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)
Stay in My Corner
The Dells Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(Stay in my corner)
You make me oh so proud, stay darling
Please, stay
(Stay in my corner)
To the world I'd cry my love
How I love you
(Stay, stay, stay, stay)
Please, please, please stay darling
(Stay in my corner)
And I will never, never let you down
Just say you'll stay
(Stay in my corner)
'Cause I'll need you always around
To tell me you love me
Honey, you love me, so darling stay
(Stay, stay, stay)
There'll be times when I may fail
And I'll need your love to sometimes comfort me
Bitter days may prevail but just a kiss from you
Will make them sweet, stay
(Stay, stay, stay)
But just a kiss from you
Will make them sweet
Honey, I love you
(Stay)
I love you
(Stay)
I love you
(Stay in my corner)
I love you
I love you
(Stay)
I love you
(Stay)
I love you
(Stay in my corner)
Don't you know baby
(Stay)
I love you
(Stay)
I love you
(Stay in my corner)
I love you
(Stay)
I love you
(Stay)
I love you
(Stay in my corner)
(Stay)
I love you
(Stay)
I love you
(Stay in my corner)
Baby
(Stay)
Oh baby
(Stay)
I love you
(Stay)
(Stay)
(Stay)
(Stay)
(Stay)
I love you
(Stay)
(Stay)
Don't you know baby
(Stay)
Don't you know baby
(Stay)
(Stay)
I love you
(Stay)
I love you
(Stay)
I love you
(Stay)
I love you
The Dells's song "Stay In My Corner" is a love ballad that expresses the singer's strong desire for his lover to stay with him through thick and thin. The opening lines of the song are a plea to the love interest to not leave him because of how much she makes him proud, emphasizing the importance of having her present. The chorus repeats the phrase "stay in my corner," which acts as a metaphor for staying by his side, through good times and bad. The singer acknowledges that there will be struggles in life, but with his lover's love and presence, he will be able to overcome anything that comes their way.
The lyrics of this song are timeless, and they continue to resonate with audiences today. The use of the metaphor of "staying in my corner" speaks to the fundamental human desire for stability and companionship. The song's message is simple and direct, yet it resonates on a deeper level with many listeners. The singer's love is unwavering, and his partner's presence is essential to his emotional stability, which is a theme that is universal and relatable.
Line by Line Meaning
If you stay, stay darling
(Stay in my corner)
Please stay with me and be by my side in every situation.
You make me oh so proud, stay darling
Please, stay
(Stay in my corner)
I feel proud when you are with me and aspire for you to stay with me.
To the world I'd cry my love
How I love you
Honey, I love you, I really love you
(Stay, stay, stay, stay)
Please, please, please stay darling
(Stay in my corner)
I would declare my love to everyone in the world and assure you of how much I adore you. I beg of you to stay with me and promise to keep on loving you.
And I will never, never let you down
Just say you'll stay
(Stay in my corner)
'Cause I'll need you always around
To tell me you love me
Honey, you love me, so darling stay
(Stay, stay, stay)
I promise to never disappoint you and pledge to always be there for you. I will always need you to remind me of your love for me, as it gives me strength to keep going. So, please stay with me always.
There'll be times when I may fail
And I'll need your love to sometimes comfort me
Bitter days may prevail but just a kiss from you
Will make them sweet, stay
(Stay, stay, stay)
But just a kiss from you
Will make them sweet
I acknowledge that there will be difficult times in life when I may need your help to get through them. I am certain that your love will provide me with solace, and even just one kiss from you will make those painful moments bearable. So, please stay with me.
Honey, I love you
(Stay)
I love you
(Stay)
I love you
(Stay in my corner)
I love you
I love and adore you so much, and I hope you stay with me through thick and thin.
Don't you know baby
(Stay)
I love you
(Stay)
I love you
(Stay in my corner)
I hope you realize how much I love you, and I hope you choose to stay with me.
Baby
(Stay)
Oh baby
(Stay)
I love you
(Stay)
(Stay)
(Stay)
(Stay)
(Stay)
I love you
(Stay)
(Stay)
Don't you know baby
(Stay)
Don't you know baby
(Stay)
(Stay)
I love you
(Stay)
I love you
(Stay)
I love you
(Stay)
I love you
I continue to shower you with love, and I hope you understand how much you mean to me. Please stay with me always.
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: WADE FLEMONS, BOBBY MILLER, BARRETT STRONG
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@themightydells
The Mighty Dells: (1952 - 2012) 60 Years of Musical Excellence.
2004 ROCK N ROLL HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES
The 24th Annual NAACP IMAGE AWARD RECIPIENTS.
2004 Vocal Group Hall of Fame Inductees.
The Soul of American Music Award.
The 1991 R&B Foundation 'Pioneer Award'
The Doo Wop of America Award.
Award Winning 'EMMY' "Oh What A Night" View on YouTube 1 2 3
Number 11, in The Top 100 Vocal Groups.
The 5 Heartbeats 'Movie' Based on The Dells, Tremendous Career.
The Dells: Marvin Junior, Johnnie Carter, Michael 'Mickey' McGill,
Verne Allison, Chuck Barksdale ... 'Long Live The Mighty Dells'
@keithdulin7367
This jam helped us brothers get through some horrific battles in the jungles of Vietnam…THANK YOU DELLS
@CDWII
Thanks 4 ur service! SALUTE!!
@FrankLocklear-cl8gq
Thanks for your service
BROTHER MAN!!
LOVE THIS IN DA SHOWER!!!
😂
@alexanderluna1761
Thank you my brother for serving our country in Vietnam glad you made it
@chuckroberts3873
25th Infantry Division listening to the U.S. top ten broadcasting from Saigon in base camp sharing some suds and doobies. Something to look forward to at night with comrades, the Dells, Joe Cocker, Box Tops, Four Tops, etc.
@theyoungcommander
Than you for your service. I read a book called BLOODS a long time ago, man you are a miracle for being here.
@joshualowe1821
This song is a masterpiece! Who agrees??
@ninababy97
I miss my daddy. When I was a little girl, He used to play this song all the time. I tried so hard to hold that long note and he used to laugh at me🥰😂😂
@robertwilson9528
Gone but not forgotten
@ninababy97
@@robertwilson9528 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾thank you