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"D" Groups

The Dells

The Dells signing with Vee-Jay in 1955, had their first major hit in 1956 with "Oh, What A Night". The Dells with only one member change in almost 40 years of existence is a record in itself. With Marvin Junior's extraordinary vocal leads the Dells have adapted and weathered the changes in music. About ten years after their first hit in 1956 the Dells hit the charts with a string of hits for a Chess subsidiary Cadet with "Stay in My Corner," "Give Your Baby A Standing Ovation," "Always Together".

The Del Vikings

The Del Vikings formed in 1955 by members of the US Air Force at their social club in Pittsburg, Ohio. Their place in history is primarily secured as the first multiracial rock n' roll group. The group consisted of Clarence Quick, Corinthian 'Kripp' Johnson, Samuel Patterson, Don Jackson, and Bernard Robertson. Due to Air Force assignments Patterson and Robertson went to Germany. They were replaced by Norman Wright and Dave Lerchey. By 1957 " Come Go With Me" had reached number 4 in the Billboard charts. The groups next hit "Whispering Bells" reached number 9 in the US charts. The group toured widely after being discharged from the Air Force, throughout the 1960's.

The Diamonds

The group consisted of Dave Somerville, Ted Kowalski, Bill Reed and Phil Leavitt, all born in Toronto, Canada. The Diamonds formed in 1953. In 1957 they recorded "Little Darlin", written by Maurice Williams, gave the Diamonds their highest U.S. chart entry (no. 2). The group went on to to record these top 40 hits; "Words of Love", "Zip Zip", "Silhouettes", "The Stroll", "High Sign", "Walking Along", and "One Summer Night" in 1961. After numerous group changes they reformed in the early 1970's and continue to tour.

Dion & The Belmonts

Although rising to popularity in the late 50's the Belmonts first recording "I Wonder Why" was limited to success on the East Coast. The group consisted of Dion DiMucci, Angelo D'Aleo, Fred Milano, and Carlo Mastrangelo. They named themselves after Belmont Avenue in the Bronx, New York City. The original members only performed together from 1958-1960, however they gained national recognition with "A Teenager In Love," in 1959 and "Where Or When," in 1960. Dion DiMucci left the group in 1960 for a very successful solo career. Brief reunions of the group occurred throughout the 60's and 70's.

The Drifters

Theirs was the sweet but streetwise sound of R&B mixed with gospel influences. The material the Drifters recorded came from a variety of sources, including the songwriting teams of Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller and Mort Shuman, and Gerry Goffin and Carole King. The name "Drifters" was chosen by Clyde McPhatter, who was the first in a long line of lead voices. He could not have chosen a better name, since members drifted in and out of the band from the very beginning. The group's members included: McPhatter, Ben E. King, Rudy Lewis, Johnny Moore, Bill Pinkney, Gerhart Thrasher and Charlie Thomas. They had Number One singles with three different singers - McPhatter, Moore and King - which must stand as some kind of record. The era of Clyde McPhatter and the Drifters, which lasted only from 1953-4, and produced "Money Honey" (a number one R&B hit), "Honey Love" and "White Christmas." With Ben E. King as lead vocalist, the Drifters began working with Leiber and Stoller in 1959. The first fruit of their union was "There Goes My Baby," a pop-R&B classic. Other hits of the King era include "Save the Last Dance for Me," the Drifters' only single to top both the pop and R&B charts, and "This Magic Moment." King, too, departed for a solo career, recording "Spanish Harlem" and "Stand By Me," both of them soulful classics that have stood the test of time.

The Dubs

The original members formed in 1957 consisting of Richard Blandon, Billy Carlisle, Cleveland Still, James "Jake" Miller and Thomas Gardner. Shortly after their first recording Gardner was replaced by Tommy Grate. The group never had any national hits but had regional success with recordings: "Don't Ask Me To Be Lonely" (1957), "Could This Be Magic" (1957), "Beside My Love" (1958), "Be Sure My Love" (1958), "Chapel Of Dreams" (1958). The group disbanded in 1958, however they had sporadic reunions throughout the years.