The Del Vikings were formed by members of the US Air Force in 1955 at their social club in Pittsburg, Ohio, U.S.A.
The group, at various stages, comprised of:
David Lerchey (b. 1938. d. 29th January 2005. Cause: cancer)
Clarence Quick (bass) (d. U.S.A.)
Corinthian 'Kripp' Johnson (b. Corinthian Johnson, 16th May 1936, Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S.A., d. 22nd June 1990, Detroit, Michigan, U.S.A.; lead and tenor)
Samuel Patterson (lead and tenor)
Don Jackson (baritone)
Donald Edgar 'Gus' Backus (b. Donald Edgar Backus, 12th September 1937, Southampton, Long Island, New York, U.S.A. d. 21st February 2019, Germering, Munich, Germany)
Norman Wright (b. 31st October 1937, Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.
d. 23rd April 2010, U.S.A.)Billy Blakely
Ritzy Lee
Billy Woodruff
Doug White
Willie Glenn
Joe Lopes
and
Bernard Robertson (second tenor).
In 1956, they won a song contest, run by the Air Force in Pittsburgh.
They signed to Fee-Bee records, who leased their records to the Dot imprint.
Their songs include 'Come Go With Me' (a million seller in 1957), and 'Whispering Bells'.
Gus Backus died in 2019.
they sing, they swing - 1957 / come go with the del vikings - 1957 / the swinging, singing del vikings - 1958 / the del vikings and the sonnets - 1963
Albums:
Come Go With The Del Vikings (Luniverse Records 1957)
They Sing - They Swing (Mercury Records 1957)
A Swinging, Singing Record Session (Mercury Records 1958)
Newies And Oldies (Crown Records 1959)
The Del Vikings And The Sonnets (Crown Records 1963)
Come Go With Me (Dot Records 1966)
