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

P. P. Arnold (born Patricia Ann Cole on October 3, 1946) is an American soul singer. She started her music journey in 1965 as an Ikette with the famous Ike & Tina Turner Revue. The next year, she moved to London to start her own singing career. P. P. Arnold became very popular in the United Kingdom with her hit songs "The First Cut Is the Deepest" (1967) and "Angel of the Morning" (1968).

Early Life and Music Beginnings

P. P. Arnold grew up in a family of gospel singers. She sang for the first time when she was just four years old! Her family lived in the Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles. She got married young and had two children, Kevin and Debbie. She also worked two jobs to support her family.

In 1965, a friend helped P. P. Arnold get an audition to become an Ikette. The Ikettes were a group of dancer-singers who performed with the Ike & Tina Turner Revue. P. P. Arnold got the job right away. She decided to join the group and left her children with her parents for a while.

As an Ikette, Arnold sang lead on the 1966 song "What'cha Gonna Do (When I Leave You)." She also sang backup vocals on the album River Deep – Mountain High. She appeared in the 1966 concert film, The Big T.N.T. Show.

Starting a Solo Career in London

P. P. Arnold left the Ike & Tina Turner Revue in 1966 after a tour in the UK with the Rolling Stones. She decided to stay in London to start her own solo career. Mick Jagger from the Rolling Stones encouraged her to do this. Arnold felt that she was treated much better in England as a young Black woman on her own.

Her friendship with Mick Jagger helped her get a solo contract with Immediate Records. This record label was started by the Rolling Stones' manager, Andrew Loog Oldham.

P. P. Arnold in 1967

P. P. Arnold had several big hits in Britain on Immediate Records. These included songs like "The Time Has Come." She also recorded songs written by Steve Marriott and Ronnie Lane from the band Small Faces. The Small Faces even played backup for her on some recordings. Arnold toured with the Small Faces in 1967–68 and sang backup on their hits "Itchycoo Park" and "Tin Soldier".

In 1968, she released her solo album Kafunta. This album featured amazing orchestral music arranged by John Paul Jones (musician). It included her own songs and covers like "Angel of the Morning" and "Eleanor Rigby". She also sang a duet with Rod Stewart called "Come Home Baby."

Her first backup band was called the Blue Jays. Later, she worked with the Nice, which included Keith Emerson on organ. During this time, she had several hit songs. These included the original version of Cat Stevens' "The First Cut Is the Deepest" and "Angel of the Morning".

After Immediate Records closed down, Arnold signed with the Robert Stigwood Organisation. She released two singles on Polydor that were produced by Barry Gibb. However, a full album with Gibb was never finished at that time.

P. P. Arnold performing on Dutch TV in 1968

Moving to the Stage and Session Work

In 1970, P. P. Arnold started performing in musicals. She appeared in the rock musical Catch My Soul. She also formed a new band that included future members of Ashton, Gardner and Dyke.

During this time, she worked again with Steve Marriott and his new band Humble Pie. She also became a popular session musician, singing backup vocals for many famous artists. These included the original 1970 album of the rock musical Jesus Christ Superstar, Nick Drake, Dr. John, Graham Nash, and Eric Burdon. She toured with Eric Clapton, who also produced some unreleased songs with her.

In the mid-1970s, Arnold moved back to Los Angeles. Sadly, her daughter Debbie died in a car accident. After this, Arnold took a break from public life. She returned in 1978 and reconnected with Barry Gibb.

Music in the 1980s and 1990s

In 1981, Arnold moved to Hollywood, but returned to England the next year. She started working with the reggae band Steel Pulse. She also had a hit in 1983 with a cover of "Respect Yourself" with the group Kane Gang. This song reached #21 in Britain.

In 1984, she joined the cast of the musical Starlight Express. After this, she worked with artists like Boy George. She also sang on several movie soundtracks. Later, she was in a car accident that badly injured her legs. Even so, she went on tour with Billy Ocean, at first using crutches.

In 1986, she sang backup vocals on Peter Gabriel's worldwide hit "Sledgehammer". She then had a successful collaboration with The Beatmasters on the song "Burn It Up," which reached #14 in Britain in 1988.

During the late 1980s and 1990s, Arnold continued to be a busy session vocalist. She sang for groups like The KLF and Roger Waters. In 1989, she recorded with her old friend Steve Marriott again on his album 30 Seconds to Midnite. This was their last work together before he passed away in 1991.

In 1994, she joined the musical Once on This Island. She met the band Ocean Colour Scene and later sang on their 1997 album "Marchin Already." She also sang a duet with Simon Fowler on the 1998 single "It's a Beautiful Thing".

Recent Years and New Music

In the 2000s, P. P. Arnold toured with Roger Waters as a backup vocalist. Her song "The First Cut Is the Deepest" was featured in the 2012 movie Seven Psychopaths.

In 2001, she released The First Cut (The Immediate Anthology), which included all her songs from Immediate Records. In 2009, she toured the UK with other soul singers.

In 2017, P. P. Arnold finally released her album The Turning Tide. This album was a collection of songs recorded between 1968 and 1970 that were never finished until then. It included songs produced by Barry Gibb and Eric Clapton. She celebrated her 50th Anniversary in music with a tour that year.

In 2018, Arnold toured Australia and New Zealand. She performed with the rock band You Am I. In August 2019, she released her fourth solo album, The New Adventures of...P. P. Arnold. This album was produced by Steve Cradock from Ocean Colour Scene. It included different styles of music, from classic soul to house music. The album also featured a long reading of Bob Dylan's poem "The Last Thoughts On Woody Guthrie."

In October 2019, Arnold toured the UK to support her new album. In 2020, she performed lead vocals on The Fratellis' single "Strangers In The Street."

Family Life

P. P. Arnold had her first two children, Kevin and Debbie, from her first marriage. She decided to leave her husband and join the Ikettes, with her mother helping to care for her children. Sadly, her daughter Debbie passed away in a car accident in the mid-1970s.

In 1968, Arnold married Jim Morris. Barry Gibb was the best man at their wedding. They divorced after two years but remained friends.

P. P. Arnold also has a son named Kodzo from a relationship with musician Calvin "Fuzzy" Samuel. Kodzo is now a musical director for artists like Jessie J and Jess Glynne. He also helped write songs for his mother's 2019 album, The New Adventures of... P. P. Arnold.

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 late 1960s to early 1970s)
• The New Adventures of... P. P. Arnold (2019)

Compilations

• P. P. Arnold Greatest Hits (1977)
• The P. P. Arnold Collection (1988)
• The First Cut (The Immediate Anthology) (2001)
• Angel of the Morning (2006)
• The Best of P. P. Arnold - The First Cut Is the Deepest (2006)

Charting Singles

Other Appearances

• "What'cha Gonna Do (When I Leave You)" (1966) – The Ikettes – lead vocals
• 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
• Bryter Layter (1971) – Nick Drake – chorus on "Poor Boy"
• Songs for Beginners (1971) – Graham Nash – chorus on "Military Madness"
• So (1986) – Peter Gabriel – chorus on "Sledgehammer"
• 30 Seconds to Midnite (1989) – Steve Marriott
• Amused To Death (1992) – Roger Waters – chorus on four songs
• Long Agos And Worlds Apart – A Tribute To the Small Faces (1995) – lead vocals on "Understanding" with Primal Scream
• Standing on the Shoulder of Giants (2000) – Oasis
• In the Flesh – Live (2000) – Roger Waters
• Seven Psychopaths (2012) – Original Soundtrack – features "The First Cut Is the Deepest"

Images for kids

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  P. P. Arnold in 2007

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  P. P. Arnold in 1967

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  P. P. Arnold on Dutch TV in 1968

See also

In Spanish: P. P. Arnold para niños