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The Dells

Biography

The Dells are one of the finest and longest-lived R&B vocal groups in history, and what's most amazing is that they've done it with nearly all the same members -- they haven't changed personnel since 1960. They were one of the very few doo wop outfits to successfully update their sound, finding their strongest commercial niche in the late '60s and '70s as a polished smooth soul harmony group. While their chart fortunes have certainly fluctuated over the years, they remained a viable act right up into the '90s, by which time they had long since achieved legendary status in the R&B community.

The Dells were formed in 1953 in southern suburbs of Chicago, specifically the town of Harvey, IL, where all the members attended high school together. The original lineup featured lead baritone Marvin Junior, lead tenor Johnny Funches, tenors Verne Allison and Lucius McGill, second baritone Mickey McGill, and bass Chuck Barksdale. Initially called the El-Rays, the group recorded their first single, "Darling I Know," for Chess Records subsidiary Checker that year; it flopped. Lucius McGill departed not long after, and wasn't replaced, cutting the group down to a quintet. Newly christened the Dells, they got another shot in 1955 when they signed to Vee Jay. They had a minor R&B hit with the ballad "Dreams of Contentment" that year, but really scored big in 1956 with the doo wop classic "Oh What a Nite," which featured Funches singing lead and went Top Five on the R&B charts. Thus established, the Dells hit the road, although they found it difficult to duplicate their chart success. Tragedy nearly struck in 1958; on their way to a gig in Philadelphia, the body of the group's station wagon failed, resulting in a serious accident which lacerated Junior's larynx (slightly altering his voice thereafter) and nearly cost McGill the use of his leg. The Dells went on hiatus to recover; in the meantime, Barksdale became a temporary member of the Moonglows, where he sang alongside Marvin Gaye.

The Dells reconvened in 1960 and successfully auditioned to tour with Dinah Washington, as both her opening act and backup group. Funches, however, was tired of touring and decided to stay home with his family, which would be the last time any member left the group. He was replaced by lead/falsetto tenor Johnny Carter, a former member of the Flamingoes. Working with vocal coach Kirk Stewart, the Dells perfected the more challenging art of jazz harmony singing. They toured with Washington for two years, subsequently signing with the Chess subsidiary Argo and releasing four jazz-flavored singles, all of which tanked. They returned to Vee Jay in 1964 and began recording R&B again, though their local nightclub act centered more around jazz; 1965 brought them a Top 30 R&B hit with "Stay in My Corner," their biggest success since "Oh What a Nite." However, Vee Jay went bankrupt in 1966, and the Dells returned to Chess for a third time, this time the Cadet subsidiary; their first two singles, "Thinking About You" and "Run for Cover," became local hits. Also in 1966, the Dells became Ray Charles' touring vocal backup, giving them an opportunity to sing in some of their biggest concert venues yet.

Cadet was where the Dells' career really started to take off. In 1967, the label assigned producer Bobby Miller and arranger Charles Stepney to handle the group, and they began to exploit the striking contrast between Junior's earthy baritone and Carter's luminous falsetto, adding lush orchestrations and plenty of horn charts. The Dells' first album under the Miller-Stepney aegis, There Is, was a smashing success, spawning no less than four hit singles including an expanded remake of "Stay in My Corner" that topped the R&B charts and went Top Ten pop. Suddenly the group was bigger than they'd ever been; their follow-up album, 1968's Always Together, spun off another four singles. 1969's Love Is Blue gave them another R&B number one and pop Top Ten with a remake of their '50s classic "Oh What a Nite." Miller moved on to other projects in early 1970, and Stepney became the Dells' producer on the following year's Freedom Means, which featured the hit ballad "The Love We Had (Stays On My Mind)." After a Dionne Warwick repertory album in 1972, Cadet hired Don Davis as the group's new producer, which paid immediate dividends in the form of the Dells' first certified million-selling single, 1973's "Give Your Baby a Standing Ovation." After a few more hits with Davis, the Dells left Cadet in favor of Mercury in 1975.

Although the group's production kept pace with the times, incorporating nods to disco, their Mercury stint wasn't as successful, and they switched labels again in 1978, jumping to ABC for a couple of albums. It seemed their career momentum had stalled, at least until 1980's I Touched a Dream LP, recorded for 20th Century. Produced by the Chi-Lites' Eugene Record, I Touched a Dream recaptured the Dells' old magic, and was greeted with enthusiastic reviews. The follow-up, Whatever Turns You On, wasn't quite as successful, though, and the Dells wound up spending a number of years off record, returning with a little-noticed old-style soul album in 1988's The Second Time. It looked as though they might be consigned to the oldies circuit until filmmaker Robert Townsend approached them to serve as consultants on his movie about a fictional vocal group, The Five Heartbeats. The Dells recorded a song called "The Heart Is a House for Love" for the soundtrack, which became a left-field R&B chart hit when it was released as a single in 1991. That led to a new album for Zoo in 1992, I Salute You, which attempted to mate the Dells' sound with urban contemporary and new jack swing production; however, it wasn't a hit, and the group returned to touring. Former lead singer Johnny Funches passed away in 1998, and Verne Allison underwent a successful triple bypass in 2000, the same year the Dells released Reminiscing on the revived Volt label; it was their first album of new material in eight years. ~ Steve Huey, All Music Guide

Continued…

Selected Discography

Best Of The Vee Jay Years
2007

Ultimate Collection
2004

On Their Corner: The Best Of The Dells
1992

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MARTIN EL says:

11-20-2009

NOW THIS WAS A GROUP THAT CORNER THE LOVE THEM EVERY SONG WAS DEEP AND SILKEY SO SMOOTH THAT YOU THOUGH YOU WERE IN ANOTHER WORLD LISTENING TO THE DELLS WAS COSIDER THE BEST EXSPECIALLY WHEN RIDING IN THE LOWRIDER WITH YOUR BEST FRIEND (HONEYGIRL) LOVE YOU BABBY!

davis.freder i c k says:

edited on 10-28-2009

My smypathies to the Dells on the lost of Johnny Funches last month. I was priveliged to see the Dells at three times in the last 20 years and the power of Marvin Juniors voice continues to ring true. I feel with the lost of Johnny we may have seen the last of the Mighty,Might y Dells performing but radio and their music will carry their name on for centuries to come.

Donald Shaw says:

10-19-2009

No better statement of a true love experience, can be expressed than this.
difinitly old school, expressive and refined. {To that magic lady who this refers to, "I just cant forget you".
DMS

michael richmond says:

10-18-2009

it is 2009 and the music still sounds good, I love the feeling of the sound

HERMAN says:

10-12-2009

Oh, How I wish it was me you loved. 1975

compwiz2003 says:

07-29-2009

The Dells are right up there in my mind with The Tempations as the greatest acts of that era. Oh how I wish I could live back in that day and hear these groups live! (I'm 23 years old)

graftonjh says:

07-19-2009

one of the best groups from the old days........ . . . . . . . .

vlstowe says:

edited on 06-02-2009

I agree 100% with all the comments about the Dells. Yes they are the epitome of greatness and no group in my opinion has ever been greater when it comes to pouring their heart out through a love song. These guys done it over and over again, hit after hit. I have some great memories when I listen to the lyrics of their many classics, they remind me of how old I've lived to become(and that's a good thing) because I was just a kid when I first heard them. Their voices& harmony is no doubt the best

sassyone5000 says:

05-23-2009

man the dell'

Matthew says:

05-08-2009

You get a group of guys together, all of them great vocalists, put 'em in some great-lookin g suits, choreograph them to a "T" and give them a smooooooth ballad to sing and dance...we'r e talking gooooood stuff here.

Suse says:

05-03-2009

Lawd hab mercy colors of the rainbow, stay in my cornor.

jbconner says:

05-01-2009

jb conner the dells one of the seventy greatest group

cbwasher says:

04-28-2009

I agree with aarondickers o n a many of cook outs I can remember the Dells playing and some couple an aunt & uncle that had gotten typsy slow dragging as the use to call it. I cherrish thoughs memories.

tansy021763 says:

04-03-2009

SMOOTH AS WINE' DON'T STOP PLAYING THESE!

aarondickers o n says:

03-31-2009

Although I am only in my early 30's, I have to say that the Dells are one of the all time great vocal groups....Gr o w i n g up, almost every single family function included a drunken rendition of "Stay in my Corner" by my uncles....an d "The love we had" is a powerful song for any man who has ever loved and lost.

Michael Nelson says:

02-26-2009

These boys can blow,oh what a night

wyattiris200 0 says:

02-12-2009

The Dells have always been a notch above other R&B groups. They just don't come better than this. And to experience them in concert - man, oh man!

joseph tabangcura says:

01-20-2009

Im 53yrs. The strong vocals of Marvin Junior and the sweetness of Johnny Funches and the rest of the Dells vocals bring the real soulful lyrics of the meaning of a mans heart and humility of love for his woman.these cats are wrapped tight in thier sounds and life to preserve the gift of life and unionship of brotherhood to each other,i commend you "Dells".

kkanyagui says:

01-16-2009

I'm 28 years old but I love their music deeply. Its just well made. And that soulful Philly sound. Makes me wish I was around back then. Good track!

Thunda says:

01-04-2009

wish i still had a pair of half moons

Marsha says:

12-22-2008

OMG...the slow dance memories with "Stay in My Corner". Anyone who has ever danced to that song knows exactly what I'm talking about; Sweet!

aghickey3 says:

12-13-2008

What can i say,they're just plain good,that sound, they have a very good sound with the Philly style,its top notice,its at the top of list.

USN SEAL Officer; Locked & Loaded says:

12-10-2008

Oh yeah!! House parties, in the basement, red lights, spiked punch,...... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ! !

Ms. Pink says:

11-20-2008

There is a song that was on an album in 1976 or so that was title "No Way Back", it was the soundtrack for a blaxpoitatio n movie of the same title. I can't locate that album or a particular song on the album "Loving In Slow Motion", it featured the deep baratone vocals that made the Dells a success. This is for the biographer, if you could find this song I guarantee it is a keeper.
pinkyiris@ya h o o . c o m

blessed051 says:

11-17-2008

The Dell's music is timeless it brings me back to places, time and moods. I love this group 'NOW THAT'S LOVE SONG" OH WHAT A NIGHT AND" and "STAY IN MY CORNER" THEY WILL ALWAYS BE MY FAVORITES OF ALL TIME. I am 61 so grew up with the dells and a blue light bulb at the parties.

mholmes128 says:

11-05-2008

This song is what true love is all about, a love you never ever forget

Kerry Roberts says:

10-29-2008

Making me smile again, great voices, chemistry, they have it all, all the above. Close your eyes, people, there you go, you're smiling because no matter what is going on now,this song brings that twinkle in your eye back, the bounce in your step and that tingle, well, you know what I mean. Never too old to remember, right?

raqueld says:

10-24-2008

The love we had - What a powerful song - now that was music -

goflush says:

10-23-2008

stay in my corner, THE DELLS, did we stay in that corner or what... lolololo

goflush says:

10-23-2008

THE DELLS, WHAT BEAUTIFUL SOULFUL MUSIC. THOSE WERE THE DAYS OF DANCING NICE AND REAL CLOSE TO THAT SPECIAL PERSON... WOW... NOTHING LIKE IT.

raqueld says:

10-17-2008

Stay in corner - classic - love them

Susan Rena Johnson says:

10-14-2008

I LOVE them and their music. One of my favorites for a / my lifetime. Truly, quality, positive, loving music to my heart / ears.

herbertcolbe r t says:

09-27-2008

They are one of the best artist i have ever hear in music

rob4664 says:

09-12-2008

I just love them, one of the great of all time R&B

Keith Robb says:

09-08-2008

truly timeless music. when britney spears and the rest have faded away there will still be the Dells

bobricio says:

09-04-2008

The Dells lead singer could realy belt out some tunes, this group was one of my favs.

swellsallen says:

08-28-2008

I love the Mighty Dells, this is my group, I would love to have them as my entertainmen t source for my reception, my husband and I are renewing our vows, I would love to have them singing Open Up My Heart, and many other great hits, my husband would pay any amount to make me happy, and I want the Dells

railroad1250 says:

08-21-2008

this is one of my favorite groups. i never get tired of listening to their music. they were one of the, if not, the greatest r&b groups in history. man!, it just don't get any better!!

ladyberg5 says:

08-13-2008

Just takes me back in time. things were so much more simple and less complicated.

wanda bryant says:

07-29-2008

music that never dies.we need it just as Saul needed King David

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