American R&B girl group The Cookies were formed in 1954 in Brooklyn, New York. The original line-up comprised Dorothy Jones, Darlene McCrea, and Dorothy Jones's cousin Beulah Robertson. The group initially gained recognition as session singers and backing vocalists for various artists, including Ray Charles. In 1956, Margie Hendricks took over from Beulah Robertson, and they continued to work as session musicians. In 1958, after performing with Ray Charles at the Cavalcade of Jazz concert in Los Angeles, Darlene McCrea and Margie Hendricks left to form the Raelettes. A new line-up of the Cookies took shape in 1961, featuring Dorothy Jones, Earl-Jean McCrea (Darlene McCrea's younger sister), and Margaret Ross. This trio achieved significant success as backing vocalists for artists like Neil Sedaka and Little Eva, contributing to hits such as "Breaking Up Is Hard to Do" and "The Loco-Motion". They also recorded demos for Aldon Music, steered by the legendary Carole King and Gerry Goffin. The Cookies' own hit "Don't Say Nothin' Bad (About My Baby)" reached number three on the Billboard R&B chart and number seven on the Billboard Pop chart in 1963. Their song "Chains" was later recorded by The Beatles on their debut release, Please Please Me. Earl-Jean McCrea left the group in 1965, and the Cookies released their last record in April 1967. Several members of both line-ups were part of the same family, with Dorothy Jones being a consistent member from 1954 to 1967. The Cookies disbanded in 1967, but Margaret Ross, later known as Margaret Williams, continued to tour as the Cookies with new backup singers. Margie Hendrix died on July 14, 1973 at the age of 38; Dorothy Jones died from complications of Alzheimer's disease on December 25, 2010 at the age of 76; Darlene McCrea died from cancer on February 4, 2013 at the age of 76; Margaret Ross Williams died on January 23, 2026 at the age of 83.
