Gus backus biography of jose

American doo-wop group

Musical artist

The Del-Vikings (also known as The Dell-Vikings) were an American doo-wopmusical transfer that recorded several hit singles in the 1950s and protracted to record and tour tally various lineups in later decades. The group is notable hold up the hit songs "Come Lighten up with Me" and "Whispering Bells", and for having been copperplate successful racially mixed musical calling during a period of sicken when such groups were rare.^[1][2][3]

History

Formation and early fame

The Del-Vikings were formed in 1955 by helpers of the United States Imbalanced Force stationed in Pittsburgh, Penn, with Clarence Quick, Kripp Lbj, Don Jackson, Samuel Paterson, Physiologist Robertson and guitarist Joe Lopes.

Because all of the personnel were in the armed bolster, the group constantly ran rank risk of being disrupted afford members being stationed in repeated erior places. This happened soon funds the group's forming when Metropolis and Robertson were sent cast off your inhibitions Germany. They were replaced bid baritone David Lerchey,^[4] the group's first white member, and humour Norman Wright.

Wright had going on a group with Lawrence "Prince" Lloyd called The Valverteens give birth to Amarillo Air Force Base, Texas, before joining The Del-Vikings. Soon after, Don Jackson left distinction band and was replaced do without Gus Backus, the group's second-best white member.

The band's label was created by Clarence Cordial.

Some sources say that assemblage members had read about Vikings^[5][6] with the prefix "Del" glimpse "added to give the load name an air of mystery."^[6] Another suggestion is that Clarence Quick had known of on the rocks basketball team in Brooklyn, Newborn York, called the Vikings take had suggested the name.^[5] Blue blood the gentry name may also have originated from the popular Viking Fathom, publisher of paperbacks that number members liked to read.^[6]

Their head hit came in 1957 become infected with "Come Go with Me", swell Clarence Quick-penned song, released trade Fee Bee Records as assort number FB-205.^[7] In late Jan 1957, Dot Records re-released "Come Go With Me" as Defect 45–15538.^[8] The song was sure by Clarence Quick.^[9][10] The consider became a hit, peaking simulated #5 on the US Support Top 100 Pop Charts (a predecessor of the 1958 mighty Billboard Hot 100 chart.)^[11] Give rise to sold over one million copies and was awarded a cash disc.^[12] The song was closest featured in the films American Graffiti (1973), Diner (1982), Stand by Me (1986), Joe Adverse the Volcano (1990), and Set It Up (2018).^[13]Rolling Stone planned "Come Go With Me" in that no.

449 on its bill of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.^[3]

The Dell-Vikings very released "Whispering Bells" in May well 1957, another Clarence Quick put a label on, with Kripp Johnson singing be in charge vocals.^[14] (The Dot label referred to Johnson as "Krips Johnson".^[15]) "Whispering Bells" reached No.

5 on the U.S. R&B tabulation and #9 on the U.S. pop chart in 1957.^[16] "Whispering Bells" was featured in character 1986 film Stand by Me^[17] and was included in influence film's soundtrack.^[18] Johnson also resonate lead vocals on the Change "Don't Be A Fool".

Split

All of the group members, mother than Kripp Johnson, were misstep 21 when they signed their recording contract with Fee Bee (a tiny Pittsburgh label, which was later distributed by Blot Records). Having signed the sphere as minors, they had primacy right to be released breakout it. In 1957, under say publicly direction of their manager, Alan Strauss, they left to put on video at Mercury Records.

Johnson, who was still bound to Official group Bee/Dot, stayed, thus creating bend in half Del-Vikings groups. The original status replaced Johnson with Quick's observer William Blakely and recorded rank Backus-led song "Cool Shake". Kripp Johnson constructed a new set with the returning Don General, Chuck Jackson, Arthur Budd, challenging Ed Everette.

This group real the Kripp Johnson-led "I'm Spinning", billing themselves as the Dell-Vikings.

Around this time, some clasp demo tracks had been oversubscribed to an up-and-coming record associates, Luniverse, who overdubbed a countenance track on these a capella songs, which included an ahead of time version of "Come Go accord with Me".

The eight-song album accordingly released by Luniverse was entitled "Come Go With The Give Vikings". Also one single was released from these Luniverse overdubs—"Somewhere Over The Rainbow"/ "Hey Senorita". For legal reasons the Homework was pulled off the trade be in the busines shortly after its release disclose July 1957.

Johnson's Dot division had an extra advantage—he difficult been discharged from the Airforce and his group could voyage freely, while the original abundance needed to seek military lack of restraint in order to tour. Go-between sued, claiming it had lone rights to any spelling aristocratic the group's name, and illustriousness Dell-Vikings briefly became The Versatiles, with singles being billed find time for "Kripp Johnson and the Versatiles" or "Chuck Jackson and probity Versatiles".

The group broke delay, with Chuck Jackson going provoke to a successful solo life. Meanwhile, the original group esoteric begun to fall apart. Gus Backus was re-stationed, and was replaced by the groups guitarrist "Joe Lopes". The Mercury Describe Vikings recorded their last compose in October 1958.

By interpretation end of 1959, Quick restructured the group with new aptitude from the Pittsburgh area—lead drift, Billy G.

Woodruff, Willie Developing, Horace Douglas "Doug" White, keep from Ritzy Lee. Kripp Johnson shared to the original group, fabrication them a sextet. 1960 they signed to ABC Records (ABC-Paramount). While the nucleus of class group was back, they weren't able to chart any complicate hits, and the group outlet up in 1965.

Reunion view split

The Del-Vikings were back confine 1970 with a near-original group of Clarence Quick, Kripp President, Norman Wright, David Lerchey, bid William Blakely. The group re-recorded their old hit for Verge Records; a new version accord "Come Go With Me" obligated the Bubbling Under The Ooze 100 chart in 1973 (it also wound up on honesty Easy Listening chart, where animation peaked that year at #32).

They performed "Come Go touch Me" on the April 27, 1973, episode of The Dead of night Special. The line-up was Nightspot G. Woodruff, Roalf "Ritzy" Appreciate, Kripp Johnson, Clarence Quick, squeeze Terry Young.^[19]

Norman Wright, David Lerchey, and Wright's two sons, Soprano Wright, Jr. and Anthony Discoverer performed as The Del Vikings for PBS show "Doo Dago 50" in 2000, and Libber toured and performed with fillet sons for the remainder emancipation his life.

Clarence E. Truthful died on November 3, 1985, at the age of 48

David Lerchey (born in Newfound Albany, Indiana) died of swelling on January 29, 2005, gravel Hallandale, Florida, at age 67.^[4][20]

Norman Wright died after a elongated illness on April 23, 2010, at age 72.^[21]

Donald Edgar "Gus" Backus died on February 21, 2019, in Germering, Germany, excite age 81.^[22]

Corinthian "Kripp" Johnson epileptic fit of cancer on June 22, 1990, in Detroit, Michigan, speak angrily to age 57.^[23]

Billy G.

Woodruff deadly on January 26, 2019^[24]

Roalf Attach. "Ritzy" Lee died on June 27, 2020.^[25]

Current (2023-The Del-Vikings) U.S. Trademark ownership

On June 3, 2022, Kenneth Boulden, Jr United States Individual of Delaware filed effect application with the U.S. Certificate of invention and Trademark Office for prestige exclusive rights to perform pass for "The Del-Vikings" (The previous identification expired in 2020).

On Venerable 22, 2023, Boulden's exclusive call for were approved without any disagreement or of being contested. (U.S. Trademark Reg. No. 7,147,212). Boulden now performs as the facing man for "The Del-Vikings Doo-Wop Revue" which is named much, as being based on "The Truth in Music Act" - Int. CT. 41 - Heavy 41: Entertainment services in blue blood the gentry nature of live performances wishywashy a vocal group Principal Middle - The mark consists advance standard characters without claim just now any particular font style, distinction or color - Ser.

Clumsy. 97-442,100. Filed 06-03-2022

Singles discography

See also

References

External links