St. Anthony of Padua ‘girl group’ honored at street naming
Councilman Rafael Salamanca joins members of the Chantels who fi rst met when they were part of the St.
Anthony of Padua’s Church choir for a street co-naming in their honor on Friday, April 5. The street co-naming
honors their 1958 hit song ‘Maybe.’ Members of the group include Lois Powell, Sonia Wilson, Renee Minus White
and Ami Ortiz. Photo by Silvio Pacifi co
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BY PATRICK ROCCHIO
One of the early ‘girl groups’
of Rock and Roll was honored
with a street co-naming near
where they fi rst launched their
career.
The Chantels, famous for
their 1958 hit ‘Maybe’, had a
street corner co-named in their
honor in Morrisania on Friday,
April 5.
One of the fi rst girl groups to
gain national attention, the Chantels
met while singing in the
St. Anthony of Padua Church
choir and attending the parish’s
high school in the 1950s,
said Lois Powell, a Chantel who
attended the ceremonial sign
unveiling.
Prospect Avenue between
East 165th and East 166th
streets, near the church, was
named in their honor.
The unveiling of the sign
with band members was followed
by a program inside
St. Anthony of Padua’s where
members of Toys and Cookies,
R&B girl groups from the
same era, serenaded the Chantels
with renditions of some
of their top songs. Powell said
the group found hearing their
songs performed by others especially
moving.
“It was totally overwhelming,”
said Powell. “It was amazing
that we ended up when we
started, that was by the grace
of God.”
Powell said that the Chantels
were thankful and grateful
for anyone who had been a part
in making the day happen.
The sign unveiling and program
honored the group: Powell,
Arlene Smith, Jacqueline
Landry Jackson (who passed
away in 1997), Renee Minus
White, and Sonia Goring
Wilson, as well as the band’s
newest member Neomi Ortiz
Brink.
Beverly Lindsay-Johnson
from Kendall Research, Clyde
Fraser Sr. of the Frederick
Samuel Foundation, and Hal
Keshner organized the program,
and the church was glad
to welcome the group home.
“I am very excited and feel
that the parish community is
privileged to host such a special
event for the south Bronx,”
stated Fr. Joseph Espaillat of
St. Anthony of Padua Church,
adding “Welcome home Chantels.”
Approximately 400 people
attended the tribute.
Councilman Rafael Salamanca,
who got the street conaming
passed in the NYC
City Council in 2018, said that
in 1958, when Elvis Presley
and Chuck Berry were making
their names, it was remarkable
that fi ve teenage girls from St.
Anthony of Padua High School
caught the attention of America.
“An inspiration to other girl
groups of the time, it was only
fi tting that we permanently
honored The Chantels contribution
to music in United
States and in the south Bronx,”
said Salamanca.
Their fi rst hit, ‘Maybe’ went
to 15 on the Billboard 100 charts
and reached number one in
Canada and number two on
the U.S. R&B chart. The song
title and the year are featured
prominently on the sign.
Fraser was recognized
as one of the key people who
spearheaded the street co-naming
effort.
John Dudley, district manager
of Community Board 3,
said that Fraser brought to
his attention the fact that the
Chantels got their start at the
church, and that they had already
honored another early
Rock and Roll group from the
area, The Chords.
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