Arlene Smith’s Chantels to Perform on Doo Wop Cruise

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Free-Press-Release.com) September 15, 2010 -- LOS ANGELES, CA – September 15, 2010 - Grant Williams CEO of Memory Lane Concert Cruises today announced the prestigious Arlene Smith’s Chantels will be among nine recording groups from both the East and West Coasts. These groups were popular from 1952 to 1963 and will perform on the famous Oldies But Goodies Doo Wop Cruise. “The Chantels 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.” said Williams

Arlene Smith (lead), Lois Harris first tenor , Sonia Goring second tenor , Jackie Landry second alto , and Rene Minus began their musical journey as preteens while attending choir practice at St. Anthony of Padua school in the Bronx. By 1957, they had been singing together for more than seven years. A staple of their diet was Gregorian chants taught to such perfection that changing notes and parts came easy for them. 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. Arlene Smith was a member of the girl's basketball team. Win, lose or draw, the group would always sing after every game.

The strength of the group apart from its vocal presence was the writing ability of lead singer Arlene Smith. There were not many girl groups in the mid 50s and even less that wrote their own material. Arlene contributed both words and music. When you combine her classical and gospel background with simple yet poignant lyrics made her more successful at sixteen then she could have possibly imagined. Her first song "He's Gone" written about a boyfriend while she was practicing piano was The Chantels' 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 the end of September the record was on the Billboard national Top 100 charts but inexplicably stopped at number 71.

The Arlene Smith’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 the 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 next recording session, on October 16, 1957. However it wasn’t a regular recording studio, but a refurbished church in midtown Manhattan, obviously for its acoustics. Richard Barrett played the piano, bass and drums for the group 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. Interestingly, though not unusual for the time, the original records writer credit s read Casey and Goldner. Later issues and reissues had Arlene Smith and Goldner.

The group’s third single for End was “Every Night I Pray ," another gem that sounded like Arlene's writing style, 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 the fourth single in April "I Love You So" was another perfect Arlene Smith confection. While reaching 42 Pop and number 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 1958 and 1959, the result being less promotional support for the group. End stood to earn more from a touring group of male vocalists than five high schoolgirls 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 End records still dropped them by in late April 1959. Arlene Smith now decided to go solo however their records continued being released with Richard Barrett on lead and by Gone Records an affiliate of End.

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 becomes a schoolteacher 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.

On April 10th 2011, the Oldies But Goodies cruise will depart from Los Angeles, California aboard Carnival's new ship, the Splendor on a seven-day sailing to the Mexican Riviera. You will enjoy the most Romanic and exciting ports of Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan and Cabo San Lucas. Performers include Big Jay McNeely, Arlene Smith’s Chantels, Johnnie and Joe, Six Teens, Pentagons, Olympics, Super Girls Group which features artists from the Hearts/Jaynetts, Exciters, Cookies, and Rainbows. Also appearing are the legendary Calvanes, Elgins and Vel Omarr’s Sam Cooke tribute.
Be a part of this history-making event, and join us in bringing back the greatest Doo Wop recording legends of the 50's-60’s. “There has not been an event this spectacular featuring these sensational Doo Wop artists since those memorable days we spent at the Brooklyn Fox Theater and El Monte Legion Stadium.” said Williams.

More information can be found online at http://www.mlccruises.com

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