The Dells were an American doo-wop group. Formed in high school in 1952 in … Read Full Bio ↴The Dells were an American doo-wop group. Formed in high school in 1952 in Harvey, Illinois by founding members Marvin Junior, Verne Allison, Johnny Funches, Chuck Barksdale, and Mickey and Lucius McGill, under the name The El Rays. They released their first recording in 1954 and two years later had their first R&B hit with "Oh What a Nite". After disbanding due to a near-fatal car crash in 1958, the band reformed in 1960 with Funches being replaced by Johnny Carter. This lineup remained together until Carter's death in 2009. In 2004 The Dells were inducted into both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Vocal Group Hall of Fame. The group performed until illness forced longtime lead singer Marvin Junior and bass vocalist Chuck Barksdale into retirement, ending the group's 60-year run.
The Dells grew up in Harvey, Illinois and began singing together while attending Thornton Township High School. Forming in 1952 under the name the El-Rays, the group initially consisted of Marvin Junior, Mickey McGill, Lucius McGill, Verne Allison, Chuck Barksdale, and Johnny Funches. Lucius soon left the group and the remaining quintet signed with Checker Records, releasing their first single, "Darling I Know," which flopped.
In 1955, the group renamed themselves the Dells and signed with Vee-Jay Records. In 1956, they recorded their first hit, "Oh, What a Nite" (a song co-written by Johnny Funches, who also sang lead on the recording alongside Marvin Junior), which hit the Top 5 of the R&B singles chart. It sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc. The song is ranked #260 on the Rolling Stone magazine's list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. In November 1958, the Dells suffered a car accident that left McGill in a hospital in Ohio for six months. The group temporarily disbanded and Barksdale sang as a member of Harvey Fuqua's spinoff Moonglows act, Harvey and the Moonglows, which included a young Marvin Gaye. In 1961, the Dells reunited and auditioned for Dinah Washington. After Washington agreed to hire them, Johnny Funches left the group to take care of his family. Funches was replaced by Flamingos founding member Johnny Carter and sang background for Washington for two years. In 1966, they were hired to open for Ray Charles, only to be fired after a performance resulted in several standing ovations. The group would also sing background for Barbara Lewis, mainly on Lewis' 1963 hit, "Hello Stranger", while also working with Quincy Jones, who helped to fine-tune their vocals for standards and jazz material.
In 1966, the Dells returned to Chess under the label's Cadet subsidiary working with Bobby Miller and future Earth, Wind & Fire arranger Charles Stepney. In 1967, the Dells issued the album There Is which included their first R&B chart-topper in years with the title track, which showcased the sharp baritone of Marvin Junior and the harmonies with the four other Dells. The song was also their first top 20 pop hit.
Subsequent R&B hits included "Wear It on Our Face," "Always Together" (Top 20 Pop, "I Can Sing a Rainbow - Love is Blue (medley)" (UK #15), and their first #1 R&B hit and first Top Ten pop hit, 1968's "Stay in My Corner," which reached #10 on the pop chart and showcased both Carter and Marvin in lead vocals. In the following year, 1969, The Dells' soulful remake of their debut hit, "Oh What a Night" gave the group their second chart-topping R&B single and also reached the top ten on the Billboard Hot 100. For a second time, the song sold over a million copies. Subsequent hits included "Open Up My Heart," "Oh What A Day," and "On the Dock of the Bay." In 1971, the Dells' "The Love We Had Stays on My Mind" became another Top Ten hit on the R&B charts, also reaching the pop Top 30. By this time Charles Stepney had taken over production duties from Bobby Miller. 1973's "Give Your Baby a Standing Ovation" was their third certified gold record. The song was written by L.V. Johnson and produced by Don Davis.
Leaving Cadet around the end of 1974 with the parent company in financial difficulties, the group would continue recording in order under the Mercury, ABC, and Virgin labels finding some hits, including 1980's "I Touched a Dream", which returned the group to the top 40 on the R&B charts. The Dells were confined mostly to the oldies market afterwards until they were asked to be creative consultants to Robert Townsend's acclaimed 1991 film, The Five Heartbeats, which was loosely based on the lives of The Dells and other groups of its era. The group recorded a composition titled "A Heart Is a House for Love". The song reached number 13 on the Billboard R&B chart, making them only one of two groups to have hit singles in five decades. The following year, signing with PIR, they released the album, I Salute You. The Dells continued performing and recording sporadically in the early years of the new millennium. In 2004, the group were inducted to both the Vocal Group Hall of Fame and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The group continued performing until 2012.
Original Dells vocalist Johnny Funches died of pneumonia on January 23, 1998, at the age of 62.
Johnny Carter died of cancer on August 21, 2009, at the age of 75. Carter is one of the few artists to be a double Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, having been inducted with The Flamingos in 2001, and the Dells in 2004.
On May 29, 2013, founding member Marvin Junior died in his sleep at his home in Harvey, Illinois, succumbing to complications of kidney failure and a weak heart at the age of 77.
Chuck Barksdale died on 15 May 2019, at the age of 83.
Members
Marvin Junior (born Marvin Curtis Junior, January 31, 1936, Harrell, Arkansas – May 29, 2013) - lead baritone, lead vocals (1952-1958, 1960–2012)
Verne Allison (b. June 22, 1936, Chicago) - second tenor, background vocals (1952-1958, 1960-2012)
Mickey McGill (b. February 17, 1937, Chicago) - baritone, background vocals (1952–1958, 1960-2012)
Chuck Barksdale (January 11, 1935 - May 15, 2019) - bass, background vocals (1952–1958, 1960-2012)
Johnny Funches (July 18, 1935, Chicago – January 23, 1998) - first tenor, lead vocals (1952–58, 1960-1961)
Lucius McGill (b. 1935, Chicago) - second tenor, background vocals (1952–54)
Johnny Carter (June 2, 1934, Chicago – August 21, 2009) - first tenor/falsetto, lead vocals (1961–2009)
The Dells grew up in Harvey, Illinois and began singing together while attending Thornton Township High School. Forming in 1952 under the name the El-Rays, the group initially consisted of Marvin Junior, Mickey McGill, Lucius McGill, Verne Allison, Chuck Barksdale, and Johnny Funches. Lucius soon left the group and the remaining quintet signed with Checker Records, releasing their first single, "Darling I Know," which flopped.
In 1955, the group renamed themselves the Dells and signed with Vee-Jay Records. In 1956, they recorded their first hit, "Oh, What a Nite" (a song co-written by Johnny Funches, who also sang lead on the recording alongside Marvin Junior), which hit the Top 5 of the R&B singles chart. It sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc. The song is ranked #260 on the Rolling Stone magazine's list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. In November 1958, the Dells suffered a car accident that left McGill in a hospital in Ohio for six months. The group temporarily disbanded and Barksdale sang as a member of Harvey Fuqua's spinoff Moonglows act, Harvey and the Moonglows, which included a young Marvin Gaye. In 1961, the Dells reunited and auditioned for Dinah Washington. After Washington agreed to hire them, Johnny Funches left the group to take care of his family. Funches was replaced by Flamingos founding member Johnny Carter and sang background for Washington for two years. In 1966, they were hired to open for Ray Charles, only to be fired after a performance resulted in several standing ovations. The group would also sing background for Barbara Lewis, mainly on Lewis' 1963 hit, "Hello Stranger", while also working with Quincy Jones, who helped to fine-tune their vocals for standards and jazz material.
In 1966, the Dells returned to Chess under the label's Cadet subsidiary working with Bobby Miller and future Earth, Wind & Fire arranger Charles Stepney. In 1967, the Dells issued the album There Is which included their first R&B chart-topper in years with the title track, which showcased the sharp baritone of Marvin Junior and the harmonies with the four other Dells. The song was also their first top 20 pop hit.
Subsequent R&B hits included "Wear It on Our Face," "Always Together" (Top 20 Pop, "I Can Sing a Rainbow - Love is Blue (medley)" (UK #15), and their first #1 R&B hit and first Top Ten pop hit, 1968's "Stay in My Corner," which reached #10 on the pop chart and showcased both Carter and Marvin in lead vocals. In the following year, 1969, The Dells' soulful remake of their debut hit, "Oh What a Night" gave the group their second chart-topping R&B single and also reached the top ten on the Billboard Hot 100. For a second time, the song sold over a million copies. Subsequent hits included "Open Up My Heart," "Oh What A Day," and "On the Dock of the Bay." In 1971, the Dells' "The Love We Had Stays on My Mind" became another Top Ten hit on the R&B charts, also reaching the pop Top 30. By this time Charles Stepney had taken over production duties from Bobby Miller. 1973's "Give Your Baby a Standing Ovation" was their third certified gold record. The song was written by L.V. Johnson and produced by Don Davis.
Leaving Cadet around the end of 1974 with the parent company in financial difficulties, the group would continue recording in order under the Mercury, ABC, and Virgin labels finding some hits, including 1980's "I Touched a Dream", which returned the group to the top 40 on the R&B charts. The Dells were confined mostly to the oldies market afterwards until they were asked to be creative consultants to Robert Townsend's acclaimed 1991 film, The Five Heartbeats, which was loosely based on the lives of The Dells and other groups of its era. The group recorded a composition titled "A Heart Is a House for Love". The song reached number 13 on the Billboard R&B chart, making them only one of two groups to have hit singles in five decades. The following year, signing with PIR, they released the album, I Salute You. The Dells continued performing and recording sporadically in the early years of the new millennium. In 2004, the group were inducted to both the Vocal Group Hall of Fame and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The group continued performing until 2012.
Original Dells vocalist Johnny Funches died of pneumonia on January 23, 1998, at the age of 62.
Johnny Carter died of cancer on August 21, 2009, at the age of 75. Carter is one of the few artists to be a double Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, having been inducted with The Flamingos in 2001, and the Dells in 2004.
On May 29, 2013, founding member Marvin Junior died in his sleep at his home in Harvey, Illinois, succumbing to complications of kidney failure and a weak heart at the age of 77.
Chuck Barksdale died on 15 May 2019, at the age of 83.
Members
Marvin Junior (born Marvin Curtis Junior, January 31, 1936, Harrell, Arkansas – May 29, 2013) - lead baritone, lead vocals (1952-1958, 1960–2012)
Verne Allison (b. June 22, 1936, Chicago) - second tenor, background vocals (1952-1958, 1960-2012)
Mickey McGill (b. February 17, 1937, Chicago) - baritone, background vocals (1952–1958, 1960-2012)
Chuck Barksdale (January 11, 1935 - May 15, 2019) - bass, background vocals (1952–1958, 1960-2012)
Johnny Funches (July 18, 1935, Chicago – January 23, 1998) - first tenor, lead vocals (1952–58, 1960-1961)
Lucius McGill (b. 1935, Chicago) - second tenor, background vocals (1952–54)
Johnny Carter (June 2, 1934, Chicago – August 21, 2009) - first tenor/falsetto, lead vocals (1961–2009)
A House Is Not A Home
The Dells Lyrics
We have lyrics for 'A House Is Not A Home' by these artists:
A.B. hello im at ur door again I just needed a friend But…
A.J. Gil Sipping a scummy pint Money is tight Clumsy is night High…
Anwar Robinson how can i just let you walk away just let you…
Aretha Franklin A chair is still a chair Even when there's no one…
Bacharach A chair is still a chair Even when there's no one…
Benjamin Biolay Last night I had a dream Last night I had a…
Benjamin Biolay feat. Chiara Mastroianni A chair is still a chair Even when there's no one…
Chiara Mastroianni & Benjamin Biolay Last night I had a dream Last night I had a…
Chris Colfer One less bell to answer One less egg to fry One less…
Cory Monteith & Chris Colfer One less bell to answer One less egg to fry One less…
Cory Monteith/Glee A chair is still a chair Even when there's no one…
Della Reese A chair is still a chair Even though there's no-one sitting…
Denise Donatelli c chair is still a chair Even when there's no one…
Dionne Warwick A chair is still a chair Even when there's no one…
Dionne Warwick feat. Ne-Yo A chair is still a chair Even when there's no one…
Dusty Springfield A chair is still a chair Even though there’s no-one sitting…
Eivets Rednow A chair is still a chair, even when there's no…
Eliane Elias A chair is still a chair Even when there's no one…
Ella Fitzgerald Doo doo doo doo doo Doo doo doo doo doo doo…
Field Music If time is tight it's right to stay another night You…
Georgie Fame A chair is still a chair Even when there's no one…
Glee (Finn & Kurt) One less bell to answer One less egg to fry One less…
Glee Cast A chair is still a chair Even when there's no one…
Gray Tamyra A chair is still a chair, even when there's no…
J.D. Smoothe Sipping a scummy pint Money is tight Clumsy is night High…
John Lloyd Young A chair is still a chair, even when there′s no…
Kevin Bassinson A chair is still a chair, even when there's no…
Kristin Chenoweth A chair is still a chair Even when there's no one…
Kurt Elling A chair is still a chair Even when there's no one…
Lulu A chair is still a chair Even when there's no one…
Luther Vandross Doo doo doo doo doo Doo doo doo doo doo doo…
Luther+Vandross A chair is still a chair, even when there's no…
Mavis Staples A chair is still a chair Even when there's no one…
McCoy Tyner / The Symphony A chair is still a chair Even when there's no one…
Mel Tormé A chair is still a chair Even when there's no one…
Michael Ball A chair is still a chair Even when no one…
Ne-Yo At my house Ive got no shackles You can come and…
Oosterhuis Trijntje A chair is still a chair, even when there's no…
Perry Como A chair is still a chair Even when there's no one…
Shawn Sounds Doo doo doo doo doo Doo doo doo doo doo doo…
Shirley Bassey A chair is still a chair, even when there's no…
Staples. Mavis A chair is still a chair Even when there's no one…
Steve Tyrell A chair is still a chair every when no one…
Stevie Wonder A chair is still a chair, even when there's no…
The Charlatans The simple cost of loving you is a better picture There…
The Frank Cunimondo Trio A chair is still a chair, even when there's no…
The Gun Club We used to be forever partners We swore we'd never separate …
Tony Christie A chair is still a chair Even when there′s no one…
Trijntje Oosterhuis A chair is still a chair, even when there's no…
Willie Nelson I walk up to my door and hate to turn…
メル・トーメ [feat. Rob McConnell] A chair is still a chair Even when there's no one…
We have lyrics for these tracks by The Dells:
A Heart Is A House For Love A heart is a house for love And I learned (I…
Ain't No Sunshine Ain't no sunshine when she's gone It's not warm when she's…
Alfie What's it all about, Alfie? Is it just for the moment…
All Your Goodies Are Gone I am through with you Baby, I refuse to be blue Let…
Always Together Just you, just me, always together I made up my mind…
Am I Blue Red and yellow and pink and green Purple and orange and…
Baby Do Well I′d my baby that she was sweet She told me…
Bring Back The Love Of Yesterday Oh, baby Let's pick up the pieces And let's work this thing…
Choosing Up On You You've got what I like, baby You know I'm crazy about…
Close Your Eyes That smile, your eyes, they got me too Captured me, when…
Come On Back To Me When your baby Leaves you all alone And nobody Calls you on …
Could It Be Oh Lord, it's hard to be humble When you're perfect in…
Dance Dance Dance Sorriso de miss, bunda marca no jeans poledance na sala…
Darling I Know "Everyone knows that you are fucked up And everyone knows th…
Does Anybody Know I'm Here Alone and far away from home A boy stands in a…
Don Don't worry 'bout me It's all over now Though I'll miss you …
Don't Tell Nobody Don't tell nobody that we're in love And don't tell nobody…
Door To Your Heart Why don't you open the Door to your heart and let…
Give Your Baby a Standing Ovation Thank you very much Ladies and gentlemen You know, we're mig…
Glory of Love Mmmm.... I love you, I love you I love you, I love…
Hallways of My Mind Maybe I didn't treat you Quite as good as I should…
Higher And Higher Your love is liftin' me higher Than I've ever been lifted…
Hold On To What You've Got Let me tell you now Hold on, hold on to what…
I Hold me close, hold me tight Make me thrill with delight Let…
I Can Maserati petal mashing While I’m digital dashing Swerving bu…
I Can Sing A Rainbow Red and yellow and pink and green Purple and orange and…
I Can't Help Myself Sugar pie honey bunch you know that I love you I…
I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself I just don't know what to do with myself Don't know…
I Miss You Woke up this mornin' Sunlight shinin' in my eyes Woke up thi…
I Need A Lot Of Love Hold me close, hold me tight Make me thrill with delight Let…
I Touched A Dream Since you left, life don't mean a thing I see the…
I Wanna Go Home Down by the river side I waited there for you,…
I'll Never Fall In Love Again You wore my heart like the blue Canadian Rockies You fill…
Intro Black Sheep is a term often use for the Outcasts, Someone…
Is It It Oh Lord, it's hard to be humble When you're perfect in…
It Takes Time So did you follow the sun Like you told them you…
It's All Up to You If I knew the words to say I'd write you a…
Jeepers Creepers I don't care what the weatherman says When the weatherman sa…
Jo Jo'burg how I hate you Ag Jo'burg I must leave you Jo'burg…
Jo Jo You got the kind of friend That seen my Cadillac You got…
Learning To Love You Was Easy (Learning how to love you, sweet baby, was easy But it′s…
Lonely Lonely Nights Sometimes I feel so lonely sometimes I feel so alone And th…
Long Lonely Nights Long, long and lonely nights I cry my eyes out over…
Love is Blue Red and yellow and pink and green Purple and orange and…
Love on Since we ended I've been doin' better Hate to see me…
Love We Had (Ooh...) I just can't believe it, girl (Baby) I can't…
Me You Before you take another step There's something you should kn…
Me + You you and me…
More And More "Everyone knows that you are fucked up And everyone knows th…
Movin' On I'm moving on here from here Facing my fear though the…
My Pretending Days Are Over My pretending days are over Gonna leave the acting To the …
Now I Pray Lord knows I tried so hard to be a companion I…
O-O I Love You Hold me close, hold me tight Make me thrill with delight Let…
Oh My Love Heaven is my woman's love Gently rising with the sun She giv…
Oh wat a night Do you recall the night That very very special night? Do you…
Oh What A Day What a day Everything's going my way What a day Everything's…
Oh What A Good Night Do you recall the night That very very special night? Do you…
Oh%2C What A Day What a day Everything's going my way What a day Everything's…
Oh%2C What A Night Do you recall the night That very very special night? Do you…
Oh, What A Night Do you recall the night, that very very special night Do…
On What a Nite Do you recall the night That very very special night? Do you…
One Less Bell To Answer One less bell to answer One less egg to fry One less…
Open Up My Heart I'm gonna open up my heart To the world this morning See…
Our Love You're my morning star Shining brightly beside me And if we …
Rain Picture this, any man that hustle because like to is…
Reminiscing Reminiscing about you girl Reminiscing about you Reminiscing…
Restless Days Sleepless Nights Restless days sleepless nights Lonely hours tell me why I′m …
Say That You'll Stay I was standing on the other side Watching you leaving I coul…
She's Just An Angel She's just an angel who thrills me every night She's just…
Since I Fell For You When you just give love And never get love You'd better let…
Someone To Call Me Darling Escupo skill style only baby you feel me, vámonos de…
Stay In My Corner If you stay, stay darling (Stay in my corner) You make me…
The Best In Me Party every night as if it's the only thing I…
The Glory Of Love Mmmm.... I love you, I love you I love you, I love…
The Love We Had (Ooh...) I just can't believe it, girl (Baby) I can't…
The Love We Had (Stays on My Mind) Lately baby, i've been thinkin' how good it was when you…
The Love We Had (Stays On My Mind) - Single Version Lately, babe, I've been thinking How good it was when you…
The Love We Had (Stays On My. (Ooh...) I just can't believe it, girl (Baby) I can't…
The Love We Had Stays On My Mind Lately baby, i've been thinkin' How good it was when you…
There Is (There is) (There is) (There is) (There is) (There is the t…
Wait til tomorrow There's a way you look into my eyes It takes me…
Waiting For You When you just give love And never get love You'd better let…
Wear It on Our Face We're falling in love, my darling With all our heart and…
What Is Love Heaven is my woman's love Gently rising with the sun She giv…
You Don't Care cnd I said why, why, why Can't you keep it real…
You Promised Me Before you take another step There's something you should kn…
Zing Zing Zing I gotta girl and she′s alright I gotta girl and she's…
The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos
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Valerie J Wade
Their songs never get old.
DRUSCILLA LEE
NEVER GET OLD👏🏽 THAT'S MELODIOUS 🎶 MUSIC VOICES COMBINED🎤🎶👏🏽
PoPeye's world
The Dells are like fine wine , which only gets better with time ! You cannot say this about the groups today . The Dells reminds us of what music should sound like , no computers , no faking it, just pure love in the form of music . Marvin Junior had a voice that could move mountains and his voice moved people . We were blessed to have had a chance to have had such greatness in this man's voice . Thank you Sonini Nanini , for giving us this chance .
Etta Johnson
You are definitely right! Marvin Junior and Johnny Carter were jewls. Singing Icons.
Brenda Williams
My husband and I have been married for 36 years and this song means so much to us because even through the hard times we had to keep building on our love. After raising 2 children and now the proud grandparents of three grandchildren we have proven that our hearts is a house for love! 🙏
Victory Flavored
Amen
Akumaa2000
That is so cool, god bless both of you and your grown children and your grandchildren. 😎👊🏾✌🏾🙏🏾
donald smith
yes sound like me and my wife
DaOrigTruthSeeker
I am a 1962 baby and the 70s and 80s and some of the early 90s in my opinion were the best time ever for music. It seems like somebody sprinkled magic dust in the air. This music just never grows old.
Gwendolyn Spence
I am a 60's and 70's era baby. I love the music.