The Dells
| Company type | Vocal ensemble |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1953 in Harvey, Illinois, United States |
| Headquarters | Harvey, Illinois , United States |
| Products | Music recordings, live performances |
| Website | www |
The Dells were a notable American R&B vocal ensemble established in 1953 in Harvey, Illinois. The original members—Marvin Junior, Verne Allison, Johnny Funches, Chuck Barksdale, along with Michael and Lucius McGill—initially performed under the name El-Rays. Their debut recording emerged in 1954, and they gained their first significant R&B success with the 1956 release "Oh What a Night." Following a severe automobile accident in 1958 that resulted in a brief disbandment, the group reassembled in 1960 with Johnny Carter stepping in for Funches. This formation remained consistent until Carter's passing in 2009. The Dells were honored with inductions into both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2004. Their extensive career concluded when health issues compelled lead vocalist Marvin Junior and bass singer Chuck Barksdale to retire, marking the end of a six-decade legacy.
Early career
The group originated in Harvey, Illinois, initially called the El-Rays during their time at Thornton Township High School. The founding roster featured Marvin Junior, Michael McGill, Lucius McGill, Verne Allison, Chuck Barksdale, and Johnny Funches; shortly thereafter, Lucius McGill exited the ensemble. They secured a contract with Checker Records and released "Darling I Know," which did not achieve commercial success.
In 1955, adopting the name the Dells, they signed with Vee-Jay Records. Their 1956 hit "Oh, What a Night," co-written by Johnny Funches who shared lead vocals alongside Marvin Junior, climbed into the top five on the R&B charts and surpassed one million copies sold, earning a gold disc distinction. This track is ranked number 260 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. After a grave car accident in 1958 left McGill hospitalized for half a year, the group temporarily ceased activities. During this hiatus, Barksdale joined Harvey Fuqua's offshoot group Harvey and the Moonglows with Marvin Gaye.
The Dells reunited in 1961 and auditioned for Dinah Washington; following her endorsement, Johnny Funches departed to dedicate time to his family and was succeeded by Johnny Carter, an original member of the Flamingos. For two years, they performed as background vocalists for Washington. In 1966, they were engaged as opening acts for Ray Charles but were dismissed after receiving multiple standing ovations that outshone Charles’ own set. Additionally, the group provided backing vocals on Barbara Lewis’s 1963 hit "Hello Stranger" and collaborated with Quincy Jones to enhance their vocal approach to standards and jazz repertoire.
Successful years
In 1966, the Dells returned to Chess Records under its Cadet imprint, collaborating with Bobby Miller and Charles Stepney—who would later become an arranger for Earth, Wind & Fire. Their 1967 album There Is featured its title track as their first R&B chart-topper in several years and also marked their initial entry into the top 20 of the pop charts.
Following hits on the R&B charts included "Wear It on Our Face," "Always Together" (which also reached the pop top 20), and a UK top 15 medley combining "I Can Sing a Rainbow" and "Love is Blue." Their 1968 single "Stay in My Corner" became their first number one on the R&B chart as well as a top ten pop hit, showcasing lead vocals by both Carter and Marvin Junior. In 1969, their soulful reinterpretation of "Oh What a Night" earned them a second number one R&B single along with another top ten position on the Billboard Hot 100 chart; it sold over one million copies. Subsequent successful releases included "Open Up My Heart," "Oh What a Day," and "On the Dock of the Bay." The year 1971 saw "The Love We Had Stays on My Mind" reach the R&B top ten and break into the pop top 30. By this time, Charles Stepney had taken over production duties from Bobby Miller. Their 1973 release "Give Your Baby a Standing Ovation," penned by L.V. Johnson and produced by Don Davis, became their third single to achieve gold certification.
Later years
Following their departure from Cadet around 1974 amid financial difficulties faced by their parent company, The Dells released music through Mercury, ABC, and Virgin Records. Among these was the 1980 single "I Touched a Dream," which brought them back into the R&B top 40 charts. Although primarily active within the oldies circuit thereafter, they experienced a resurgence when serving as creative advisors for Robert Townsend’s notable 1991 film The Five Heartbeats, a story loosely inspired by their time. Their track "A Heart Is a House for Love" climbed to number 13 on the R&B charts, marking their first top 40 R&B hit spanning five decades and becoming their 33rd and final entry in that category. In 1992, The Dells signed with Philadelphia International Records and released the album I Salute You. They continued to perform and record intermittently into the early 2000s. Honored with inductions into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2004, as well as the National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame in 2022, The Dells remained active until their farewell performance at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame museum in Cleveland in June 2012.
Losses
Johnny Funches, an original member of The Dells, passed away from pneumonia on January 23, 1998, at age 62.
Johnny Carter died from cancer on August 21, 2009, at 75 years old. Carter was recognized twice by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, first with The Flamingos in 2001 and later with The Dells in 2004.
Marvin Junior, a founding member, died at his residence in Harvey, Illinois on May 29, 2013. He was 77 and succumbed to complications related to kidney failure and heart problems.
Chuck Barksdale passed away on May 15, 2019, at the age of 84.
Personnel
Members
- Marvin Junior (born Marvin Curtis Junior, January 31, 1936, Harrell, Arkansas – May 29, 2013) - lead baritone and lead vocals (1952-1958, 1960–2012)
- Verne Allison (born June 22, 1936, Chicago) - second tenor and background vocals (1952-1958, 1960-2012)
- Michael McGill (born February 17, 1937, Chicago) - baritone and background vocals (1952–1958, 1960-2012)
- Chuck Barksdale (born Charles Barksdale, January 11, 1935 – May 15, 2019) - bass and background vocals (1952–1958, 1960-2012)
- Johnny Funches (July 18, 1935 – January 23, 1998) - first tenor and lead vocals (1952–58, 1960-1961)
- Lucius McGill (born 1935, Chicago) - second tenor and background vocals (1952–54)
- Johnny Carter (June 2, 1934 – August 21, 2009) - first tenor/falsetto and lead vocals (1961–2009)
Group Lineup
| 1952-1958
1960-1961 |
1961-2009 | 2009-2012 |
|---|---|---|
|
|
|
Timeline
<timeline> ImageSize = width:800 height:auto barincrement:20 PlotArea = left:90 bottom:80 top:0 right:20 Alignbars = justify DateFormat = dd/mm/yyyy Period = from:01/01/1952 till:01/01/2012 TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal format:yyyy Legend = orientation:horizontal position:bottom ScaleMajor = increment:4 start:1952
Colors =
id:Lead value:red legend:Lead_Vocals id:Tenor value:green legend:Tenor_Vocals id:Barry value:purple legend:Baritone_Vocals id:Bass value:blue legend:Bass_Vocals id:lines value:black legend:Studio_albums
BarData =
bar:Marvin text:"Marvin Junior" bar:Verne text:"Verne Allison" bar:Michael text:"Michael McGill" bar:Chuck text:"Chuck Barksdale" bar:Johnny text:"Johnny Funches" bar:Lucius text:"Lucius McGill" bar:Johnny2 text:"Johnny Carter"
PlotData=
width:10 textcolor:black align:left anchor:from shift:(10,-4)
bar:Marvin from:start till:01/01/1958 color:barry width:3 bar:Marvin from:01/01/1960 till:end color:barry width:3 bar:Marvin from:start till:01/01/1958 color:lead bar:Marvin from:01/01/1960 till:end color:lead bar:Verne from:start till:01/01/1958 color:tenor bar:Verne from:01/01/1960 till:end color:tenor bar:Michael from:start till:01/01/1958 color:barry bar:Michael from:01/01/1960 till:end color:barry bar:Chuck from:start till:01/01/1958 color:bass bar:Chuck from:01/01/1960 till:end color:bass bar:Johnny from:start till:01/01/1958 color:tenor width:3 bar:Johnny from:01/01/1960 till:01/01/1961 color:tenor width:3 bar:Johnny from:start till:01/01/1958 color:lead bar:Johnny from:01/01/1960 till:01/01/1961 color:lead bar:Lucius from:start till:01/01/1954 color:tenor bar:Johnny2 from:01/01/1961 till:end color:lead bar:Johnny2 from:01/01/1961 till:end color:tenor width:3
LineData =
at:01/06/1959 color:black layer:back at:01/06/1965 color:black layer:back at:01/06/1968 color:black layer:back at:01/03/1969 color:black layer:back at:01/09/1969 color:black layer:back at:01/06/1970 color:black layer:back at:01/06/1971 color:black layer:back at:01/03/1972 color:black layer:back at:/09//1972color:blacklayer=back at:/03//1973color:blacklayer=back at:/09//1973color:blacklayer=back at:/03//1974color:blacklayer=back at:/09//1974color:blacklayer=back at:/06//1975color:blacklayer=back at:/06//1976color:blacklayer=back at:/06//1977color:blacklayer=back at:/03//1978color:blacklayer=back at:/09//1978color:blacklayer=back at:/06//1979color:blacklayer=back at:/06//1980color:blacklayer=back at:/06//1981color:blacklayer=back at:/06//1984color:blacklayer=back at:/06//1988color:blacklayer=back at:/06//1992color:blacklayer=back at:/06//2000color:blacklayer=back at:/06//2002color:blacklayer=back
</timeline>
Awards
- Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2004
- Honored by the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2004
- Received the Rhythm & Blues Foundation's "Pioneer Award" in 1992
- Awarded the NAACP Image Award - Hall of Fame distinction in 1992
- Entered the National Rhythm and Blues Hall of Fame in 2022
External links
- Vocal quintets
- Doo-wop groups
- Musical groups from Chicago
- Musical groups established in 1953
- Musical groups disbanded in 2012
- African-American musical groups
- American soul musical groups
- Argo Records artists
- Vee-Jay Records artists
- Mercury Records artists
- Cadet Records artists
- 1953 establishments in Illinois
- Musical groups disestablished in 2012