Tragedy struck the group in November 1950. The group was traveling in two cars near Baltimore. Gaither drove one, with Reed and Nelson as passengers. He took a corner too fast and lost control of the car. It rolled down an embankment and crashed into a drive-in restaurant. Gaither was killed and Nelson and Reed were severely injured. Til and Sharp, in the other car, were not near enough to witness the accident. They heard about it when they arrived home. For a short time, only Til and Sharp performed as the Orioles.
They soon added two new members: guitarist/second tenor Ralph Williams and pianist Charlie Harris. Nelson returned in a few days, and Reed a few weeks later. Just a year after their tragic accident, they were involved in another accident in Akron, Ohio, but there were no injuries.
George Nelson left in 1953, to be replaced by Gregory Carroll, formerly of the Four Buddies. This new line-up had several hits in 1953, including "Crying In the Chapel" and their final big hit, "In the Mission of St. Augustine". Williams left briefly in late 1953, and was replaced, for a few weeks, by Chauncy Westbrook. In February of 1955, Reed left and eventually joined an The Ink Spots group. He was replaced by Maurice Hicks. Williams and Harris left soon after. The group continued a short time and disbanded.
Left without the Orioles, Til picked up another group, The Regals, whose members were Tex Cornelius, Diz Russell, Jerry Holeman, Billy Adams, and pianist Paul Griffin. This group became the new Orioles. Til liked the Regals' modern harmony style, and the existing tunes were rearranged to match the Regals' style (in many cases, sounding rather different than they formerly had). During this time, they were often billed as "Sonny Til and his New Orioles". Now without Chessler, they were self-managed. They left Jubilee and signed with Vee-Jay Records.
They continued with this arrangement until 1957 when Cornelius left the group. He was replaced for a short time by Frank Todd, who was replaced by Jimmy Brown. This lineup went until the last day of 1959. Holeman left the group, and Russel the next day, after finding Sonny's car (their means of transportation) repossesed. This was the end of the second Orioles.
Til recorded briefly as a solo artist before putting together the third Orioles group, with members Delton McCall, Billy Taylor, and Gerald Gregory, former bass of The Spaniels. They continued recording, this time for Charlie Parker Records. Gregory left after a couple of years and was replaced by Lawrence Joyner. This group split up in the mid 1960s.
In 1966, Til met Bobby Thomas, a long time Orioles fan. Bobby was singing in a group known as "The Vibrannaires"; coincidentally named the same as the Orioles' original name. This group consisted of Thomas, Clarence Young, Harry Accoo, and Mike Robinson. Thomas, Young, and Robinson joined Til to become the fourth Orioles group. Gregory Carroll was occasionally a member of this group. They recorded until 1975.
Following the breakup of that Orioles group, Til joined George Holmes' Ink Spots, who were Til, Holmes, Ann Lawson, and Larry Reed. With the addition of George "Pepi" Grant in 1977, they began touring as both The Ink Spots and The Orioles (as the Orioles, Lawson was billed as a special guest). Til and Grant alternated leads, and Holmes sang bass. They recorded briefly in 1977.
In 1977, Til formed the sixth Orioles group with former members: Diz Russell and Jerry Holeman from the second group, and Billy Taylor from the third group. The group also sometimes featured Eddie Palmer. This group was together in 1981, when Til died from a heart attack. He was 56.
The group continued, and by the late 1990s featured Russell, Reese Palmer, Skip Mahoney, Larry Jordan (who also tours with The Flamingos) and musical director Eddie Jones, who also works with The Cadillacs. Jones and Mahoney were later replaced by George Spann and Royal Height. Bobby Thomas started his own Orioles group following Til's death. Johnny Reed played with this group until his death in June of 2005.
The Orioles were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995. Both groups were featured in the PBS special Doo Wop 51 in 2000, with the groups alternating verses on "Crying in the Chapel" (with Bobby Thomas and Larry Jordan on lead).
Chapel In the Moonlight
The Orioles Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In the chapel in the moonlight
While we're strolling down the aisle
Where roses entwine
How I'd love to hear you whisper
In the chapel in the moonlight
That the lovelight in your eyes
Till the roses turn to ashes
Till the organ turns to rust
If you never come I'll still be there
Till the moonlight turns to dust
How I'd love to hear the choir
In the chapel in the moonlight
As they sing "Oh Promise Me"
Forever be mine
The Orioles's song "In the Chapel in the Moonlight" is a tender and romantic song about a couple in love who dream of getting married in the chapel in the moonlight under roses and organ music. The lyrics express the singer's deep love for his partner and his desire to spend the rest of his life with her. The first verse and chorus describe the singer's yearning for the enchanting sound of the organ music in the chapel and to stroll down the aisle with his beloved partner surrounded by roses. He wants to hear his partner whispering that she will always love him, and the lovelight in her eyes will shine forever.
The singer contemplates that even if time passes and things around them change, he will still be there in the chapel until the moonlight turns to dust. In the second verse, the singer imagines hearing the choir singing "Oh Promise Me" as they declare their love for each other.
The overall message of the song is the power of love and the desire to hold onto it forever, regardless of what the future may bring. The words express hope, commitment, and dedication, making it a popular tune for weddings and dance events.
Line by Line Meaning
How I'd love to hear the organ
I wish to hear the sound of the pipe or electric organ in the dimly lit chapel.
In the chapel in the moonlight
I long to be in a chapel with a view of the moonlight streaming in.
While we're strolling down the aisle
As we walk down the aisle, surrounded by roses and other floral decor.
Where roses entwine
I imagine a place where there are many roses and their stems and branches are intermingling.
How I'd love to hear you whisper
It would be delightful to hear your soft-spoken words while we are together in the chapel.
In the chapel in the moonlight
I want to be in the chapel when the moon is shining.
That the lovelight in your eyes
I yearn for you to express your love to me through your eyes.
Forever will shine
I desire your love to last forever without any change.
Till the roses turn to ashes
I will stand by you even when everything fades away and nothing remains of what we have.
Till the organ turns to rust
I will stay devoted even when the music that brought us together has stopped playing.
If you never come I'll still be there
Even if you can't be with me, I will wait for you in the chapel.
Till the moonlight turns to dust
I will be there until every bit of light from the moon disappears.
How I'd love to hear the choir
I would adore hearing a choral group sing.
In the chapel in the moonlight
I'd like to hear them sing while in the chapel lit up by the moon.
As they sing 'Oh Promise Me'
I hope they would sing this song because it speaks to my heart and my aspirations for you.
Forever be mine
I am hopeful that you will remain mine forever.
Lyrics © RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Billy Hill
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
JERRY HANKINS DCB4L
what a great song
INME
Absolute Perfection