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. Read Full BioThe 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)
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Moving On
The Dells Lyrics
We have lyrics for 'Moving On' by these artists:
!Asking Alexandria! A boy of anguish now, he's a man of soul, Traded…
7 Birches At the end of the day what really matters to…
7-10 Split The circumstances that we face are not always how we…
911 Moving on our way Moving on our way I will always rememb…
Alice 言葉なんていらない 強く鼓動 感じさせてよ "形のない愛"だけを追いかけるの moving on… I don'…
Andrew James Please don't get me started Looking backwards to move on. St…
ANNA RF And the way goes on And the time is running I'm moving…
Anuhea You don't know how cold it is tell a wonderies blows can't…
Art Nation (Verse), I try to understand your game, the only thing…
Asking Alexandria A boy of anguish now, he's a man of soul, Traded…
Asking Alexandria (UK) A boy of anguish now, he's a man of soul, Traded…
B Team Starter Why do you hesitate to start And make excuses for the…
Babeheaven See the lights Cutting through my eyes City bites Leaves me …
Better Luck Next Time It started late last night, seclusion took its toll Discard…
Blahalouisiana Holding in my hand Last flowers got from you I'm never think…
Bleach Did you really think That we could make it make sense Did…
Blur At the music heist I met the gourmet man With aluminum lun…
Break To never end and start againâ?¦the story of your life.…
Brothermandude That big eight wheeler rolling down the track Means your tru…
Busby Marou Hey, it's been 24 hours but now I have something to…
Casey Donahew Band Two packs a day and a smoker's cough She told me…
Christon Gray Truth is that I Don't know where I'm going or how…
Consumed By Fire It's ain't always about what you want It's ain't always abou…
CRUZ Taio [Chorus] I can't wait til' you're gone away 'Cause then I …
D. Stewart Moving, give me motion Grooving, I'm an ocean Ooh (moving…
Decyfer Down Hiding in a smile Is a life filled with hurt A soul…
Denace A.K.A. Nasty It was once said to me that the things the…
Elli You we're too good to be true I wasn't good enough…
Elliott Yamin When I think about you, baby, I can't help it…
Embodyment You let me go, warmly Turned my back, growing And setting …
Erica Mason Yeah I'm moving forward Yeah No more looking back man Never…
Etana He don't call no more He don't write no more, no,…
Evermore I believe what you say I believe what you do I believe…
For Amusement Only Another day goes by that I am without you another sleeple…
Gary Moore I'm gonna leave this place tomorrow. I'm gonna leave this to…
Gary Moore & The Midnight Blues Band I'm gonna leave this place tomorrow. I'm gonna leave this t…
Gary Moore and B.B. King Just this morning I took a big long look around I've lived…
Good Charlotte When I think about my life I wonder if I will…
Goya Matsuda Now he must be gone Must be moving on Troubles come He has…
Groundfold Come closer now Our time is running out Another clash Before…
Hey Ocean! Boy, never settle down, don't stay in the same places…
Hilary and Kate Moving stranger does it really matter? As long as you're no…
Hird All the time is now And time is here to stay Although…
Howard Moss Time has come and I'm moving on Far away from the…
INOJ You really hurt me I spend all my days and nights Trying…
J. Moore I'm gonna leave this place tomorrow. I'm gonna leave this t…
J. Winston Lenin I can see them in the distance So faint but…
James Please don't get me started Looking backwards to move on. …
JbDubs And I try to feel something But you chase my heart…
Jessa Anderson We'll take our chances on a Big dream Never won over…
Jill Phillips What we want is a tidy picture Neat and easy to…
Jimmy London I'm a traveling man and I can't afford to stay one…
Josh Clutter I I need to find myself I used to love But now my…
Justin Townes-Earle Well I woke up wondering where I sat just like…
K'jon It was once said to me that the things the…
Killing Me Inside Lyrics by (Onadio) Music by Josaphat When we think about th…
Kimya Dawson She was reunited with the father of her kids he said…
King Diamond [Acoustic Intro : Mike] Oh? You gotta move on now I can …
Kirsten Price The road beneath me is unsteady and I can't stand…
Kodaline I met you on the corner of the street I smiled…
Last Tuesday I'm weak, we're so strong I've lost, we move on I fall,…
Leonard Cohen I loved your face, I loved your hair Your T-shirts and…
Luke Winslow-King Just this morning I took a big long look around I've lived…
Magenta Part I Can’t go back All the hopes and fears inside What’s …
Manny Duran and Orchestra You keep on moving Far away, far away You keep on moving …
Marshmello And when I'm gone, it won't be long 'til I'm I'm…
Mat Kearney We were young, we were brave With our eyes wide shut…
Matthew Kurz So you say, you don’t wanna talk You tell me, to…
Mentake She's lying on her bed and she's just listening To the…
Mercury Rev You gotta start movin' on It will be better in the…
Michael S. Yelland I can see them in the distance So faint but…
Mimicking Birds As the river forms the canyon walls with its weight Same…
Must At the end of my tether Faithless, friendless and wrong Spee…
My American Heart What can I say? The cold of the middle west Has taken…
Nathan Wiley How'd I get so numb Why'd I burn out all my…
NEEDTOBREATHE Can we put back all the pieces to the puzzles…
Nigel Hayes moving on I'm moving on…
Niko Walters Closing door, to open more Is not in my nature I look…
Nothing to Lose I Know Before It Happens, i'll be more prepared for whats …
Orange Sky The other day When we were young When it began I am…
Oysterband We walked these streets together Now we walk these streets …
Paramore Let 'em have their time Sit back and let 'em shine Let…
Pay No Respect Dedication commitment it's all a fucking waste all the value…
Phoenix Reign You live your life in cemented walls If you keep yourself…
POOL I turn my back to everything I have. I'm leaving. Up for…
Pug Jelly A year's gone by and I still feel the same. I…
Rameses B When I look back, there's nothing I see, nothing I want, …
Roaring Jack Jimmy was a good man, worked all his life In a…
Roger Creager Roger Creager You packed up your things and then you said…
Roosevelt Moving on So I just see this on my own Just let…
Rusty Shackle feat. Remy Beasley i will not question the road last travelled i will not…
Sam Ock I wanna have eternity's rode in the depth of me in the map t…
Samoht I had to get from you. Spiritually I died of you. I…
Sarah Dawn Finer Dreaming, Hoping for another try I've been looking, Searc…
Sarah P I'm moving on I'm standing tall Standing up tall Counti…
Second Chances Steady my hand so I can write you off Just a…
Sixpence None the Richer Moving On It has gotten to my head Permeates the path I…
Smoke Signals Every step is the question, "Am I making the right decisions…
sober rob feat. Karra Baby I can't sleep Feel you under me It's getting hard to…
Starlet Yes I'm moving on I'm tired and won't be seen here…
Steriogram She's got a feeling that its all wrapped up with her…
Taio Cruz [Chorus] I can't wait til' you're gone away 'Cause then I …
The Arka Teks I used to come I used to play here at night There…
The Capsules Find the words to tell you What our time it has…
The Dream Academy "All out" cried the boy And put the girl in danger Whose…
The Letter Black I don't care about you I don't care about you Anymore Y…
The Sweet Serenades Cover your eyes, lock the door, cover your eyes, run for cov…
The Used I might have so far to go And the moments left…
Third And Forever All the time is now And time is here to stay Although…
Three Minute Poetry Don't wave goodbye. don't you embrace. tonite we pack our…
Tim Be Told I should've known, you could've shown that you weren't into…
Tom Holkenborg (a.k.a. Junkie XL) It was once said to me that the things the…
Toya Just getting used to waking up everyday Not seeing your face…
Trademark (come on yeah - everybody) Move your body Cause I want you…
Triumph Over Logic Beginning started slowly, Now ending coming fast. Old habits…
Truslow [Intro] I feel the morning Laying undercover from the fight …
Turboweekend It hit like a power cut Cut like a razor to…
Unter Null I'm so afraid to have you feel like this But you're…
Various Artists Que tengo la polla en candela y quiero comerte ese culo…
Weekend Excursion Glance out the window See the lines pass me by on…
What's Fair So long, sweet days I saw It's all long gone But skin…
Worn Thin Where's your faith in me? I'm so much more than…
Xande ... fly away on the rocky floor i watch you move, like…
Yung Sum I, have tried to let this pain go by But every…
►Asking Alexandria A boy of anguish now, he's a man of soul, Traded…
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…
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…
Bring Back The Love Of Yesterday Oh, baby Let's pick up the pieces And let's work this thin…
Choosing Up On You You've got what I like, baby You know I'm crazy about…
Could It Be Since I met you I've begun to feel so strange Every…
Does Anybody Know I'm Here Alone and far away from home A boy stands in a…
Don I just don't know what to do with myself Don't know…
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 (Ooh...) I just can't believe it, girl (Baby) I can't…
Higher And Higher Your love is liftin' me higher Than I've ever been lifted…
I Woke up this mornin' Sunlight shinin' in my eyes Woke up thi…
I Can 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 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,…
It Since I met you I've begun to feel so strange Every…
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 s…
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 We Had (Ooh...) I just can't believe it, girl (Baby) I can't…
Me You you and me…
My Pretending Days Are Over My pretending days are over Gonna leave the acting To the …
O-O I Love You Hold me close, hold me tight Make me thrill with delight Let…
Oh wat a night Oh what a night, to love you dear Oh what a…
Oh What A Day What a day Everything's going my way What a day Everythin…
Oh 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…
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…
Open Up My Heat 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 …
Say That You'll Stay I was standing on the other side Watching you leaving I coul…
Since I Fell For You When you just give love And never get love You'd better le…
Since I Found 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 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…
Wear It on Our Face We're falling in love, my darling With all our heart and…
You Promised Me you and me…
The lyrics can frequently be found in the comments below, by filtering for lyric videos or browsing the comments in the different videos below.
Walter Claven
The Song Came Out N 1956 Early Doo Wop.
Jim Conroy
1956, the follow up release to Oh What A Nighi
Zev Feldman
pretty