The Cookies

History

The first lineup featured Dorothy Jones, Darlene McCrea, and Dorothy’s cousin Beulah Robertson. The group met Ray Charles while doing session work for Atlantic Records. That show also featured Little Willie John, Sam Cooke, Ernie Freeman, and Bo Rhambo, with Sammy Davis Jr. crowning the Miss Cavalcade of Jazz winner. Dorothy Jones stayed on, joined by newcomers Earl-Jean McCrea—Darlene’s younger sister—and another of Dorothy’s cousins, Margaret Ross. This trio became the most successful Cookies. They released records under their own name, sang backup for other artists—including Neil Sedaka’s hits “Breaking Up Is Hard to Do,” “The Dreamer,” and “Bad Girl”—and cut demos for Aldon Music under the direction of Carole King and Gerry Goffin. For that session, Darlene McCrea returned to replace her sister.