The group was first formed at Langston University in Langston, Oklahoma, in 1934 by Elmaurice Miller, Traverse Crawford, Essie Joseph Adkins, and Otha Lee Gaines. In 1936, they moved to Dillard University in New Orleans, Louisiana, where they worked under Frederick Hall under the names, New Orleans Quintet and Frederick Hall Quintet. Clinton Holland (soon replaced by Carl Jones) and Kelsey Pharr (replaced by Hugh Bryant in 1962) replaced Miller and Adkins. Rene DeKnight became their pianist.
The group appeared often in the 1940s on radio programs such as Amos and Andy and The Joan Davis Show, and performed on Broadway in the shows, Sing Out the News and Hot Mikado. They also appeared extensively in film, including in You'll Never Get Rich with Bing Crosby and Rita Hayworth. Aside from their own recordings, they served as background vocalists for Charlie Barnet, Mildred Bailey, Ella Fitzgerald, and Ruth Brown.
One of their most successful releases was a vocal version of the Glenn Miller instrumental hit "I Dreamt I Dwelt in Harlem" from 1941 with lyrics by Buddy Feyne and music by Glenn Miller Orchestra arranger and composer Jerry Gray, Ben Smith, and Leonard Ware.
Also memorable is their 1950s version of the spiritual song "Dem Bones", a hit record for them, and which they performed on television extensively, and is currently revived with at least two postings on You Tube.
In the 1950s, they began to amass a large fan base in Europe, particularly in Scandinavia. In 1956, the group relocated to Europe and performed there up until 1987, when Gaines and Bryant died.
In 1960, Kelsey Pharr died in Honolulu after a trip to Japan. Soon after, Carl Jones left to have more time with his family and was replaced by first tenor Herb Coleman. Hugh Bryant replaced Pharr.
With the American music scene changing rapidly, the Deltas found their appeal diminishing. Overseas, they were royally received, however, so in the early 1960s the group made Paris their home base for years of European performances.
In 1974, Herb Coleman was shot in Paris and died in the arms of Lee Gaines. Original Delta member, Traverse Crawford, died the following year. By 1979, the lineup was Gaines on bass, Bryant on baritone, Walter Trammell on first tenor, and Ray Beauty on second tenor. Lee Gaines died of cancer in Helsinki on July 15, 1987. At Gaines's funeral, Hugh Bryant collapsed while performing, and died, apparently from a heart attack.
The Delta Rhythm Boys were later inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame.
One of their most famous songs, Dry Bones, has an special appearance in the LucasArts graphic adventure Monkey Island 2: LeChuck's Revenge when two skeletons dance and sing the song.
The Delta Rhythm Boys version of "Alouette" is currently used in a commercial for Target.
Take The "A" Train
The Delta Rhythm Boys Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
to go to Sugar Hill way up in Harlem
if you miss the "A" train
You'll find you missed the quickest way to Harlem
Hurry, get on, now it's coming
Listen to those rails a-thrumming
All aboard, get on the "A" train
Soon you will be on Sugar Hill in Harlem
The Delta Rhythm Boys's song Take The "A" Train is a joyful and rhythmic tribute to the famous New York City subway line that travels to the Harlem neighborhood. The song takes its name from Duke Ellington's composition, which was first recorded in 1941 and quickly became a jazz standard. The lyrics encourage listeners to take the "A" train in order to reach Sugar Hill, a neighborhood in Harlem that was known for its wealth and glamorous nightlife during the Harlem Renaissance of the 1920s and 1930s.
The song's opening lines, "You must take the 'A' train to go to Sugar Hill way up in Harlem," set the tone for the rest of the song, which is all about the excitement and energy of traveling on the subway. The lyrics paint a picture of a bustling, vibrant city, with trains rumbling along and people rushing to catch them. The urgency of the imagery is emphasized by the refrain, "Hurry, get on, now it's coming," which suggests that the "A" train is not to be missed.
One of the most interesting things about Take The "A" Train is that it was written not by the Delta Rhythm Boys, but by Billy Strayhorn, a composer and arranger who was best known for his work with Duke Ellington. Strayhorn wrote the song in 1939, and Ellington liked it so much that he began using it as the band's theme song. Another interesting fact is that the song's lyrics were actually written by Joya Sherrill, a singer who performed with Ellington's orchestra in the 1940s.
Line by Line Meaning
you must take the "A" train
In order to reach Sugar Hill located in Harlem, it is mandatory for you to board the train marked 'A'.
to go to Sugar Hill way up in Harlem
Sugar Hill, a locality in Harlem which is situated at an elevation, is where you should be headed towards.
if you miss the "A" train
If you fail to board the 'A' train, you'll see that it was the fastest route to Sugar Hill located in Harlem.
You'll find you missed the quickest way to Harlem
You will discover that by not boarding the 'A' train, you have passed up on the most rapid transit route to Harlem.
Hurry, get on, now it's coming
Quickly, make your way onto the train because it's about to arrive at the station.
Listen to those rails a-thrumming
Pay attention to the rhythmic sound of the train tracks that is indicative of the impending arrival of the 'A' train.
All aboard, get on the "A" train
Everyone who wishes to travel to Sugar Hill located in Harlem should quickly board the train labeled as 'A'.
Soon you will be on Sugar Hill in Harlem
After boarding the 'A' train, it won't be long before you will reach Sugar Hill located in Harlem.
Contributed by Christian O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@teuiraz
LYRICS:
You must take the "A"-Train
To go to sugar hill way up in Harlem
If you miss the "A"-Train
You'll find you missed the quickest way to Harlem
Hurry - get on now it's coming
Listen - to these rails a-humming -
All board get on the "A"-Train
Soon You will be on sugar hill in Harlem
You take your baby to Harlem
You're bound to find a hole
Up on Sugar Hill
Where everyone's having a solid ball
You board that "A" train and then
You ride till you dig this number
One forty five street where all the cats meet
Posing on stroll, bopsters really in there
Bararurap baradurure
That's the riff that the bands all play
It's groovy the hepcats say
Then you know that you're in Harlem
You got to get off that "A" train
And you will have a thrill, yeah
If you're looking for rhythm
You'll find it on Sugar Hill
Now that you know just how to get up
Just dig up a nickel and you've got your fare
If you want to go to happy Harlem
You take the "A" train that goes uptown and ride ride ride
Wait until you get on Sugar Hill
You jump for joy till you get your fill
Have you got your nickel in your hand?
Then hurry don't you miss that train, oh man
You must take the "A" train
To go to Sugar Hill way up in Harlem
Better hurry get aboard the train
@RodrigoPissolato
You must take the "A" train
to go to Sugar Hill way up in Harlem
If you miss the "A" train
You'll find you missed the quickest way to Harlem
Hurry, get on, now it's coming
Listen to those rails a-thrumming
All aboard, get on the "A" train
Soon you will be on Sugar Hill in Harlem
You take your baby to Harlem - you're bound to find a hall
Up on Sugar Hill - where everyone's having a solid ball
You'll board that "A" Train, and then you ride 'til you dig this number:
145 Street where all the cats meet - more than on a stroll.
Pops, they're really in there.
(scat)
That's the riff that the bands all play
It's groovy the hep-cats say; then you'll know that you're in Harlem
You got to get on that
"A" Train, and you will get uphill
If you're lookin' for rhythm, you'll find it on Sugar Hill.
Now that you know just how to get up there
Dig up a nickel and you got your fare
If you want to go to happy Harlem
You take the "A" Train that goes uptown
And ride, ride, ride
Wait until you get on Sugar Hill
You'll jump for joy 'til you get your fill
Have you got your nickel in your hand?
Then hurry, don't you miss that train- oh man!
You must take the "A" Train
To go to Sugar Hill way up in Harlem
Better hurry - get aboard that train!
@Orintheus
The 19 dislikes must've missed The 'A' Train
@ghostface3000
😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣🤣
@StreetSmartz
Facts
@WAL_DC-6B
Perfect comment for the dislikes!
@DrHappy12
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 or maybe they cant afford a nickle so they can't put that nickle in there hand
@dfayeanderson9398
Probably stuck on the local!
@mikedrown2721
The 1940's.... great music, clothes and cars...pure class!👍👏😊❤️🇺🇸
@ItsAhex
best version of the song imo
@johnny9402
Honestly facts
@aarontheperson6867
the smile on the dudes face is contagious, i love it