The Delta Rhythm Boys | |
|---|---|
 The quartet with pianist Rene DeKnight. Top left to right: Lee Gaines, DeKnight. Center: Carl Jones. Bottom left to right: Traverse Crawford, Kelsey Pharr. | |
| Background information | |
| Genres | R&B, jazz, gospel, doo-wop |
| Years active | 1934–1987 |
The Delta Rhythm Boys were an American vocal group active from 1934 to 1987. [1]
Contents
The group was formed at Langston University in Langston, Oklahoma, in 1934 by Carl Jones, Traverse Crawford, Otha Lee Gaines, and Kelsey Pharr. [1] They moved to Dillard University in New Orleans, Louisiana, in 1936 and worked there under Frederick Hall as the Frederick Hall Quintet and the New Orleans Quintet. [1]
They performed on radio programs such as Amos and Andy and The Joan Davis Show , and performed on Broadway in the shows Sing Out the News and Hot Mikado . [1] The group appeared extensively in 15 films. [2] They resettled permanently in Europe in 1956. [1] In Europe, they performed and recorded in different languages including Spanish, French, Swedish and Finnish.
Lee Gaines died of cancer in Helsinki, Finland on July 15, 1987. [3] [4] At Gaines's funeral (on July 22, 1987), Hugh Bryant collapsed while performing, and died, apparently from a heart attack. [5]
