By Brian Chin NYC (205.188.209.38) on Wednesday, October 16, 2002 - 07:30 pm:

I think I know who's gonna answer this one!

Evette Benton, the late Barbara Ingram and Carla Benson -- known by the late '70s as the Sweethearts of Sigma -- were indisputably as much a signature of the Philly Sound as the Andantes were of Motown. Even more so, probably, if you think not only of the Spinners and Stylistics tunes they sang additional vocals on, but of the endless list of songs where their vocals are as prominent as the lead.

So my question: were they a group when they walked into the studio or did someone (Gamble? Huff? another producer?) put them together?

And was Tom Moulton really the clever mind who nicknamed them the Sweethearts of Sigma?

P.S. There is, of course, a Detroit connection, in the era when the great Norman Harris was producing regularly for Motown, and they sang on sides like "Get It While It's Hot," "Goin' Up in Smoke" and the Rev. Carl Bean's "I Was Born this Way."

By 1wicked (64.32.154.94) on Friday, October 18, 2002 - 10:38 pm:

I loved "The Sweeties" !! There have been no finer background singers ever (though I hate to limit them as background !) I wonder whatever happened to the album that Gamble & Huff supposedly cut on them ? Anyway...though "The Harris Machine" may have worked a lot with Motown artists....weren't the two projects with eddie Kendricks both Philly sessions cut at Sigma ?

By dvdmike (12.84.3.253) on Tuesday, December 17, 2002 - 09:18 pm:

I'm not sure when they began, the first album I can remember seeing a Barbara Ingram credit was the first Stylistics album in 1971. But prior to that, Gamble & Huff used some other female voices on the Jerry Butler, Dusty Springfield & Wilson Pickett stuff. I don't know who they were though. If you listen carefully to Joe Simon's "Power Of Love", you can hear Bunny Sigler in the background. Carla & Yvette came along I believe some time in the early-to-mid seventies. Barbara's voice is prominent on the Spinners' "Games People Play" and as the orgasmic woman on Major Harris' "Love Won't Let Me Wait". Carla is Teddy Pendergrass's tentative date on "Come Go With Me".

By b.soul (152.163.188.68) on Tuesday, December 17, 2002 - 11:18 pm:

What ever happened to the Sweethearts of Sigma? When did Barbara Ingram pass and what was the cause of her death? Was she related to singer James Ingram? Are Carla and Yvette still active in the music industry?

By Sue (64.12.97.7) on Tuesday, December 17, 2002 - 11:21 pm:

You can see Carla in "Standing in the Shadows of Motown," singing backup in all the concert scenes!

By dvdmike (65.208.234.61) on Thursday, December 19, 2002 - 07:15 am:

Before Barbara, Carla & Yvette came on the scene. Gamble & Huff used Patti Labelle, Sarah Dash & Mikki Farrow to do the backgrounds on sessions for Wilson Pickett, Jerry Butler, Dusty Springfield and others. Speaking of The Sweethearts, Barbara Ingram passed away in the late '80s and Yvette Benton sometime in the '90s leaving Carla as the only active member.

By cleoharvey (160.79.83.208) on Thursday, December 19, 2002 - 04:12 pm:

So, sorry to hear that Barbara and Yvette passed away. They were wonderful. I once saw them on tour with Patti Labelle in the first years of her solo career.

It seems we do not have those kind of distinctive harmonies anymore. The Three Degrees, The Jones Girls, The Emotions, Sweethearts of Sigma, The Blackberries, The Blossoms all had signature sounds that were evident on their own as well as other recording artistst that they worked with (think of Boogie Wonderland without the Emotions or some of the early Gamble & Huff things with The Three Degrees in the backup). Today everything is tracked so much and has so much messy engineering anyone could be singing the backup.

By LeVan45789 (166.107.75.45) on Thursday, December 19, 2002 - 05:22 pm:

I really love their sound. To me they were the best session singers of that time. Their backup vocals for Evelyn "Champagne" King's first album "Smooth Talk" were great.

By b.soul (205.188.209.38) on Friday, December 20, 2002 - 03:12 am:

What was the cause of death for both Barbara and Yvette?

By dvdmike (12.84.12.99) on Friday, December 20, 2002 - 05:16 pm:

I wish to make a correction. In the days before, Barbara, Carla & Yvette, Gamble & Huff used Mikki Farrow, Jean Thomas & Tina Thomas on the backgrounds, not Patti Labelle & Sarah Dash as I mentioned before. Patti & Sarah may have done some things, but not the Dusty Springfield, Jerry Butler and Wilson Pickett sessions.

By Eli (205.188.209.38) on Saturday, December 21, 2002 - 10:35 pm:

Hi Everyone,

It's ol' Eli back on the scene.
Contrary to the rumours, Yvette Benton is very much alive. I spoke to Phil Hurtt recently and he is in touch with her.
And yes, the previous background singers were indeed Mikki Farrow, and Jean and Tina Thomas, known as the Mello-Moods and formerly known as the Swans. Sometimes additional singers were used but only when needed, as once a certain sound was established we usually stuck with it.

By dvdmike (12.84.10.195) on Saturday, December 21, 2002 - 11:29 pm:

Thank you for clearing that up. Someone in Philly who will remain nameless told me that Yvette had passed away. I'm glad she is alive and well. I always liked the Sweethearts Of Sigma's voices. Detroit had The Andantes and here in Chicago we had Kitty & The Heywoods, then later Theresa Davis (formerly of The Emotions) & Joni Berlmon. By the way, Kitty Heywood's son is actor/singer Jason Weaver, who played Michael Jackson on the ABC-TV mini-series of several years ago.

By Linda Di formerly Perky (24.161.70.170) on Saturday, January 11, 2003 - 01:08 am:

In a TV interview I have, the Sweethearts of Sigma said the first session they did together was Joe Simon's "Pool of Bad Luck." For their audition, they sang "McArthur Park". They briefly recreated that song on this particular TV show. It sounded sweet!

It was Barbara who accepted Teddy Pendergrass' invitation on "Come Go With Me" as well as the voice on Major Harris' "Love Won't Let Me Wait." Evette has her solo moments on "Games People Play." And Carla sings on MFSB's "Tell Me Why."

By dvdmike (12.84.7.155) on Saturday, January 11, 2003 - 09:25 am:

Wow, what show was this? I would love to see that interview!

By Linda Di (24.161.70.170) on Saturday, January 11, 2003 - 12:49 pm:

The Sweethearts appeared on the Richard Beh show out of New York in the late 80s in conjunction with one of Patti's gigs at Westbury. They also did numerous TV shows in Philadelphia to talk about their own individual and collective careers. And you can occasionally catch them on Sesame Street (if that spot is still being broadcast, not sure if it is).

By dvdmike (12.84.20.211) on Saturday, January 11, 2003 - 03:41 pm:

I remember seeing the Richard Bey show in the nineties, but it was a pretty trashy show at that time.

By Linda Di. (24.161.70.170) on Saturday, January 11, 2003 - 03:49 pm:

Their appearance was shortly before the show got real bad. Later on, his show must have been the precursor for Springer?? LOL

The Sweeties also performed on his show when he taped in Philadelphia. It was 1986 and Mary Wilson appeared on the same show to promote her book.

By dvdmike (12.84.8.137) on Saturday, January 11, 2003 - 06:42 pm:

I'd sure like to see that, but it's doubtful anyone will ever release it.

By dvdmike (12.84.17.112) on Monday, January 13, 2003 - 04:24 pm:

I always thought that was Barbara on "Games People Play" and Carla on "Come Go With Me" with Teddy.

By Chancellor of Soul (66.207.40.18) on Monday, January 13, 2003 - 04:53 pm:

I loved Barbara Ingram's sexy sultry voice on
Major Harris' hit, " Love Won't Let Me Wait",
in 1975. She and along with the Sweeties, did
a tremendeous job singing background. Barbara
of course did the moans and groans. If that don't
put you in a mood, then nothing else will.
May Barbara enjoy her musical peace in soul heaven.
Peace,
(Chancellor of Soul)
Mike Boone

By Linda Di (24.161.70.170) on Monday, January 13, 2003 - 09:30 pm:

Yes, it is Barbara on "Come Go With Me." It is Evette on "Games People Play." Their individual voices are distinctive from one another - and having heard them perform live when they toured with Patti, plus we talked about their history many many times over the years.