The Del Vikings were one of the first rhythm and blues groups to take elements of rock and roll and introduce it
to the musical format of doo-wop. They successfully blended the rock and roll sound into doo-wop without
destroying the rhythm and blues sould of doo-wop. This is evident on many of their records like Come Go With
Me and Whispering Bells and why they are considered to be real ground breakers in the world of group
harmony. It probably also explains their wide-ranging appeal both in the original days of doo-wop and now.
The group formed in 1955 at Pittsburgh Air Force Base, where five Black enlisted men, Corinthian “Kripp”
Johnson (first tenor), Clarence E. Quick (bass), Don Jackson (second tenor), Bernard Robertson, and Samuel
Paterson, began singing at the camp hall. They won a talent contest on the base in early 1956, and then
competed nationally in New York and Bermuda, where they placed first and second. By that time, they were
starting to attract local attention, most notably from disc jockey Barry Kaye in Pittsburgh who wanted to record
them. Although historians are not completely sure, their name probably came from stories the group members
had been reading about Vikings and the word “Del” added to give the group name an air of mystery. It may also
have come from the the publisher of some of the paperbacks that the group members liked to read - the Viking
Press.
Later in 1956, Robertson and Paterson left the group when they were transferred to Germany. They were
replaced by Norman Wright (lead tenor) and David Lerchey (baritone). Norman grew up in Philadelphia and
was a product of Northeast High School. Unlike many of his doo-wop contempories that longed for a career in
music and spent countless hours singing in the hallways at school or on the streetcorner, Norman didn't spend
much of his childhood singing except for his aunt who loved to hear his rendition of "Mule Train." Almost
immediately upon graduating from high school in January 1956, Norman was sworn into the air force. He was
later stationed at an air force base in Amarillo, Texas, where he started hanging out singing in the hallways (the
only hallway singing he ever did. This sparked Norman's interest in group harmony singing and he formed his
first group. Norman was later transferred to the Pittsburgh air force base where he met the other members of
the Del Vikings. He sang for them and was chosen to join the group because, as he recalled, he could "sing
Hey Senorita better than any of 'em." Clarence Quick liked what he heard and Norman became the group's new
lead. David Lerchey was white and the Del Vikinge became one of the first integrated doo-wop groups along
with the Meadowlarks and the Mariners.
"Dom, dom, dom, dom, dom-dee-doobie, dom......" Probably
the most familar phrase in all of doo-wop and maybe music
fromt the 1950's. A phrase created by the legendary Del
Vikings (also spelled Dell-Vikings and Del-Vikings) - one of
the most successful doo-wop groups of all time. Unlike many
other original groups, the Del Vikings had two big hits and
continued staying power for years. They recorded dozens of
records. However, after tasting initial success, the group later
struggled to overcome internal strife which ended up keeping
them from reaching even greater success. This is the story of
one of the most popular and interesting group harmony artists.
the most familar phrase in all of doo-wop and maybe music
fromt the 1950's. A phrase created by the legendary Del
Vikings (also spelled Dell-Vikings and Del-Vikings) - one of
the most successful doo-wop groups of all time. Unlike many
other original groups, the Del Vikings had two big hits and
continued staying power for years. They recorded dozens of
records. However, after tasting initial success, the group later
struggled to overcome internal strife which ended up keeping
them from reaching even greater success. This is the story of
one of the most popular and interesting group harmony artists.
The Del Vikings
