Whispering Bells Vinyl Memories.

Whispering Bells vinyl memories, is a 1957 hit song released under the name Dell-Vikings with a different lead singer named Kripp Johnson.

The song was written by Clarence Quick and reached #9 on pop charts. Soon after the group split and things became some what confusing. With records being issued by four labels and by three groups of Dell-Vikings they ended up having three hit singles on the charts in August 1957.

No singer had done that before Elvis and no other artist would do it again until the Beatles did it in 1964.

The following years saw a constant change of personnel, moving to different labels, and various groups calling themselves the Dell-Vikings.

Whispering Bells - Last of The Big Hits For The Group

The Del-Vikings were the first successful integrated doo-wop vocal group whose hugely promising career was blighted by contractual and personnel issues. Despite this they had major landmark R&B and pop hits like Come Go With Me, Whispering Bells and Cool Shake along the way.

Over the years there have been at least twenty different members with three different group names, The Del-Vikings, The Dell Vikings and The Dell-Vikings.

Tony and his brother Skip Wright continue performing as The Del-Vikings in memory of their father, Norman A. Wright Sr. The current Del-Vikings consist of Tony and Skip Wright, Mike Machado and Selvin Austin.

As Bruce Eder writes at www. Allmusic. com the story of the Dell-Vikings is one of the most glorious, complicated, and frustrating of any successful doo-wop group in music history. The group consisted of serving members of the US Air Force, who shot to fame with their 1957 R&B No. 2 and pop No. 4 Come Go With Me, which has become a much-played favorite. Subsequent management issues and fractures even resulted at one stage in two different incarnations of the group performing simultaneously - namely The "Del'-Vikings" and The 'Dell'-Vikings" to add to the confusion. However, having had further hits they remained active into the '60s.

The Great Sax player And The Duck Walk.

Watch the Sax player at 1:15 into the song. An amazing talent. At 1:50 he wipes his hand as if the sax is too hot to handle. He is definitely one of the better Sax players I have ever seen on PBS.

The talent behind this fantastic Saxophone solo is Richard Mansfield. He was the musical director for many of those PBS shows.  He wrote the arrangements and conducted the shows that were in the "American Soundtrack Series." Learn more about Richard while reading the "Come Go With Me" story below and watch him play another great solo.

And what is that guy doing at 2:00 minutes into the song? Is he trying to do the Duck Walk while sitting in his seat?

The guy is really into this song. Good for him, that's the way to enjoy and remember Norman Wright and the Del-Vikings. Enjoy this great video with Norman Wright Sr, his two sons in the middle and original member David Lerchy on the right performing on the PBS Doo-Wop 50 Special in 1999. Another one of those Doo-wop classics that makes you wanna get up and dance.

The Del-Vikings varied work across the years, ranging from pure doo-wop through to rock 'n' roll and arrangements of Great American Songbook standards, underline the fact that they were one of the most talented doo-wop groups of the time.

Sadly, another Doo-Wop great  is no longer with us. Norman Wright died in April, 2010.

Golden Oldies - Follow These Links For A Fun Trip Down Memory Lane.

Fifties Doo-Wop page -  More Links To Your Classic Street Corner Symphonies.

Check Out Our Favorite Remakes Of Original Songs. 

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