(Top) Gloria Alleyne, Frances Kelly and Sherry Gary (Bottom L-R) Della Simpson
The Delltones (1) (Long Island, N.Y.)
aka The Dell Tones
Personnel :
Della Simpson (Lead)
Sherry Gary
Gloria Alleyne
France Kelley (Bass)
Discography :
The Dell Tones
Singles :
1953 - Yours Alone / My Heart's On Fire (Brunswick 84015)
Unreleased :
1953 - Why Make A Fool Out Of Me (Brunswick)
1953 - After All I've Been To You (Brunswick)
The Delltones (1)
1954 - Little Short Daddy / I'm Not In Love With You (Rainbow 244)
1955 - Don't Be Long / Baby Say You Love Me (Baton 212)
1956 - My Special Love / Believe It (Baton 223)
The Kings And Queens (Orioles & Delltones)
1957 - Voices Of Love / I'm So Lonely (Everlast 5003)
Biography :
Della
Simpson was born in the South and raised in Jamaica, New York. Growing
up listening to the radio she heard all the big bands with Billie
Holliday being her idol. It was while at work that she and another girl
decided to put together a group. After recruiting two more girls they
named the group The Enchanters. A piano player, Chris Townes began working writing and arranging songs for them.
The Enchanters (Clockwise from top left) Frances Kelly, Pearl Brice, Della Simpson and Rachel Gist
The Enchanters were among the first female groups to sing R&B in
the early 50s. One day Simpson called and asked Jerry Blaine, owner of
Jubilee Recordsto come see one of their shows. He did and signed them to
Jubilee. The Enchanters first release for Jubilee was "Today Is Your
Birthday." The group first began touring locally and later on the
Chitlin Circuit.
The Delltones with Their Accompanists
After their two Jubilee recordings and a December 1952 tour, things
began to fall apart. Rachel Gist and Pearl Brice left the other
Enchanters to stay home with their families and attend to their
marriages. Simpson and Kelley wished to continue with their singing.
They then raided another local group called the Dorsey sisters, Gloria
Alleyne replacing Rachel Gist and Sherry Gary joined to replace Pearl
Brice. In addition, a new name, The Delltones (After Della) was chosen.
(Top) Della Simpson (Bottom L-R) Gloria Alleyne, Sherry Gary and Frances Kelly
Under the new name in 1953 they recorded "My Hearts On Fire" on the
Brunswick label. The next single "I'm Not In Love With You"/"Little
Short Daddy" was for Rainbow Records in 1954. The Delltones were now
performing all over the United States and Canada. They continued to tour
and even appeared on The Arthur Godfrey Show. However the group began
to encounter problems when they were told they couldn't sing their usual
material because they sounded to White.
The
Delltones now moved to Baton Records where they recorded two singles.
At this time Gloria Alleyne and Sherry Gary left the group. The last
Delltone group included Bunny Foy, Algie Willie, Renee Stewart and Della
Simpson. In June 1957, the Orioles & The Delltones combined to
record "Voices Of Love" and "I'm So Lonely," for Danny Robinson's
Everlast label, as the Kings And Queens.
Released around June 1957, the personnel consisted of: Sonny Til, Diz
Russell, Jerry Holeman, Tex Cornelius, Billy Adams, Della Simpson (who
leads both sides), Bunny Foy, Renée Stewart, and Algie Willie (who
doesn't appear in the only photo taken of them).
The Kings and Queens
Della Griffin, Renee Stewart, Bunny Foy, Billy Adams, Sonny Till, Aaron Cornelius, Jerry Holeman and Albert Russell
This group appeared a couple of times at some New York clubs. The
Delltones eventually disbanded due to marriages and family. Gloria
Alleyne became Gloria Lynn, working as a soloist for years in the jazz
world. Della Simpson went out working with her own organ and sax combo.
She later married Paul Griffin The Orioles piano player.
