Doo Wop Darlings from the Bronx
The five Chantels were all classmates at St. Anthony of Padua on the Bronx, NY. They had all been friends since they were in the second grade. At St. Anthonys they learned to play instruments and to read music.
Their primary musical influences were Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers and also the Cookies among others. The girls had their first chart success about a year before the Shirelles would hit the Top 100.
The Chantels were fairly steady in maintaining their lineup. Photos sometimes showed them as a quintet and other times as a quartet. This was because member Lois Harris was not permitted by her parents to tour with the group. She was present for recordings but had to wait until she graduated from high school and was 18 years of age before she could join her friends on the road.
The book “Girl Groups” authored by John Clemente, tells us this about the recording of “Maybe:
“Maybe is one of those songs that was a trend-setting first. No other record had sounded like this before. From the thunderous piano intro, through Arlene’s emphatic lead, to its call and response ending, the performance is truly captivating”.
Moderate charting success would follow “Maybe” but it would be nearly 4 years before the girls struck it big again with “Look In My Eyes” with its totally different arrangement and sound. The song would come after a move to Carlton Records. The lead voice on “Maybe” Arlene Smith, had gone solo. The lead on “Look in My Eyes” was taken by new member Annette Smith (not released to Arelene).
Other members would pass through the group were Ami Ortiz, Sandra Dawn, Helen Powell and the late Yvonne Fair.
The Chantels were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2001 and the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2002.
Jackie Landry passed away on December 23rd, 1997 a victim of breast cancer.
Chantels Clippings
The Chantels Discography
September 1957 – “He’s Gone” #71 Pop b/w “The Plea”
January 1958 – “Maybe” b/w – #2 R&B – #15 Pop b/w “Come My Little Baby”
March 3rd, 1958 – “Every Night (I Pray) #16 R&B – #39 Pop b/w “Whoever You Are”
The Jesters – “The Plea” – #74 Pop – March 1958
Co-written by Arlene Smith
June 1958 – “I Love You So” – #14 R&B – #42 Pop b/w “How Could You Call It Off)
August 1958 – “If You Try” b/w “Congratulations”
October 1958 – “Prayee” b/w “Sure of Love” – October 1958
October 1958 – LP – “We Are the Chantels”
1958 – EP – “I Love You So”
1958 – EP – “C’est Si Bon”
February 1959 – “I Can Take It” b/w “Never Let Go”
May 1959 – (with Richard Barrett) – “Summer’s Love” b/w “All is Forgiven”
June 1959 – “Goodbye to Love” b/w “I’m Confessin’ (That I Love You)”
April 1960 – “How Could You Call it Off” b/w “Whoever You Are”
January 1961 – “I” b/w “Believe Me (My Angel)”
August 1961 – “Look in My Eyes” – #6 R&B – #14 Pop b/w “Glad to Be Back”
October 1961 – “I’m the Girl” b/w “There’s Our Song Again”
November 1961 – “Well, I Told You So” – #29 Pop b/w “Still”
November 1961 – LP – “There’s Our Song Again”
March 1962 – “Here It Comes Again” – #118 Bubbling Under b/w “Summertime”
1962 – LP – “The Chantels on Tour”
March 1963 – “Eternally” #77 Pop b/w “Swamp Water”
February 1966 – “You’re Welcome to My Heart” b/w “Soul of a Soldier”
September 1966 – “Indian Giver” b/w “It’s Just Me”
December 1969 – “Maybe” – #116 Bubbling Under b/w “He’s Gone”
June 1970 – “Love Makes All the Difference” b/w “I’m Gonna Win Him Back”
1986 – LP Box Set – 1987
PopBopRocktilUDrop 
June 6, 2023 at 11:28 pm
As you note, there were none like these ladies before them. The Bobbettes preceded them, but they had a different sound and were known for their uptempo tracks (like “Mr. Lee”), as opposed to the Chantels who were balladeers. Their harmonies were also crystal clear (although they’re clearer on CD; on the record one had to listen through the less-than-pristine End pressings! Arlene Smith is still alive at age 81; I had the pleasure of meeting her some years back; she was a sweetheart, and I will always love this group’s music.