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).
Crying in the Chapel
The Orioles Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The tears I shed were tears of joy
I know the meaning of contentment
I am happy with the Lord
Just a plain and simple chapel
Where all good people go to pray
I prayed the Lord that I'll grow stronger
I searched and I searched but I couldn't find
No way on earth to find peace of mind
Now I'm happy in the chapel
Where people are of one accord
Yes, we gather in the chapel
Just to sing and praise the Lord
You'll search and you'll search but you'll never find
No way on earth to find peace of mind
Take your troubles to the chapel
Get down on your knees and pray
Then your burdens will be lighter
And you'll surely find a way
The Orioles's song "Crying in the Chapel" is a song about finding happiness and contentment in spirituality. The singer recounts a time when they were crying in a chapel, but the tears they shed were tears of joy. They explain how they have finally found contentment in their faith and are happy with the Lord. The chapel they are in is just a simple one where good people go to pray, and they pray to grow stronger in their faith day by day.
The verse "I searched and I searched but I couldn't find, no way on earth to find peace of mind" highlights the struggle the singer faced before finding solace in their faith. The song emphasizes that the answer to finding peace of mind is not on earth, but in spirituality. The chorus suggests that taking our troubles to the chapel, getting down on our knees, and praying can make our burdens lighter and lead us to find the way towards contentment and happiness.
The song's message of finding happiness through faith struck a chord with the public, and it became a popular gospel song. Its message of hope and comfort is timeless and has made it a staple in gospel music. "Crying in the Chapel" has been covered by several artists, including Elvis Presley, who had a massive hit with his version in 1965. The song has remained popular and has been used in several soundtracks, such as in the movie Forrest Gump.
Line by Line Meaning
You saw me crying in the chapel
Someone observed tears falling from my eyes within the chapel
The tears I shed were tears of joy
The liquid that poured out of my eyes was a mixture of happiness and relief
I know the meaning of contentment
I am well aware of what it feels like to be completely satisfied and at peace
I am happy with the Lord
I am exuberantly pleased with my relationship with God
Just a plain and simple chapel
The place where I cried is nothing more than a basic, unadorned symbol of worship
Where all good people go to pray
The chapel serves as a location that honorable individuals utilize to communicate with God
I prayed the Lord that I'll grow stronger
I requested that the Almighty grant me the strength to improve and prosper
As I live from day to day
While I continue to exist, breathe, and traverse this world
I searched and I searched but I couldn't find
I explored and scrutinized my surroundings, yet failed to uncover
No way on earth to find peace of mind
A method in the entire world that produces a serene mental state is nonexistent
Now I'm happy in the chapel
Currently, I am elated inside the chapel walls
Where people are of one accord
All individuals are in agreement and harmony with one another
Yes, we gather in the chapel
Indeed, multiple individuals assemble inside this place of worship
Just to sing and praise the Lord
The sole purpose for congregating is to vocalize and express adoration towards God
You'll search and you'll search but you'll never find
You shall explore and examine perseveringly but will never achieve
No way on earth to find peace of mind
There is no conceivable technique present on Earth that can produce harmony in one's thoughts
Take your troubles to the chapel
Surrender your difficulties and tribulations to the chapel's holy environment
Get down on your knees and pray
Descend onto your knees to offer supplication and humbly beseech God
Then your burdens will be lighter
Once you complete the aforementioned tasks, your problems will not seem as heavy and overwhelming
And you'll surely find a way
A solution or guidance in dealing with your troubles will certainly present itself
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Artie Glenn
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@littlerockguy
This is the definitive version I always go back to to listen to this song. So beautiful and therapeutic. Just listening to the song will give you brief peace of mind 😌
@stephenmanning9088
YES MAN DA LATE
@lboogy85
I love this version because while others sing the same words, you can feel the Lord on this.
@andrewjohnson2465
Amen!
@Keranu
Doowop singers back then had otherworldly vocals. I don't know how such talent has mostly been long forgotten.
@doreenachtymichuk7909
ok, i'm generations too young to truly appreciate this, but I am a classically trained musician, and I loved this piece. it wasn't rushed, the vocals were smooth and almost ... hushed. absolutely beautiful. like a lullaby .
@ntnrocket1
Does that mean you are also generations too young to appreciate Mozart??? Just wondering.
@hultonclint
Thanks for your Classically Trained Seal of Approval.
@johnharr9707
Doreen Achtymichuk , it's absolutely right on and beautiful!!!
@ihunterx59
So you are Classically trained to appreciate it while i musically uneducated find the doo wop era great ?