The Del-Vikings

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

The Del-Vikings, also spelled The Dell-Vikings, were an American doo-wop group. They formed in 1955 among servicemen of the United States Air Force in Pittsburgh, with among others Clarence Quick and Kripp Johnson. Because the members were in the service, the group constantly ran the risk of someone being transferred. Remarkably, it was a mixed group, with black and white singers, at a time when that was rare.

Music and breakthrough

Their first hit came in 1957 with Come Go with Me, written by Clarence Quick. The song reached number five on the American pop chart. Later that year came Whispering Bells, with Kripp Johnson as lead singer. Come Go with Me was later used in films such as American Graffiti and Stand by Me. That made it a soundtrack of the 1950s, even for people who did not know the record from that time.

Influence

In 1957 the group became stuck in a contract dispute. Most of the members were minors when they signed and were able to free themselves from the small label Fee Bee. They went to Mercury, while Johnson remained tied to Fee Bee and Dot. For a while there were therefore two Del-Vikings. The group broke up and was later reassembled. In 1960 they signed with ABC Records, but new hits failed to appear and in 1965 the group disbanded. A reunion followed in 1970, and in 1973 a new version of Come Go with Me was recorded.

Listening

Discography

Studio albums

• 1957Come Go With the Del Vikings
• 1987They Sing...They Swing
• 1990Rock ’n’ Roll Remembered
• 19931956 Audition Tapes
• 1993The Lost Tapes
• 1995Cool Shake
• 1995The Big Beat