It started at an Air Force Base in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania … and they called themselves the Del-Vikings! The group went through several name changes as well as personnel changes do to contracts since most members were underage at the time of their signing. Only Kripp Johnson, one of the original members, was 21 when they signed their contract with Fee Bee Records (a Pittsburgh label which was later distributed by Dot Records). By the way, Kripps birthday is today, May 15. Because of the fact that they were all in the service and had obligations to the military it put a damper on them touring even though they actually appeared in Alan Freed’s Rock and Roll Movie. The group actually split and went by different spellings of the group. Kripp, was still under contract with the original group and also recorded as another group called the Versatiles. The group had some new members from Pittsburgh … like Doug White and a soon to be famous solo artist by the name of Chuck Jackson. Yes, Chuck Jackson of “I Don’t Want To Cry” and “Any Day Now” fame. Chuck also recorded with the Versatiles with a Pittsburgh Classic … “Cold Feet” and also sang lead with the Del-Vikings on “Willette”. The Versatiles also had some other Pittsburgh Classics with Jerry Sheely … ” Love Only Me” and Sonny Day … “Half Moon”. There are many names associated with the Del-Vikings like; Dave Lerchey, William Blakely, Norman Wright, Ritzy Lee … just to name a few. The Del-Vikings had many hits in the 1950’s like “Come Go With Me” and “Whispering Bells” both being DooWop Classics. Another one of their records that had Kripp Johnson singing lead was written by Pat DiCesare soon to become a major Rock n’ Roll promoter as DiCesare/Engler (a future blog). I still have many fond memories of my restaurant at PNC Park (Atria’s/Johnny Angel Lounge) … a gathering place of old DooWopers that met every Thursday night to sing a cappella, street corner songs and one could always here the Del-Viking classic … “Come Go With Me”! The Del-Vikings … DooWop Royalty!