R.I.P.: Charles Barksdale, Bass Singer for The Dells, Passes Away At 84

Charles Barksdale, the bass singer for the legendary doo-wop group The Dells, passed away yesterday (May 15) at the age of 84. The Chicago Sun Times confirmed that the singer passed away at a hospital in Indiana, following a long illness.

The Dells were responsible for some big hits, including “Stay In My Corner,” “Oh, What a Night,” and “The Love We Had Stays On My Mind.” (The latter song was covered in the 90s by Dru Hill for their debut album.) In addition to their hits, The Dells were also the technical consultants and real-life inspiration for filmmaker Robert Townsend’s classic flick, The Five Heartbeats. The group were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and the Vocal Group Hall of Fame, dubbing them “The Grandfathers of R&B Harmony.”

Check out one of the group’s classics above!