The Tonettes aka The Dixiebelles

L-R: Mildred Pratcher, Shirley Thomas, Mary Hunt
The Dixiebelles enjoyed a brief moment in the spotlight in 1963, scoring a Top Ten hit   with their debut single "Down at Papa Joe's"

The Tonettes were the first group to record on the Stax/Volt label in early1962 with 'No Tears'. and a few months late ' Stolen Angel'. When Nashville label Sound Stage 7 needed a black female group to go out as the Dixiebelles to promote a studio created hit 'Down At Papa Joes" the Tonettes were recruited.

The Dixiebelles didn't seem to fit into into the girl group genre. Their Label Sound Stage 7, a Stax/Volt subsdary, didn't picture them on their album. Vocally their singles almost seemed to be honky-tonk sing-alongs . In fact the voices on (Down At) Papa Joe's were members of the all-White Anita Kerr Singers. So an all black group, Tonettes renamed the Dixiebelles, were later recruited for publicity and touring

The Tonettes/Dixiebelles were from Memphis, Tennessee and consisted of Mary Hunt, Mildred Pratcher, and Shirley Thomas. Having previously worked as background singers, their career took off after meeting Bill Justis in 1963 and recording "Down at Papa Joe's " on the Moument label. The song reached number nine on the pop charts prompting a sound alike follow-up Southtown U.S.A.

The song was written by Jerry Smith who along with Bill Justis made up Cornbread and Jerry duo and were on (Down At) Papa Joe's.

Jerry Smith

The song began with the girls laughing uncontrollably to the sound of dixieland-styled piano and continued into an ode to an old saloon which served "stir-fried chicken and watered greens." The song, written by Jerry Smith, quickly landed at number 9 on the Billboard pop charts, and prompted a sound-a-like follow-up.

The equally enjoyable "Southtown U.S.A." bounded up into the Top 20, and things were looking good for the southern belles. An album called Down At Papa Joe’s was released with 12 gems including "Bo Weevil," "Good Night Irene," Swanne River (Where They Rock All Night)," and "Bourbon Street Parade."

An album produced by Bill Justis called Down at Papa Joe's — engineered by Billy Sherrill — was quickly released. The album, now considered a rarity, was followed by the Dixiebelles third single. "New York Town." Once again it followed the similar style of their two previous hits. This time, however, the single didn't’t click. Despite quite a bit of air-play, the song did not make the Top100. The Dixiebelles were dropped from the label, and no other singles followed.

A name change to the Charmels followed. With the leaving of Shirley Thomas she was replaced with Eula Jean Rivers and  Barbara McCoy to be the group's lead singer. Later McCoy would become part  Hot Buttered Soup group produced by Isaac Hayes.

Shirley Thomas died May 9, 2018 at the age of 74.