Armed with a book of her mother’s most beloved recipes, she opened the first Sweetie Pie’s restaurant in her hometown. Using her newfound freedom to pursue other passions, she reconnected with another of her oldest loves: home cooking. Robbie was a central part of the group, but found her prospects limited.Īfter spending years sharing a stage with musical royalty, Robbie Montgomery returned to her native St. The mercurial superstar-to-be recruited a number of friends into his band, including his eventual wife Tina. She met the father of her child performing small gigs with other choir alumni, who in turn introduced her to Ike Turner. Although she never envisioned the successful career to come, she made lifelong connections through the church. With a limited number of lodging options, she was often forced to sleep in the backseat of a car between bookings.Īsked to pinpoint the moment she fell in love with music, the R&B mainstay looks back on fond memories of singing with her local choir. Despite also working with Nancy Sinatra, Barbra Striesand, and other white artists, systemic racism continued to limit her lifestyle at every turn. Louis with an up-and-coming blues singer named Earl Hooker, but VIP treatment remained far from universal. The poignant experience helped shape her musical career.Īfter her time touring with the Turners, Robbie took her talents to Los Angeles hoping to break into steady work as a backup singer. Barred from “polite society” in the 60s, the collective became an extremely tight-knit unit on the road. This time in her life was bittersweet, as the indignity of segregation defined these years as much as any critical acclaim. She recounts her time as a cornerstone of the Ike & Tina Turner Revue, providing vocals on some of the act’s most iconic hit records.
Over a long and colorful career in entertainment, Robbie Montgomery has collected a cornucopia of unforgettable stories. The soul singer and soul food lover sits down today to discuss how early struggles fueled her ongoing pursuit of happiness. She began her career touring with certified hit-makers such as Stevie Wonder and the Rolling Stones before starting her current chapter as a restaurant owner.
Louis institution Sweetie Pie’s restaurant, Robbie Montgomery’s public life extends back decades. Although perhaps best known these days as the mind behind St.
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