Arlene Smith, Lead Singer of the Chantels, Dies at 84

Arlene Smith, the lead singer of the Chantels and a pioneer of the girl group sound, has died at the age of 84. She died of a heart attack at a New York City hospital on Wednesday, according to her manager and close friend, Paul Errante.

Smith rose to fame with the Chantels in the late 1950s. The group's 1958 hit "Maybe," which Smith reportedly co-wrote with producer Richard Barrett, became a million-selling success and reached No. 15 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song is widely credited with helping shape the girl group style that later influenced acts such as the Supremes and the Ronettes.

The Chantels performed with major artists including Chuck Berry, the Drifters, and Ike and Tina Turner, and appeared several times on American Bandstand. After the group's record label folded in 1959, Smith launched a solo career before later reuniting with the original members and forming another version of the Chantels.

After leaving the music industry, Smith earned a master's degree in education and taught music to elementary school students in Manhattan before retiring.

Remembering the group's success, Smith once said their uniqueness as young women with a pop sound, strong lead vocals, and rich harmonies helped set them apart and paved the way for future girl groups.