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)
Our Love
The Dells Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Shining brightly beside me
And if we keep this love
It would last through all eternity
Just the way we are
Our love story
It's just the way it should be
'Cause our love
Will stand tall as the trees
Our love
Will spread as wide as the sea
Our love
Will shine bright in the night
Like the stars above
And we'll always be together
Our love
My love is surely one thing
You can surely depend on
In times of darkness and fear
I go to you
I know you'll make me strong
You're gonna make me happy
You're gonna make me smile
Our love
Will stand tall as the trees
Our love
Will be for the whole world to see
Our love
Will change people's wrongs to rights
And will never die
'Cause we'll always have each other
'Cause our love
Will stand tall as the trees
Our love
Will spread as wide as the sea
Our love
Will shine bright in the night
Like the stars above
And we'll always be together
Our love
Break it down
Just a little
Because love is soft, love is sweet
Love is nice, love is gentle
Love is joy, love is pain
Love is laughing in the rain
I got love on my mind
Love is always right on time
Love is you, love is me
Love is just a little baby
(our love) I got love on my mind
Love is always right on time
Love is you, love is me
Love is gonna set me free
(Our love)
The Dells's song "Our Love" is a beautiful and heartfelt tribute to the power and depth of a true, lasting love. The lyrics open with the singer describing the object of his affection as his "morning star", shining brightly beside him. He speaks to the longevity of their relationship, saying that if they can keep their love alive, it will last throughout eternity. The chorus reinforces this idea, emphasizing that their love will stand tall as the trees and spread as wide as the sea. It will never die, shining bright like the stars above.
The second verse speaks to the dependability of their love. In times of darkness and fear, the singer turns to his partner for strength, knowing that they will make him strong. He speaks of the happiness they bring to each other and how their love has the power to change wrongs to rights. The bridge is an emotional breakdown of what love means to the singer. It's soft, sweet, nice, gentle, joyful, and sometimes painful. Above all, though, love is always right on time, and it's you and me together.
Line by Line Meaning
You're my morning star
You're my light, my guide and my inspiration
Shining brightly beside me
Your presence illuminates my life
And if we keep this love
If we cherish this relationship
It would last through all eternity
Our love will withstand the test of time
Just the way we are
We don't need to change for each other
Our love story
Our romantic journey together
It's just the way it should be
Our love is perfect as it is
'Cause our love
Because the love we share
Will stand tall as the trees
Is strong, unbreakable and enduring
Our love
The bond between us
Will spread as wide as the sea
Will touch countless souls and spread far and wide
Will shine bright in the night
Will bring light, hope and comfort even in dark times
Like the stars above
Like the celestial symbols of eternity, grace and wonder
And we'll always be together
Our love will never fade, separate or disappear
My love is surely one thing
My love for you is certain, constant and profound
You can surely depend on
You can trust, rely and count on me
In times of darkness and fear
In moments of doubt or trouble
I go to you
I seek your comfort and support
I know you'll make me strong
I'm confident you'll empower, encourage and uplift me
You're gonna make me happy
You're the source and cause of my joy and pleasure
You're gonna make me smile
You're the reason and inspiration behind my smiles and laughter
Will be for the whole world to see
Our love will be an example and inspiration to others
Will change people's wrongs to rights
Our love will heal, transform and redeem the world
And will never die
Our love will live on beyond our mortal lives
'Cause we'll always have each other
Because we'll always be there for each other
Just a little
Just a tad, a bit, a small amount
Because love is soft, love is sweet
Love is gentle, tender, sugary and appealing
Love is nice, love is gentle
Love is kind, delicate, considerate and polite
Love is joy, love is pain
Love is happiness, but also suffering and sacrifice
Love is laughing in the rain
Love is finding delight and mirth in any situation
I got love on my mind
I'm always thinking about love
Love is always right on time
Love comes at the perfect, opportune moment
Love is gonna set me free
Love will liberate me from loneliness and despair
Lyrics © Royalty Network, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Charles Jackson, Marvin Yancy
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
themightydells
The Mighty Dells (1952 - 2012) 60 Years of Musical Excellence: '2004 NAACP Image Award'
2004 Rock n Roll Hall of Fame Inductees
2004 Vocal Group Hall of Fame - 1991 R&B 'Pioneer Award. - Doo wop Hall of Fame Award.
'Soul of American Music Award'
"OH What A Night" ( EMMY) 'The 5 Heartbeats' based on The Dells tumultuous career.
Number (11) in the top (100) Greatest Vocal Groups
Long live The Mighty Dells ..... Junior, Allison, McGill,
Carter, Barksdale.
Read more
joe ol
1977- @#20 U.S. R&B CHART.
themightydells
View: The Dells 'Award Winning EMMY'
"Oh What A Night" Documentary
on Youtube - Part 1 2 3
Vernon Washington
Pew