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 Chicago Vocational High. or Englewood High School, and upon graduating, began to practice in nearby Washington Park. They were originally inspired by bluesier R&B acts like the Dells, the Du Droppers, and the Dominos, and later by labelmates, the Moroccos. During these early days in the group's history, they trudged over to nearby United Records to audition on frequent occasions, and each time they were turned away. One day, the group were still feeling the sting of rejection after one such audition failed to nab them a recording contract, and had gathered together in the park to work on a song that would develop into "Chop Chop Boom." At that very moment Sam Smith of United Records, drove by, heard the group, and hauled them into his brother Al Smith's basement rehearsal hall. Together they worked on polishing "Chop," and a beautiful ballad, "My Autumn Love," both written by Dallas Taylor. These two songs were the first Danderliers single released on United's States label. By the first week of April 1955, "My Autumn Love" was hitting the Chicago airwaves, and many disc jockeys flipped over the flip side, "Chop Chop Boom," too. Later, both songs hit the Billboard R&B charts and shot to number...