Cassandra Wooten is a talented vocalist who was part of two recording groups in the 1960s, known as the Yum Yums and Honey and The Bees. In the 1970s, she was a member of the original line-up of The Ritchie Family and later joined another group, The Girls. Wooten is also recognized as a member of the re-formed Ritchie Family, which achieved a Top 40 hit with the song "Ice" in 2016.
Wooten was born in North Carolina and grew up in Philadelphia. Her musical journey began at home, where she listened to her grandfather and uncle play guitar and people sing. In junior high, she participated in the girls' chorus and Glee Club. Wooten formed a friendship with fellow vocalist Nadine Felder, and together they practiced singing, eventually leading to their inclusion in the Yum Yums alongside other members. They auditioned for producer Jerry Ross and recorded the single "You Can't Sit Down," released by ABC-Paramount in 1965. Notably, the B-side, written by Ross, later gained popularity in the northern soul scene. In a December 2020 interview with Ady Crampton of Shinyl.co.uk, Wooten mentioned another Yum Yums member named Shebbie, who was "kinda new to the group" but was let go due to a lack of commitment.
An article on the Philadelphia Neighborhoods website dated February 29, 2012, notes that after Felder joined, the group briefly adopted the name Sugar and Spice before officially becoming Honey and The Bees, a name reportedly suggested by Jerry Ross following their audition. Some sources attribute the name to producer Phil Hurtt, although it had previously been used by an unrelated group. The Honey and The Bees lineup included Nadine Felder White, Cassandra Ann Wooten, Jean Davis, and Gwendolyn Oliver. Their early releases came through the Musicor label in 1966, followed by releases on the Bell label. One of their notable songs, "It's Gonna Take a Miracle," became a hit in 1971. The group disbanded in 1972.
After Honey and The Bees, Wooten and Felder were invited to New York to provide background vocals for a project co-produced by Patrick Adams and Jacques Morali. Morali expressed interest in forming a girl group and later contacted them, but by then, Felder had lost interest in secular music. Wooten, who was involved in a drama group at the Philadelphia School of Performing Arts, along with Gwen Oliver, auditioned to become the physical group for The Ritchie Family, who had recently scored a hit with "Brazil." The female vocals on that record were performed by session singers, while Wooten, Mason-Jacks, and Oliver became the group's physical representation for subsequent recordings. They released three albums and enjoyed chart success, including the classic "The Best Disco in Town," while performing worldwide, including in Poland and Australia. In 1978, they were unexpectedly dismissed and replaced with a different lineup.
Following her tenure with The Ritchie Family, Wooten and Mason-Jacks formed The Girls with another member. Through their connections, they secured work with the group Salsoul Orchestra, contributing background vocals to their album released in 1980. Although there was potential for a tour with a prominent artist, plans were disrupted due to his tragic murder. Shortly thereafter, Wooten learned she would become a mother, leading her to focus on family and further her education, ultimately earning her master's degree. Despite some sporadic background work, she largely stepped away from music during this time, even as Cheryl Mason-Jacks encouraged her to return.
In the 2000s, Wooten was contacted by Hans de Vries, and alongside Mason-Jacks, they began to reform the group. Original member Felder was unavailable, prompting the need for a new addition. In a 2019 interview, Cheryl Mason-Jacks mentioned that Michelle Simpson briefly joined their reformation efforts before they ultimately settled on a new member. In 2016, they recorded the single "Ice," released on the Salsoul label, which garnered attention and made its way onto the Billboard Top 40 dance chart. They enjoyed renewed popularity, performing at various venues in the U.S. and Europe.
In 2021, Wooten announced the upcoming release of a new single titled "Whatcha Got," with the release date set for June 18 after some changes to the schedule.
