THE REASON, The Chanels, Deb #500 1958

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THE REASON, The Chanels, Deb #500 1958
Flipside: SKIDDILY DOO – Here’s another really great unknown ballad from my music collection. The Chanels hailed from Harrisburg, PA. They were the protégés of Julius Dixon, a veteran songwriter whose successes included (co-writer) of The Chordettes’ 1958 smash hit “LOLLIPOP” and Bill Haley’s “DIM DIM THE LIGHTS”.

In 1958 Dixon launched the Deb record label as a vehicle for his protégé 14 year old Beverly Ann Gibson who had won the amateur hour at the Apollo Theatre.
Beverly Ann in turn introduced Dixon to The Chanels who were from her hometown of Harrisburg, PA. He liked their sound and had them record a song that he wrote “THE REASON.” On early pressings of the song, the group was listed as “The Chanels”.

Their name was changed on later pressings as “The 5 Chanels” after rival record owner George Goldner complained that the name was too close to that of The Channels who recorded for his labels. Goldner was also jealous that The Chanels’ lead singer, Sharon Scott sounded similar to Arlene Smith of his group The Chantels.

Julius Dixon set up a distribution deal with ABC Paramount Records expecting “THE REASON” to hit it big after being promoted on Dick Clark’s American Bandstand. It charted on Billboard in December 1958 for 1 week and reached #98. When Clark’s efforts in acquiring “THE REASON” for Swan Records fell through, the song didn’t get any more push from him and never charted higher.

The group went on to record as “The 5 Chanels” and as “Virgil & The Four Chanels” with not much success.

Enjoy this really great unknown ballad “THE REASON” by The Chanels with the great unknown lead voice of Sharon Scott.