The Danderliers

The Danderliers (not to be confused with the Danleers) called themselves by this made-up name, supposedly an offshoot of the dandelion flower, hoping to differentiate themselves from all the car and bird-named groups on the doo wop scene at the time. The original members -- James Campbell (lead on slow sides), Dallas Taylor (lead on fast sides), Bernard Dixon (first tenor), Walter Stephenson (baritone), and Richard Thomas (bass) -- came together in early 1955, near Cottage Grove between 60th and 68th Streets on Chicago's South Side. They had all attended classes at either the...