The Chantels - I Love You So

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The Chantels were the second 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). "Maybe" sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc. 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 had 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. In 2001, they made the final ballot for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, but did not get enough votes for induction. Despite continued appearances since then on Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ballots by 1950s doo-wop groups, the Chantels did not get enough votes to reach any subsequent ballot until September 2009, when it was revealed that they were one of twelve nominees to be inducted to the Hall in 2010.

SOURCE: Wikipedia

Category:

Education

Tags:

• girl
• group
• r&b
• doo-wop

[desert3347]

God Help Me.....I want to "Go Back".

My boyfriend David, our friends Pam & Johnny- Double Dating

in Johnnys "49" Olds, listening to the Chantels & other "doo wop" groups on KRLA, KHJ

in So Ca. I Would "Leave" for Those Days in a "Heart Beat".

[John1948TwoC]

@desert3347 Me too! I would love to just live 1958 - 1968 over and over and over!

[diddybopper49]

@John1948TwoC hi, thank you for the information you've so unselfeshly taken the time to post here for "all of us".i personally do appreciate it very much.i enjoy your channel very much! diddybopper49,Tom

[John1948TwoC]

@diddybopper49 I enjoy sharing it.

[1955emerald]

I believe this song is by the Chatels and not the Chantels w/Arlene Smith as in the song Maybe

[John1948TwoC]

@1955emerald WHat gives you that diea? I;ve never heard of the Chatels and could find no info about them online.

[She2fkngr8]

i LOVE this song, i remember hearing it on look who's talking and i loved it ever since.

[olsailordan]

The greatest girl group ever! Arlene Smith could sing circles around Dinah Ross, and most of competition she faced in that era....Except maybe Patti Labelle.

[harmansg]

Im only 21 yrs old, and i love this song!!! good music will always be recognized for its quality, whether from the 50s-60s or songs that come on the radio today. only a small percentage of songs are ever truely listened to FOREVER. this being one of them

[shmutzman]

I love this song and the Crows' original version, but for some reason both remind me of "Mean Streets" to the effect that after listening to this, I can't get it out of my mind. Thanks for posting this! ^_^

[desert3347]

@John1948TwoC I agree!! 58-68 can't be matched!! Lets all get on a PLane, NOW!

[suzukimamiful]

this songs are sooooooooo sweeettt.... :)))))))

[ralph2winall]

They should be in the Rock and Roll Hall of FameThey should be in the Rock and Roll Hall of FameThey should be in the Rock and Roll Hall of FameThey should be in the Rock and Roll Hall of FameThey should be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame