2008 Woodie Awards
Dells, Manhattans, Delfonics to put on Saturday concert
Larissa Theodore
Issue date: 2/15/01 Section: Arts and Entertainment
- Page 1 of 1
Young fans get excited when their favorite boy bands come in concert. This weekend older fans will also be excited. Three notorious old-school Rhythm & Blues groups are coming to Youngstown 8 p.m. Saturday to the Edward W. Powers Auditorium. The Mighty Dells, the Manhattans and the Delfonics will each grace the stage at Powers Auditorium with melodies that are familiar to everyone.
The Dells are headlining the after-Valentine’s show and are looking forward to being in Youngstown this weekend.
Mark Williams, the Dells manager, said, "We haven’t been to Youngstown in awhile, and it’s a good market for the Dells. It’s a great town."
The Dells have been singing and performing for nearly five decades. They have sold millions of records and are considered the most enduring and endearing vocal group in the history of R&B.
Last weekend they performed with the Whispers, according to Williams.
The group produced 44 R&B chart records, including three No. 1 R&B hits: "Oh What A Night," which became a million seller in 1956 and again in 1969; "Stay In My Corner," the very first million-seller single that was 6 minutes and 10 seconds long; and "Give Your Baby A Standing Ovation."
In all the Dells have seven gold singles, three gold albums plus 25 charted top-40 hits. The highlight of their career, introducing them to the "Pepsi Generation," was when Robert Townsend wrote the inspiring movie "The Five Heartbeats." The movie was based on the lives and careers of the members of the Dells.
The Manhattans are another Grammy, gold and platinum award-winning group coming to Powers Auditorium. They have sold more than 12 million records with such great hits as "Kiss And Say Goodbye," "There’s No Me Without You" and "Shining Star," which are the result of the caring efforts of Edward "Sonny" Bivens, one of the original Manhattans.
The Delfonics caught the rising tide of R&B music at just the right time in the late 1960s. The band’s unique style of song and patented dance steps caught the attention of popular music followers, both black and white.
Williams said the choreography these groups do is nothing like what the Backstreet Boys might do.
"We’re from the old school where you have to entertain the audience. We do choreography, but what we do is more mellow. We’re entertaining," Williams said.
They were well on their way to success when William Hart wrote, "La La Means I Love You." The old fashioned song with sugary sentimental lyrics and Hart’s high yet mellow vocals turned the song into an instant hit. It reached top 10 charts around the country.
More recently the Delfonics’ songs have appeared in motion pictures "The Five Heartbeats" and "Crooklyn." Numerous artists such as Aretha Franklin, Swing Out Sisters, New Kids On the Block and others have also re-recorded the Delfonics’ hits.
They are one of the pioneering singing groups to sing ballads that will and have captured the hearts of young and old alike.
The Dells are headlining the after-Valentine’s show and are looking forward to being in Youngstown this weekend.
Mark Williams, the Dells manager, said, "We haven’t been to Youngstown in awhile, and it’s a good market for the Dells. It’s a great town."
The Dells have been singing and performing for nearly five decades. They have sold millions of records and are considered the most enduring and endearing vocal group in the history of R&B.
Last weekend they performed with the Whispers, according to Williams.
The group produced 44 R&B chart records, including three No. 1 R&B hits: "Oh What A Night," which became a million seller in 1956 and again in 1969; "Stay In My Corner," the very first million-seller single that was 6 minutes and 10 seconds long; and "Give Your Baby A Standing Ovation."
In all the Dells have seven gold singles, three gold albums plus 25 charted top-40 hits. The highlight of their career, introducing them to the "Pepsi Generation," was when Robert Townsend wrote the inspiring movie "The Five Heartbeats." The movie was based on the lives and careers of the members of the Dells.
The Manhattans are another Grammy, gold and platinum award-winning group coming to Powers Auditorium. They have sold more than 12 million records with such great hits as "Kiss And Say Goodbye," "There’s No Me Without You" and "Shining Star," which are the result of the caring efforts of Edward "Sonny" Bivens, one of the original Manhattans.
The Delfonics caught the rising tide of R&B music at just the right time in the late 1960s. The band’s unique style of song and patented dance steps caught the attention of popular music followers, both black and white.
Williams said the choreography these groups do is nothing like what the Backstreet Boys might do.
"We’re from the old school where you have to entertain the audience. We do choreography, but what we do is more mellow. We’re entertaining," Williams said.
They were well on their way to success when William Hart wrote, "La La Means I Love You." The old fashioned song with sugary sentimental lyrics and Hart’s high yet mellow vocals turned the song into an instant hit. It reached top 10 charts around the country.
More recently the Delfonics’ songs have appeared in motion pictures "The Five Heartbeats" and "Crooklyn." Numerous artists such as Aretha Franklin, Swing Out Sisters, New Kids On the Block and others have also re-recorded the Delfonics’ hits.
They are one of the pioneering singing groups to sing ballads that will and have captured the hearts of young and old alike.