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)
You Promised Me
The Dells Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There's something you should know
About the years ahead and how they'll be
You'd be living in a world where roses
Hardly ever grow
'Cause all I have to offer you is me
With crystal chandeliers
And there'll be no fancy clothes for you to wear
Everything I have is standing here
In front of you to see
All I have to offer you is me
Sweetheart, I'll give you all my love
In every way I can
But make sure that's what you want
While you're still free
The only gold I have for you
Is in this wedding band
'Cause all I have to offer you is me
There'll be mansions waiting on the hills
With crystal chandeliers
And there'll be no fancy clothes for you to wear
Everything I have is standing here in front of you to see
All I have to offer you is me
All I have to offer you is me
The Dells's song "You Promised Me" is a heartfelt ballad about love and commitment. The lyrics ask the listener to pause and consider what they truly want in life, while offering a simple but profound message: that love is the most important thing. The song opens with a warning: "Before you take another step, there's something you should know / About the years ahead and how they'll be." The singer acknowledges that life can be tough, but promises to give all his love in every way he can. He encourages the listener to think carefully before committing, but also reminds them that true love is worth everything.
The second verse makes it clear that the singer is not wealthy or powerful. He admits that the world they will live in may not be perfect or easy, but that he has something much more valuable to offer: his love. The singer imagines a life together where they may not have everything they desire, but they will have each other. The chorus repeats the message that all he has to offer is himself and his love, which is more than enough. He highlights the fact that material things will not bring happiness and that true wealth is in the purity of their love. The song ends with the repeating of the line, "All I have to offer you is me," as a final declaration of love and commitment.
Overall, "You Promised Me" is a powerful love song that emphasizes the importance of true love over material possessions. The singer encourages the listener to consider their priorities carefully and reminds them that love is worth everything. The simple, heartfelt lyrics and soulful performance by The Dells make for a timeless classic that continues to resonate with listeners today.
Line by Line Meaning
Before you take another step
Listen to what I have to say before you make any further decisions
There's something you should know
I need to tell you some important information
About the years ahead and how they'll be
I want to prepare you for what the future may hold
You'd be living in a world where roses hardly ever grow
Life won't always be easy or beautiful
'Cause all I have to offer you is me
I don't have much to give but my love and my commitment
There'll be mansions waiting on the hills with crystal chandeliers
There may be wealth and luxury around, but that's not what's important
And there'll be no fancy clothes for you to wear
We may not have extravagant possessions or outfits
Everything I have is standing here in front of you to see
I am offering you my heart and my devotion and that's all I have
Sweetheart, I'll give you all my love in every way I can
I will love you in every way imaginable
But make sure that's what you want while you're still free
Make sure you truly want this before making a commitment
The only gold I have for you is in this wedding band
I don't have monetary riches, but I have a symbol of commitment to offer
'Cause all I have to offer you is me
I am offering you my love and commitment, which is priceless
There'll be mansions waiting on the hills with crystal chandeliers
Luxury and wealth may exist around us, but it's not the most important thing
And there'll be no fancy clothes for you to wear
We may not have ornate possessions or outfits
Everything I have is standing here in front of you to see
All of me and my trust are here, visible for you to witness
All I have to offer you is me
I have nothing else but my love and loyalty to give
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@ralialoubar4948
UN TRUC DE FOU CHAQUE CHANSON EST UN CHEF D OEUVRE MERCI DE AIRE REBONIR DE VRAIS EMOTIONS
@2packarbuocesann734
Puissante chanson !
@XavierAncarno
Avec le recul cette chanson est uje magnifique allégorie de la souffrance palestinienne
@destadesta4382
Wahouuu toujours aussi bon ce son ... génération 82
@joycams3173
Et 87 aussi mon film préféré et les sons parfaits
@mdaouine
@@joycams3173 et 78..
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97
@zorhaamini9683
MAGNIFIK
@TheHighLevel.
1:03 La déchéance du quartier 🙏🏽✨
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2023❤🍀