new material in over 50 years and was produced by Steve Cradock of Ocean Colour Scene. She continues to tour and record, and in 2024, she released a live album called Live In Liverpool.

Personal Life

Arnold married for the first time as a teenager and had two children, Kevin and Debbie. It was an unhappy marriage, and she left to follow her dream of becoming a singer. Her mother helped care for her children while she was on tour. Sadly, her daughter Debbie passed away in a car accident in the mid-1970s.

In 1968, Arnold married her second husband, Jim Morris, but they separated after two years and remained friends. She also has a son named Kodzo from her relationship with musician Calvin "Fuzzy" Samuel. Kodzo is also a musician and has worked as a musical director for artists like Jessie J.

Discography

Studio Albums

• The First Lady of Immediate (1968)
• Kafunta (1968)
• Five in the Afternoon – Dr. Robert & P. P. Arnold (2007)
• The Turning Tide (2017, recorded in the late 1960s and early 1970s)
• The New Adventures of... P. P. Arnold (2019)

Charting Singles

Famous Collaborations

• River Deep – Mountain High (1966) – Ike & Tina Turner – backing vocals
• "Tin Soldier" (1967) – Small Faces – backing vocals
• Jesus Christ Superstar (1970 album)
• Rock On (1971) – Humble Pie – backing vocals
• Bryter Layter (1971) – Nick Drake – backing vocals on "Poor Boy"
• Songs for Beginners (1971) – Graham Nash – backing vocals on "Military Madness"
• So (1986) – Peter Gabriel – backing vocals on "Sledgehammer" and "Big Time"
• Amused To Death (1992) – Roger Waters – backing vocals
• Standing on the Shoulder of Giants (2000) – Oasis – backing vocals
• In the Flesh – Live (2000) – Roger Waters – backing vocals

See also

In Spanish: P. P. Arnold para niños