The Delltones

While vocal groups have been a staple of American popular music since back to the days of vaudeville, until the 'boy bands' of the late nineties, this is a genre of music which escaped Australian pop music. The Delltones are the exception.

The original Delltones were four members of the Bronte Surf Club who found they had more than being typical bronzed Aussie surfers in common. In January 1959 they combined their singing talents as The Delltones - "of tones" ( "dell" meaning 'of' in Spanish). They landed their first professional engagement by bailing up the owner of a Kings Cross nightclub in the streets, and singing for him in order to land an audition.

Their arrival on the scene was just what the doctor ordered as far as King Cross regular, entrepreneur Lee Gordon was concerned. Gordon was able to use the Delltones as backing vocalists for his legendary Big Shows. In return for singing behind Gordon's international and local stars, The Delltones were also given their own feature spot. They were also naturals for regular performances on both 'Bandstand' and 'Six O'Clock Rock'. It was the perfect platform for a successful recording career.

Between September '59 and late '60 The Delltones released a succession of singles ranging from their first single, a version of the Crows' doo-wop hit 'Gee' to their version of the standard 'White Cliffs Of Dover'. Big Show visitor Tommy Sands' guitarist thought so much of them he wrote two sides of a single for them, which Scotty Turnbull also played on. These were all minor successes at home in Sydney. National success didn't come until December '60's 'You're The Limit'. When the group followed with 'Get A Little Dirt On Your Hands', their future was assured. The Delltones were the only vocal band of note, and the variety of their repertoire had lifted them beyond 'pop' status. They were here to stay.

Tragedy struck on July 7, 1962 when lead vocalist Noel Widerberg died in a car accident. Grief stricken, the three remaining members cancelled all engagements, and without the encouragement of family and friends it might have been the end of The Delltones. Noel's people were especially keen to see the group continue, and so, after two months of activity the group held auditions for a replacement and settled on Colin Loughnan, who had been singing with a group called the Crescents. The new line-up opened its account in January 1963 with The Delltones' biggest hit, 'Come A Little Bit Closer'.

Popular music was changing. Rock and roll was on the wane, a new generation of balladeers had taken over, and we'd danced The Twist. Pop music was into fadism and the new fad was Surf music. In Australia, it was a phase of music only Sydney's artists could enter with any credibility, and of the established artists only the versatile Delltones could easily jump on the bandwagon. They recorded a song called 'Hangin' Five', written by Manly police detective Ben Acton. Ben's demo was atrocious by all accounts, but the "Dellies" turned what was there into another big hit, followed by a return to their original style with 'Hey Girl Don't Bother Me', their last hit. The Beatles had arrived.

The Delltones split up in 1971. 'New boy' Col Loughnan ended up as part of 70s rock fusion group Ayers Rock. Since 1981 the most recognizable Delltone, its tall "bass man" Ian "Pee Wee" Wilson has kept The Delltones' name alive by assembling new line-ups for performances and some recordings. As long as "Pee Wee" is there it's the Delltones.