Rosa Lee Hawkins’ group, the Dixie Cups, knocked the Beatles off the top spot in 1964 with their hit “Rose Lee Hawkins”. Their hit, “The Dixie Cups”, landed them at No. 1 on the charts in 1964. “Chapel of Love,”She died Tuesday, at the age of 76, in Tampa FL.
According to Barbara Ann Hawkins (sister of the group), she died from internal bleeding caused by complications during surgery at Tampa General Hospital.
“Chapel of Love”This was the first single released by the Dixie Cups and it replaced the Beatles. “Love Me Do”As No. No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song had a bit of a revival on the soundtrack of Stanley Kubrick’s 1987 Vietnam War film, Full Metal Jacket.
Rosa Lee Hawkins, a New Orleans native was born Oct. 23, 1945. They met Joan Marie Johnson in a talent competition. Red Bird Records’ scout heard the group at the talent show and invited them for an audition. They were a big hit and they got a contract.
Two Gold Records were given to the Dixie Cups: one for their ice cream and one for their coffee. “Chapel of Love”One for the hit “People Say.”They were inducted into The Louisiana Music Hall of Fam2007: e
The group released four albums and toured on oldies revival tours. 2011 was the year that Johnson left the group. Johnson left the group in 2011, but the Hawkins sisters continued to work with a rotating cast.