Biography of The Bobbettes

The Bobbettes, sisters Emma and Jannie Pought, Laura Webb, Helen Gathers, and Reather Dixon, were between the ages of 11 and 13 when they made "Mr. Lee," a song about their fifth grade teacher at P.S. 109 in New York City. Recorded by Atlantic Records with the Reggie Obrecht Orchestra, it soared into the pop Top Ten and to #1 in the R&B charts in 1957. They followed it with more singles through 1961, the most successful of which was "I Shot Mr. Lee," but never repeated their initial success, though at least four of the original members were still performing more than 20 years later. ~ William Ruhlmann