PP Arnold

PP Arnold
Josie Fraser · CC BY-SA 2.0 · source
Name	PP Arnold
Birth name	Patricia Ann Cole
Birth date	1946-10-03
Birth place	Los Angeles
Occupation	Singer, songwriter, session vocalist
Years active	1960s–present

PP Arnold is an American soul singer and session vocalist whose career spans several decades, notable for work in the United States and the United Kingdom. She rose to prominence as an Ikette with the Ike & Tina Turner Revue before relocating to London and recording influential soul and pop singles during the late 1960s and 1970s. Arnold's voice and career intersect with major figures and movements in rhythm and blues, soul music, and British rock.

Early life and background

Patricia Ann Cole was born in Los Angeles and raised in the postwar cultural milieu of California during the 1940s and 1950s, a period shaped by migration, World War II legacies, and the burgeoning civil rights movement. Her early influences included local gospel music choirs, the radio playlists of Los Angeles stations, and touring acts that played venues such as the Apollo Theater and the Hollywood Bowl. She came of age amid the careers of contemporaries like Aretha Franklin, Sam Cooke, Ray Charles, Marvin Gaye, and James Brown.

Career beginnings and Ikettes

Arnold's professional breakthrough came when she joined the backing group for the Ike & Tina Turner Revue as an Ikette, touring nationally across the United States and performing alongside headliners such as Tina Turner, Ike Turner, and support acts including The Rolling Stones during transatlantic tours. The Ikettes performed in venues associated with the Chitlin' Circuit, and Arnold's time with the Revue brought her into contact with industry figures like Phil Spector, Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller, and Mick Jagger. Touring responsibilities exposed her to television appearances on programs like The Ed Sullivan Show and radio rotations on stations in New York City and Los Angeles.

Solo career and hit recordings

After relocating to London, Arnold signed with producers and songwriters associated with the British Invasion and the emerging psychedelic rock scene. Working with figures connected to Andrew Loog Oldham, Barry Gibb, Tony Visconti, and labels such as Immediate Records and Island Records, she recorded singles that entered charts and received airplay on stations influenced by BBC Radio 1 and independent broadcasters. Arnold's repertoire during this period intersected with material by songwriters like Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Barry Gibb, Steve Harley, and Cat Stevens, and her recordings were promoted through performances at venues such as Royal Albert Hall and festivals like Isle of Wight Festival.

Collaborations and session work

Arnold became a sought-after session vocalist, contributing backing and lead parts to recordings by artists across genres. Her session credits include work with members of The Who, Small Faces, The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin collaborators, and solo artists like Rod Stewart, Eric Clapton, Elton John, and David Bowie. She provided vocals on projects produced by Glyn Johns, Jimmy Miller, George Martin–adjacent producers, and emerged on sessions alongside musicians from The Beatles circles, including arrangements by orchestral arrangers connected to Paul McCartney and George Harrison projects. Her session presence extended to television and film soundtracks linked to productions by studios such as BBC Television and Paramount Pictures.

Later career and revival

Arnold's career experienced revivals as she toured with revival circuits and nostalgia festivals featuring acts from the 1960s and 1970s, sharing bills with performers like Van Morrison, Sly Stone, Al Green, and Gladys Knight. She released albums and compilations on independent labels and collaborated with contemporary producers in scenes associated with acid jazz, trip hop, and modern soul revival artists, working with musicians tied to Massive Attack-adjacent production styles and boutique labels in London and Nashville. Her later performances have taken place at venues including Royal Festival Hall, and she has appeared on broadcasts for outlets like BBC Radio 2 and Sky Arts.

Musical style and legacy

Arnold's vocal style blends gospel music phrasing, soul music emotive delivery, and pop sensibilities influenced by Motown Records and Stax Records sounds. Critics and historians place her within lineages alongside Tina Turner, Dusty Springfield, Etta James, Patti LaBelle, and Dionne Warwick, noting her adaptability across R&B, soul, pop rock, and session-oriented studio work. Her legacy is reflected in reissues by archival labels, sampling by hip hop and electronic producers, and recognition by music historians connected to institutions like the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and university programs studying popular music.

Personal life and activism

Offstage, Arnold has been involved in causes related to artists' rights, health awareness, and cultural heritage preservation, aligning with organizations such as Equity (British trade union), Musicians' Union (UK), and charities connected to AIDS awareness and veterans of touring musicians. She has spoken about experiences relating to touring conditions, industry practices, and the intersections of race and performance in venues across the United States and the United Kingdom, engaging in interviews with media outlets including The Guardian, The Independent, and BBC News.

Category:Singers from Los Angeles Category:American soul singers Category:1946 births Category:Living people