The Ridgeway Sisters

Last updated

The Ridgeway Sisters
Also known asSweet Cream
The Ridgeways
Origin Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Genres
Instrument(s)Vocals
Years active1963-2003
Past membersEsther Ridgeway
Gloria Ridgeway
Gracie Ridgeway

The Ridgeway Sisters were an American R&B vocal group composed of a trio of sisters, Esther, Gloria, and Gracie Ridgeway. [1] The sisters were mostly notable for providing session background vocals for musicians throughout their career. [1]

Contents

History

The group composed of three sisters born in Detroit, Gloria Dehaven Ridgeway (born June 1955), [1] Gracie Mae Ridgeway (June 16, 1957 – April 19, 2006), [2] and Esther Lene Ridgeway (June 7, 1959 – February 22, 2003), [1] born to Ilene Ridgeway (November 6, 1931 – April 27, 2020) [3] and Tommie Ray Ridgeway. The group grew up singing in the choir at their church, Beulah Baptist Church, in their hometown of Detroit. In 1978, The trio began their recording career under the name "Sweet Cream" on the Shadybrook Records label, distributed by Janus Records, releasing their debut album, Sweet Cream and Other Delights. [1] The album was considered a parody of Whipped Cream & Other Delights. [4] [5] They scored a Top 50 hit with "I Don't Know What I'd Do (If You Ever Left Me)", that same year. [6] The song peaked at number 41 on the Hot Soul Singles chart. [7] The song peaked at No. 9 on the Dance Club Songs chart in July. [8] [9] It also peaked at No. 32 on the same chart in that same year. [8] on In 1981, they were featured on the back cover and on backing vocals on Gene Dunlap's album "It's Just the Way I Feel", and this time, their brother, Tommie Ridgeway Jr., joined them on songwriting. [1] The group would provide backup vocals for artists such as Aretha Franklin, Nancy Wilson, Gerald Alston, Vesta Williams, Keith Washington, Vanessa Bell Armstrong, Jerry Butler, Fontella Bass, Dionne Warwick and Wendy Moten. [1]

In 1989, their brother, Tommie Ridgeway (November 12, 1949 - November 18, 1989), died from a drug dealing incident. [1]

In 1998, they made their appearance in Blues Brothers 2000, as backup singers for Franklin, singing a remake of Respect. [1] [10] [11] [12] According to Franklin, the group inspired her to give up smoking. [13]

In 2003, they recorded in the studio with Anita Baker for her My Everything album, after she received support from them after her mother's death. [1] [14] Esther died on February 22, 2003, at the Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit from a heart attack. [1] [15] They were credited as writers on "You're My Everything" from Baker's album. [16] Gracie died on April 19, 2006, from a skin condition. [1] She was buried at Grand Lawn Cemetery in Detroit. [2]

Their mother, Ilene Ridgeway, died on April 27, 2020, at the age of 88. [3]

Discography

Sweet Cream and Other Delights (1978, Shadybrook Records)

  1. "I Don't Know What I'd Do (If You Ever Left Me)" (5:52) #41 R&B, #9 Dance
  2. "Pretty Little Black Boy" (6:18)
  3. "You Brought Joy" (4:33)
  4. "Flyin' High" (3:18)
  5. "Do A Dance For Love" (5:48)
  6. "We're Not Gonna Make It" (4:53)
  7. "Skunk Funk" (3:45)
  8. "Disco Dance and Party" (5:08)

Backing vocal credits

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 "Ridgeway Sisters Page". Soulwalking. Retrieved January 18, 2024.
  2. 1 2 "Celebrating the Life of Gracie Mae Ridgeway" (PDF). January 19, 2024. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 11, 2023. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
  3. 1 2 "Ilene Ridgeway Obituary". wilsonakinsfh.com. May 18, 2020. Retrieved January 20, 2024.
  4. ↑ Sweet Cream – Sweet Cream and Other Delights (liner notes): 1978.
  5. ↑ Piazza, James (June 29, 2022). The Ghost of Madame Curie: Writings from Innerspace Labs . Retrieved January 23, 2024.
  6. ↑ Hanson, Amy. "Sweet Cream and Other Delights Review". AllMusic . Retrieved January 18, 2024.
  7. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 561.
  8. 1 2 "Sweet Cream Top Songs". Musicvf.com. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
  9. ↑ "Disco Singles 1974–1980". Top40weekly.com. May 13, 2017. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
  10. ↑ Company, Johnson Publishing (May 18, 1998). "Jet". Johnson Publishing Company. Retrieved January 18, 2024– via Google Books.
  11. ↑ Willis, John; Monush, Barry (April 2000). Screen World 1999. Hal Leonard. ISBN   9781557834119 . Retrieved January 18, 2024.
  12. ↑ McCluskey, Audrey (2007). Frame by Frame III: A Filmography of the African Diasporan Image, 1994-2004. Indiana University Press. ISBN   9780253348296 – via Google Books.
  13. ↑ Company, Johnson Publishing (November 19, 2007). "Jet". Johnson Publishing Company. Retrieved January 19, 2024– via Google Books.
  14. ↑ "Billboard". September 4, 2004. Retrieved January 19, 2024– via Google Books.
  15. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 176.
  16. ↑ "Billboard". July 17, 2004. Retrieved January 19, 2024– via Google Books.
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