The Dells

Genres:	Doo Wop • Easy Listening • Pop / Rock • R&B / Soul • Soundtracks
Descriptive "tags":	soul • doo wop • rhythm and blues • northern soul • 50s • oldies • the dells
Decades Active:	1950s • 1960s • 1970s • 1980s • 1990s • 2000s
Links online:	Official Homepage • Wikipedia

Biography

A US soul vocal and close harmony group formed in 1953 as the El-Rays, when the members - Johnny Funches (18 July 1935, d. 23 January 1998; lead), Marvin Junior (b. 31 January 1936, Harrell, Arkansas, USA; tenor), Verne Allison (b. 22 June 1936, Chicago, Illinois, USA; tenor), Lucius McGill (b. 1935, Chicago, Illinois, USA; tenor), Mickey McGill (b. 17 February 1937, Chicago, Illinois, USA; baritone) and Chuck Barksdale (b. 11 January 1935, Chicago, Illinois, USA; bass) - were all high school students. As the El-Rays the group released one record on the Chess Records label, ‘Darling Dear I Know’, in 1953. After a name change they recorded ‘Tell The World’ in 1955, which was only a minor hit, but a year later they released ‘Oh What A Night’ (number 4 R&B chart), one of the era’s best-loved black harmony performances and the Dells’ last hit for 10 years.

In 1965, the Dells returned to the R&B...

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