Oldies But Goodies Doo Wop Cruise

The Chantels are considered by many to have been the best of the girl groups, and were one of the first female R&B vocal groups to have nationwide success. Originally formed by Arlene Smith (lead), Lois Harris (first tenor), Sonia Goring (second tenor), Jackie Landry (second alto), and Rene Minus. Arlene Smith began their musical journey in her preteens while attending choir practice at St. Anthony of Padua school in the Bronx. By 1957, she had been singing together with her group of girlfriends for more than seven years. A staple of their diet was Gregorian chants taught to such perfection that changing notes and parts were second nature. Unlike their male counterparts, girls were not able to "hangout" on street corners at all hours practicing. Therefore, in 1957 much of their practice took place in the girl's locker room at St. Anthony's high school. Arlene Smith was a member of the girl's basketball team. Win. Lose or draw the girls would sing after every game.

Smith who had trained as a classical singer had performed solo at Carnegie Hall when she was twelve year old. All the girls had sung in the choir where classical music was interspersed with Latin hymns. Arlene began doing talent shows with the Sequins and the Crows at the P.S. 60 Community Center and St. Augustine's church. That same year their school team played St. Francis de Chantelle. One of the girls suggested they end their search for a group name by calling themselves the Chantelles that they later changed.

The strength of the Arlene's group, apart from its vocal presence was her writing ability as lead singer. There were not many girl groups in the mid 50's and even less that wrote their own material. Arlene contributed both words and music, and to combine her classical and gospel background with simple yet poignant lyrics made her more successful at sixteen then she could have possibly imagined. Arlene's first song "He's Gone" was written about Arlene's boyfriend while she was practicing one day on the piano.

As Legend has it, Arlene and the girls were on the second floor of the Broadway Building on Broadway and 53rd when the Valentines passed underneath the window. Arlene recognized them from an Alan Freed performance and went down to ask for their autographs. During the conversation, Arlene mentioned the girls were a singing group. Producer, writer, arranger and Valentines' lead Richard Barrett asked them to sing right there under the Broadway Theater marquee. Floored at the sound of the girls singing a hymn, and with his leaning to rhythm and blues, perhaps he wondered how they would sound singing that music. He took Arlene's phone number. Arlene and the girls were thrilled at Barrett's interest, as they knew that he was George Goldner's, owner of Gee and Roulette Records, right hand man. Ironically, they had tried to sing for Goldner only a few weeks before, but he had not been in when they showed up to audition at Gee Records 42nd street studio.

Several weeks passed without a call from Barrett. Not being timid, Arlene mentioned being stood up by Goldner to a friend of hers in the Teen Chords and he gave Arlene, Jackie Goldner's office address. The girls dropped by one day unannounced to see Goldner and reminded him of their meeting. Goldner wasted no time in setting up a rehearsal, meeting the group's mothers, and arranging their first two songs, the Arlene Smith compositions "The Plea" and "He's Gone." By early summer of 1957, they were signed to Goldner's End label, which he had just formed after selling Roulette/Rama/Gee. In fact, it was the first single and the second release on the label that was to be the future home of Little Anthony and the Imperials, Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers and the Bobbettes.

Arlene's first single "He's Gone," released in August 1957. From the four parts a Capella chime harmony intro topped by Arlene's floating falsetto to its matching ending, "He's Gone" instantly set a new standard of quality for female group recording. By September 30, the record was on the Billboard national Top 100 charts but inexplicably stopped at number 71. This record charted only seven weeks after Bobbettes hit the top 100 with their first release "Mr. Lee." Ironically, these two trend-setting groups of the 50's only lived a few mails apart.

Arlene's first live performance was at a Jocko show at the Apollo Theater (Jocko was a well-known New York disc jockey at the time) in which her group was not even on the bill. Richard Barrett brought them onstage and waited for Jocko to present them. Arlene wowed the audience with "He's Gone" The second recording session, on October 16, 1957 was scheduled not at a regular recording studio, but a refurbished church in midtown Manhattan, apparently for its acoustics. Richard Barrett played the piano, bass and drums for the recording of Arlene Smith's "Maybe." Released in December by January 20, 1958, it was climbing the pop charts and a week later the rhythm and blues charts. "Maybe" reached number 15 Pop and number two R&B by late winter. At that time, the original records writer credits read Casey and Goldner instead of Arlene's name. Later issues and reissues had both Arlene Smith and Goldner's name credits. As recently as 1987 a compilation on a Murray Hill three LP set with "Maybe" listed as being written by R.Barrett.

Arlene's third single for End was "Every Night (I Pray)," another gem written by Arlene, although it showed Goldner's name on the record. "Every Night" hit the pop charts on March 31, 1958, and reached number 39 pop and number 16 R&B. That spring they became the first female rhythm and blues group to release an EP: it included, "Sure of Love," "Prayee," "I Love You So," and "How Could You Call It Off." The later two became Arlene's their fourth single in April "I Love You So" became the first non-Arlene Smith composition to be released as an Aside. Watkins and Davis, the latter, the wrote a member of the Crows on it.

I Love You So" was another perfect Arlene Smith confection (#42 pop, #14 R&B), but it would turn out to be their last hit on End. After "I Love You So" End released a second EP, an unprecedented move for an act that had only released four singles. This honor usually reserved for acts like the Clovers and Coasters that had been having hits for years. Three singles followed and failed. The success of Little Anthony and the Imperials kept End Records preoccupied in late 50's, the result being less promotional support for the group. End stood to earn more from a touring group of male vocalists than five high school girls still tied to their parents. Although the girls were one of the first female vocal groups of the rock era to have an album released under their own name, they were dropped by End in April 1959.

After End's decision Arlene decided to peruse a solo career and left the Chantels. She began recording some solo singles produced by the legendary Phil Spector. Arlene was the first female artist Phil produced even before The Crystals. Arlene's singles included: "Love Love Love" (The Clovers hit) - "He Knows I Love Him Too Much" - "Everything" - "Good Girls." Her last single "Mon Cherie Au Revou" - 'To Live My Life Again" was produced by Richard Barrett.

After Arlene attended the prestigious Juilliard School of Music she reformed her group in 1973 with newcomers Barbara Murray and Pauline Moore for some oldies revivals shows. In the early '80s Arlene become a school teacher in the Bronx. Today she continues to perform as lead singer for her own group, Arlene Smith's Chantels along with Brenda Fair-Alexander and Cheryl Carriere.

In 1995, The girls was inducted into the United In Group Harmony Association's (UGHA) "Hall of Fame" at Symphony Space in New York City. It was the first time the group shared a stage and reunited with both Annette Smith and Arlene Smith. Some say it was "a Kodak moment."

In 1996, The Rhythm and Blues Foundation awarded its "Pioneer Award" at The Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles, CA,

On March 7 2004 The Flamingoes, Limelites, Skyliners, and Arlene Smith were induction into The Doo-Wop Hall of Fame. The event took place at the beautiful Symphony Hall in Boston.

### The remaining members of Arlene Smith's original group now perform on their own as the "The Chantels" they are no longer affiliated with nor perform with Arlene Smith's Chantels.