Joan Marie Johnson, one of the original members of The Dixie Cups, has died at 72.

She died of conjestive heart failure on October 3, and a memorial is planned in New Orleans for next week.

The group were famous for their classic hits such as 'Iko Iko' and 'Chapel of Love'. The Dixie Cups were one of the first ever pop girl groups,

The Dixie Cups became famous in June 1964 when they knocked The Beatles off the No.1 spot with 'Chapel of Love'. The Liverpudlians had been No.1 with 'Love Me Do' in the Billboard 100 Chart.

The Dixie Cups started in New Orleans when the late Johnson asked Barbara Ann Hawkins to sing in a talent show at her school with her. She said:

"I was on my way to the grocery store and she stopped me and said 'I heard you sing'."

They duo were joined by Hawkins' sister, Rosa Lee, and they trio discovered that they were all cousins. They had all grown up in the city of the Calliope housing project. 

They did not win that talent show but went onto greater things as there was a talent scout in the audience. The band experienced a lot of racial prejudice which was rife at the time.

'Chapel of Love' is still a song that lives on today as it featured in many film soundtracks.

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Watch The Dixie Cups perform 'Iko Iko' and 'Chapel of Love''