Everything about The Chantels totally explained
The Chantels were the first
black girl group to have nationwide success in the
United States. The group was established in the early
1950s at St. Anthony of Padua school in the
Bronx. The group consisted of Arlene Smith (lead), Sonia Goring, Rene Minus,
Jackie Landry Jackson and Lois Harris. They got their name from a rival school, St. Frances de Chantal.
They were discovered by Richard Barrett, lead singer of
The Valentines and eventually signed to End Records. Their first
single was "He's Gone" (Pop #71) in August 1957. In January 1958 they released their second single, "
Maybe" (#15
Billboard Hot 100; #2
R & B chart). Several other singles were released on End, though none as successful as "Maybe."
The group was dropped by End in 1959, and Arlene Smith decided to go
solo. Harris left to pursue a college education. In 1960, Annette Smith (no relation) replaced Arlene Smith, and the group went to Carlton Records, where they'd their second huge
hit with "Look in My Eyes" (#14 pop, #6 R&B). Several other singles followed and the group switched
record labels several times. Personnel changed throughout the
1960s, with their final single released in 1970.
Arlene Smith fronted a new group of Chantels in the 1970s which featured up and coming
Disco diva
Carol Douglas for oldies shows and continues to perform. The remaining original Chantels reformed as well and hired Noemi (Ami) Ortiz as their new lead singer. On the PBS special
Doo Wop 50, Smith reunited with the surviving original members of the Chantels and dedicated "Maybe" to Jackie Landry, who died in 1997.
The Chantels were inducted into The
Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2002.
Further Information
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