Robbie Montgomery facts for kids

Robbie Montgomery (born June 16, 1940) is an American singer and a successful restaurant owner. She is well-known for being one of the first Ikettes, a backup singing group for the famous Ike & Tina Turner Revue in the 1960s. After singing with the Ikettes, she joined other groups like the Mirettes and worked with Dr. John. In the 1970s, Robbie sang backup for many big stars, including Stevie Wonder, Barbra Streisand, the Rolling Stones, and Joe Cocker. Later, she started her own chain of soul food restaurants called Sweetie Pie's. She also starred in a popular TV show about her restaurants called Welcome to Sweetie Pie's.

Early Life and Beginnings

Robbie Montgomery was born on June 16, 1940, in Columbus, Mississippi. Her parents were Ora Gray and James Montgomery. She lived with her great-grandmother, Miss Pathenia, who was an American Indian. When Robbie was six, her family moved to St. Louis, Missouri. She grew up in a housing project called Pruitt-Igoe and was the oldest of nine children. Robbie was raised as a Baptist and sang in her church choir. She went to Curtis Elementary School and graduated from Pruitt High School.

Robbie's Music Journey

Robbie Montgomery loved to sing from a young age. She started a singing group with two friends, Frances Hodges and Sandra Harding. They called themselves the Chordettes, then the Rhythmettes, and performed in talent shows. A local singer, Art Lassiter, hired them as backup singers, and they became the Artettes.

Becoming an Ikette

Art Lassiter sang with Ike Turner's band, the Kings of Rhythm. Ike Turner wrote a song called "A Fool in Love" for Lassiter. One day, Lassiter didn't show up for a recording session. So, Ike Turner had the Artettes sing backup for his vocalist, Little Ann, who later became Tina Turner. "A Fool In Love" was released in 1960 and became a big hit!

Ike Turner then formed the Ike & Tina Turner Revue, but Robbie was pregnant and couldn't tour at first. After her baby was born in 1961, she toured with blues musician Earl Hooker. Later, Robbie returned to Ike & Tina Turner. She joined Jessie Smith and Venetta Fields to form the first official group of The Ikettes. In 1962, Robbie released her first solo songs, "Crazy In Love" and "Pee Wee."

Touring and Hits

The Ike & Tina Turner Revue had a very busy touring schedule. They traveled a lot, performing almost every night. Robbie remembered these times fondly, saying they had fun gambling, singing, and dancing on their way to the next show. In 1962, the group moved to California.

As an Ikette, Robbie helped sing on some of their biggest hits. In 1965, the Ikettes released popular songs like "Peaches 'N' Cream" and "I'm So Thankful." Robbie also performed with the Ikettes on famous TV shows like American Bandstand and Shindig!.

New Groups and Backup Singing

In 1965, Robbie, Jessie Smith, and Venetta Fields left the Ike & Tina Turner Revue. They tried to keep using the name Ikettes, but it didn't work out. So, they changed their name to the Mirettes. In 1968, the Mirettes had a hit song with "In the Midnight Hour." They also sang on the soundtrack for the movie The Lost Man in 1969.

Robbie later left the Mirettes and joined Dr. John as a "Night Tripper" in the 1970s. She continued to be a backup singer for many famous artists, including Barbra Streisand, Joe Cocker, and Stevie Wonder. However, a health issue affected her lungs, which made it difficult for her to continue her singing career.

In 2018, Robbie Montgomery released her first album in 40 years, called Miss Robbie's What They Call Me. The album features a mix of soul, blues, and country music.

Sweetie Pie's Restaurants

After her lung issue, Robbie moved back to St. Louis from California. She decided to use her mother's amazing soul food recipes to open a restaurant. She named it Sweetie Pie's. The first Sweetie Pie's restaurant opened in 1996 in Dellwood, Missouri. Robbie is known for hiring people who have been in prison and are looking for a fresh start.

Welcome to Sweetie Pie's TV Show

The reality TV show Welcome to Sweetie Pie's started on the OWN in October 2011. The show followed Robbie and her family as they ran their popular soul food restaurants. The show became very successful.

Robbie has said that running her own business helped her understand her former boss, Ike Turner, better. She realized how important his rules and rehearsals were for their success. Before Ike Turner passed away in 2007, he even visited Sweetie Pie's and left Robbie a nice tip!

In January 2020, Sweetie Pie's opened a new location in Jackson, Mississippi. Robbie Montgomery and musician Bobby Rush performed at the grand opening celebration.

Awards and Recognition

Robbie Montgomery has received several honors throughout her career.

In the 1980s, the mayor of St. Louis named the St. Louis Kings of Rhythm, which included Robbie, as ambassadors for the city.

In 2010, Robbie was honored for her work helping people who had been in trouble with the law find jobs at her restaurant.

Her TV show, Welcome to Sweetie Pie's, won the NAACP Image Award for Best Reality Series in both 2013 and 2016.

Personal Life

Robbie Montgomery had a son named Andre Montgomery, who was born in 1961 and passed away in 1995. She also had a grandson, Andre Montgomery Jr., born in 1994, who was featured on her TV show. Her grandson passed away in 2016.

Robbie's son, James Timothy Norman, was born in 1979. He helped manage one of the Sweetie Pie's restaurants.

Books

• Sweetie Pie's Cookbook: Soulful Southern Recipes, from My Family to Yours (2015)