Delltones
(Top Left to Right) Gloria Alleyne, Sherry Gary and Frances Kelly
Bottom - Della Simpson
The Delltones took a daring step forward when they decided to compete in an arena usually
reserved for men. Others soon followed in the footsteps of this pioneering female group of
vocal group music.
| Members: The Enchanters (1952-53) Pearl Brice Rachel Gist Frances Kelly Della Simpson - lead |
The Delltones (1954-55) Gloria Alleyne (Lynne) Sherry Gary Frances Kelly Della Simpson |
(1955-56) Shirley (Bunny) Foye Renee Stewart Algie White Della Simpson |
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 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 Records to 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.
Deciding that they were not receiving proper promotion at Jubilee they left the label after only two releases. A number of personnel changes took place along with a name change to the Delltones.
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.
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. 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 group 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.
Rediscovered in 1994, Della, Frances and Bunny appeared at Rhythm and Blues Group Harmony Review at Fordham University's WFUV-FM in New York. Della put together a new group of Delltones in 1994 and that group made appearances at the United Group Harmony Association concerts and were included on The Heroines of R&B concert.
Della Simpson died on August 9, 2022, at the age of 97.
