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)
Jo
The Dells Lyrics
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Ag Jo'burg I must leave you
Jo'burg you're not the place to be
With your hijacks and your robberies
And your total insanity
Jo'burg you're not the place for me (Not the place for me)
But work was getting scarce
So Egoli and its gold ball was calling me
But on my first night there
I was robbed by some crooks
First my shirt, then they took my broeks (Took my broeks)
Now Jo'burg's full of strange clubs
And ladies ooh of the night
And bouncers, they'll sommer thunder you just for kicks
And when you walk down dark allies
Oh you better hold on to your crotch
Cos when you shout Amandla, the buggers steal your watch (Buggers steal your watch)
I said Jo'burg how I hate you
Jo'burg I must leave you
Jo'burg you're not the place to be
With your hijacks and your robberies
And your total insanity
Jo'burg you're not the place for me (Not the place for me)
So now we've moved down to Cape Town
Aah but I tell you it's just as bad
Cos there's cows and goats on our highways
Man it makes you mad
And the guys in the Cape are so laid back hey
They just don't give a damn
They meet the chicks and it's wam bam thank you ma'am (Wam bam thank you ma'am)
The mountains are so beautiful and covered with white snow
But tourists please be careful where you go
I mean don't carry your expensive cameras hanging round your neck
Else the Bergies will mug you, skop jou in jou bek (Skop jou in jou bek)
I said, Cape Town now I hate you
Ag Cape Town I must leave you
Cape Town you're not the place to be
You've also got your hijackings
And your robberies by the score
Ag Cape Town I don't like you anymore (Don't like you anymore)
Now don't even mention Durbs
The bananas and the sharks
And the beaches are littered with bodies
Hoo hoo, most of them are kaal
And when you walk down the main street
Oh Mr Bobby Naidoo creeps up upon you
He's selling samoosas with curried meatballs 'n all (Meatballs and all)
Oh man I said, Jo'burg now I love you
Ag Jo'burg now I like you
Jo'burg you're the town for me
With your highways and your byways
And your money and your gold
Jo'burg you're the place where I'll grow old (Where I'll grow old)
Oh I said now Jo'burg you're the place where I'll grow old (Where I'll grow old)
I mean Jo'burg you're the place where I'll grow old (Where I'll grow old)
I just miss my huisie by die see
The lyrics to The Dells's song "Jo" are a humorous and satirical commentary on the city of Johannesburg (also known as Jo'burg), as well as Cape Town and Durban in South Africa. The song expresses the singer's frustrations and experiences living in these cities, highlighting the issues of crime, insecurity, and cultural differences.
The lyrics criticize the high levels of crime in Jo'burg, with references to hijackings, robberies, and the singer being a victim himself. The lyrics also touch on the city's reputation for being full of strange clubs and ladies of the night, as well as bouncers who may resort to violence for entertainment.
The song then shifts focus to Cape Town, where the singer sarcastically mentions the presence of cows and goats on the highways, highlighting the frustration and inconveniences of living there. The laid-back attitude of the locals is also mentioned, suggesting that they may not be concerned about the issues that bother the singer.
Lastly, Durban is briefly mentioned, with the lyrics playfully referring to bananas, sharks, and littered beaches. It also mentions the character of Mr. Bobby Naidoo, who sells samoosas with curried meatballs, highlighting the cultural diversity of the city.
Overall, the song is a lighthearted take on the experiences and perceptions of living in these South African cities, offering a humorous critique while also showcasing the singer's affection for their homeland.
Line by Line Meaning
Jo'burg how I hate you
I strongly dislike Johannesburg
Ag Jo'burg I must leave you
Oh Johannesburg, I have to depart from you
Jo'burg you're not the place to be
Johannesburg is not the ideal location to live
With your hijacks and your robberies
Due to frequent car thefts and theft incidents
And your total insanity
And the overall chaos and madness it brings
Now I used to live in the country
I used to reside in the countryside
But work was getting scarce
But job opportunities were scarce
So Egoli and its gold ball was calling me
So Johannesburg and its gold industry were attracting me
But on my first night there
However, on my initial evening in Johannesburg
I was robbed by some crooks
I was robbed by some criminals
First my shirt, then they took my broeks
First, they stole my shirt, and then they took my pants
Now Jo'burg's full of strange clubs
Now Johannesburg is filled with unusual clubs
And ladies ooh of the night
And women who work as prostitutes
And bouncers, they'll sommer thunder you just for kicks
And bouncers who will physically harm you just for fun
And when you walk down dark allies
And when you stroll through dark alleyways
Oh you better hold on to your crotch
Oh, you should protect your private area
Cos when you shout Amandla, the buggers steal your watch
Because when you yell Amandla, the thieves will snatch your watch
So now we've moved down to Cape Town
So now we have relocated to Cape Town
Aah but I tell you it's just as bad
Ah, but I must inform you that it is equally unfavorable
Cos there's cows and goats on our highways
Because there are cattle and goats on our roads
Man it makes you mad
It is infuriating
And the guys in the Cape are so laid back hey
And the people in Cape Town are very relaxed
They just don't give a damn
They simply do not care
They meet the chicks and it's wam bam thank you ma'am
They meet women and have quick, casual encounters
The mountains are so beautiful and covered with white snow
The mountains are stunning with their snow-covered peaks
But tourists please be careful where you go
However, tourists should be cautious about their destinations
I mean don't carry your expensive cameras hanging round your neck
I mean, don't display your valuable cameras around your neck
Else the Bergies will mug you, skop jou in jou bek
Otherwise, the street dwellers will mug you, kick you in the face
Now don't even mention Durbs
Now, let's not even talk about Durban
The bananas and the sharks
The bananas (referring to craziness) and the sharks (literal or metaphorical dangers)
And the beaches are littered with bodies
And the beaches are filled with dead bodies
Hoo hoo, most of them are kaal
Oh my, most of them are naked
And when you walk down the main street
And when you stroll along the main street
Oh Mr Bobby Naidoo creeps up upon you
Oh, Mr. Bobby Naidoo sneaks up behind you
He's selling samoosas with curried meatballs 'n all
He is selling traditional Indian pastries filled with curried meatballs and everything
Oh man I said, Jo'burg now I love you
Oh man, now I love Johannesburg
Ag Jo'burg now I like you
Oh Johannesburg, now I enjoy you
Jo'burg you're the town for me
Johannesburg is the perfect city for me
With your highways and your byways
With your well-constructed roads and alternative routes
And your money and your gold
And your wealth and abundance of gold
Jo'burg you're the place where I'll grow old
Johannesburg is the place where I will spend my older years
Oh I said now Jo'burg you're the place where I'll grow old
Oh, I declare that Johannesburg is the place where I will age
I mean Jo'burg you're the place where I'll grow old
In other words, Johannesburg is where I will mature and age
I just miss my huisie by die see
I simply miss my small house by the sea
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind