The Del-Vikings
| Company type | Musical group |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1955 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States |
| Founder | Clarence Quick, Kripp Johnson, Don Jackson, Samuel Paterson, Bernard Robertson, Joe Lopes |
| Headquarters | Pittsburgh , United States |
| Products | Music recordings, singles ("Come Go with Me", "Whispering Bells") |
The Del-Vikings—sometimes spelled The Dell-Vikings—were a prominent American doo-wop ensemble from the 1950s, known for multiple chart-topping singles and ongoing performances under various memberships in subsequent years. Their most notable tracks include "Come Go with Me" and "Whispering Bells". They gained recognition as one of the few racially integrated groups succeeding during an era when such diversity was uncommon.[1]Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name[2]
Origins and Initial Success
Established in 1955 by members of the United States Air Force stationed in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the founding lineup consisted of Clarence Quick, Kripp Johnson, Don Jackson, Samuel Paterson, Bernard Robertson, along with guitarist Joe Lopes. Due to military obligations, the group's composition shifted frequently; after Paterson and Robertson were deployed to Germany, baritone David Lerchey—the first white member—and tenor Norman Wright joined. Wright had earlier created The Valverteens at Amarillo Air Force Base in Texas. Don Jackson eventually departed and was succeeded by Gus Backus, the group's second Caucasian member.
Clarence Quick is credited with naming the band. The name likely drew inspiration from Viking imagery or a Brooklyn basketball team called the Vikings, with "Del" added to evoke intrigue.[1][3]
Their major breakthrough arrived in 1957 with "Come Go with Me," composed by Clarence Quick and initially issued on Fee Bee Records. The song was later reissued by Dot Records, reaching No. 5 on the US Billboard Top 100 Pop Charts, selling over a million copies, and earning a gold record.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name This track has appeared in films such as American Graffiti, Stand by Me, and Set It Up, and was ranked No. 449 on Rolling Stone’s list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad nameCite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name
The follow-up single, "Whispering Bells," also written by Quick and featuring lead vocals from Kripp Johnson, climbed to No. 5 on the U.S. R&B chart and No. 9 on the pop chart in 1957.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name This song was included on the soundtrack for Stand by Me.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad nameCite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name
Division
When signing with Fee Bee—a small Pittsburgh label later distributed by Dot Records—all members except Kripp Johnson were underage, allowing them to legally terminate their contracts. In 1957, under manager Alan Strauss, most members transitioned to Mercury Records, while Johnson remained bound to Fee Bee/Dot. This led to two separate Del-Vikings groups emerging. The original lineup replaced Johnson with William Blakely and recorded "Cool Shake," featuring Backus as lead vocalist. Meanwhile, Johnson assembled a new group including Don Jackson, Chuck Jackson, Arthur Budd, and Ed Everette, releasing "I'm Spinning" under the name Dell-Vikings.
Demo recordings sold to Luniverse were later overdubbed and issued as the album "Come Go With The Del Vikings," which included the single "Somewhere Over The Rainbow"/"Hey Senorita," but legal disputes resulted in its withdrawal shortly after its July 1957 release.
Johnson’s Dot-affiliated group benefited from his discharge from the USAF, enabling unrestricted touring compared to the original group that required military leave for performances. Mercury filed a lawsuit over exclusive rights to the band’s name; as a result, Johnson’s ensemble briefly adopted the name The Versatiles, releasing singles as "Kripp Johnson and the Versatiles" or "Chuck Jackson and the Versatiles." This group eventually dissolved, with Chuck Jackson pursuing a solo career. Meanwhile, the original group declined; Gus Backus was reassigned and replaced by guitarist Joe Lopes. Mercury's Del Vikings recorded their final single in October 1958.
By late 1959, Clarence Quick reassembled the band with new Pittsburgh-based talent—lead tenor Billy G. Woodruff, Willie Green, Horace Douglas "Doug" White, and Ritzy Lee. Kripp Johnson rejoined to form a six-member ensemble. In 1960 they signed with ABC Records (ABC-Paramount), but failed to achieve further chart success and ultimately disbanded in 1965.
Reunion and Subsequent Events
In 1970, The Del-Vikings came together again featuring nearly the original lineup: Clarence Quick, Kripp Johnson, Norman Wright, David Lerchey, and William Blakely. They produced a new recording of "Come Go With Me" under Scepter Records, which charted on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 and reached number 32 on the Easy Listening chart in 1973.
On April 27, 1973, they showcased "Come Go with Me" on The Midnight Special, performing with members Billy G. Woodruff, Roalf "Ritzy" Lee, Kripp Johnson, Clarence Quick, and Terry Young.
In 2000, Norman Wright and David Lerchey, joined by Wright's sons, appeared as The Del Vikings on PBS's "Doo Wop 50". Wright continued touring alongside his sons until his passing.
Notable members who have passed away include Clarence E. Quick in 1985, Corinthian "Kripp" Johnson in 1990, David Lerchey in 2005, Norman Wright in 2010, Billy G. Woodruff and Donald Edgar "Gus" Backus both in 2019, and Roalf E. "Ritzy" Lee in 2020.
Singles discography
| Year | Titles (A-side, B-side) Both sides from same album except where indicated |
Chart positions | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | US R&B | ||
| 1957 | "Come Go With Me" b/w "How Can I Find True Love" Initially released locally on Pittsburgh's Fee Bee label; first national issue via Dot |
5 | 2 |
| "What Made Maggie Run" b/w "When I Come Home" or alternatively "Uh Uh Baby" Original local Fee Bee release |
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| "What Made Maggie Run" b/w "Little Billy Boy" National release on Dot with alternate B-side |
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| "Whispering Bells" b/w "Don't Be A Fool" Simultaneously issued on Fee Bee and Dot |
9 | 5 | |
| "I'm Spinning" b/w "You Say You Love Me" Issued on Fee Bee and Dot with differing B-sides |
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| "Cool Shake" b/w "Jitterbug Mary" Released through Mercury |
12 | 9 | |
| "Come Along With Me" b/w "Whatcha Gotta Lose" |
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| "Snowbound" b/w "Your Book Of Life" |
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| "Willette" b/w "Woke Up This Morning" Released via Fee Bee and Dot |
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| 1958 | "Can't Wait" b/w "The Voodoo Man" (from The Swinging, Singing Del Vikings) |
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| "You Cheated" b/w "Pretty Little Things Called Girls" |
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| "Flat Tire" b/w "How Could You" |
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| 1960 | "Pistol Packin' Mama" b/w "The Sun" |
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| 1961 | "Bring Back Your Heart" b/w "I'll Never Stop Crying" |
101 | |
| "I Hear Bells (Wedding Bells)" b/w "Don't Get Slick On Me" |
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| "Face The Music" b/w "Kiss Me" |
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| 1962 | "The Big Silence" b/w "One More River To Cross" |
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| "Confession Of Love" b/w "Kilimanjaro" |
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| "An Angel Up In Heaven" b/w "The Fishing Chant (Re Manu Pakurua)" |
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| 1963 | "Too Many Miles" b/w "Sorcerer's Apprentice" |
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| 1964 | "I've Go To Know" b/w "We Three" |
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| 1966 | "Down In Bermuda" b/w "Maggie"(= What Made Maggie Run) |
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| Year | Title(s) | US Billboard Hot 100 | US R&B Chart |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Come Go With Me"(New version) b/w "When You're Asleep" | 112 | ||
| "Cold Feet", b/w "I Want To Marry You", both featuring Chuck Jackson | |||
| "Watching The Moon", b/w "You Say You Love Me", both led by Kripp Johnson | |||
| "I'm Spinning", b/w "Girl Girl"; A-side led by Kripp Johnson, B-side led by Chuck Jackson |
See also
- Del Vikings (France), a black youth antifascist subculture with a strong interest in American classic cars, doo wop, and early rock & roll