The group came to the attention of the larger Unart label several months later and their next release, which they wrote, "Black and White Thunderbird b/w Ronnie is my Lover" gave the Delicates a big local hit and a song still much loved by girl group aficionados today. One of the people listening and obviously liking what he heard was famous New York deejay "Murray the K," who would later come to use the girls as in house session singers for many of his show’s songs.

According To John Clemente's book Girl Groups:  Fabulous Females That Rocked The World, Peggy and Denise skipped school one day to make and unscheduled visit with the deejay. Peggy remembers that although the girls didn’t have an appointment, Murray the K’s secretary let them in to see him. He recorded the group and the starstruck teens listened to themselves on his program that night.

In their Submarine Race Watchers garb
(L-R) Arleen Lanzotti, Peggy Santiglia, Denise Ferri

The Delicates wrote and sang  the opening and closing themes for legendary New York City deejay Murray the K’s "Swingin’ Soiree" show on 1010-WINS which were played for well over five years. The themes included "Red Hot and Blue," "Grand Kook," "Meusurry" and the legendary "Submarine Race Watchers." The three became known as "Murray’s Original Dancing Girls," dubbed that by Murray himself. The group's next single  Meusurray even used special language Murray used when talking to teens on his show.  In addition to writng the show's opening and closing themes, recording promos for the show the girls were regulars on his radio and stage shows, became known as the programs  "Original Dancing Girls". They did numerous T.V. and stage shows including American Bandstand, Clay Cole’s Rate the Record, Alan Freed’s Big Beat and Joe Franklin’s Memory Lane and appeared on huge venues including Palisades Amusement Park, the Comack L.I. Arena and the State Theater in Connecticut.

Clay Cole's Twist-A-Rama Revue
Delicates and The Capris
(L-R) Mike Mincieli, Denise Ferri, Vinnie Naccarato, Clay Cole, Frank Reina, Peggy Santiglia, John Cassese

The Delicates appeared on many TV shows, including; American Bandstand, Alan Freed Big Beat, Connecticut Bandstand, The Buddy Deane Show, The Clay Cole Show The Brooklyn Fox 10-day shows as well as the Brooklyn Paramount 10-day shows. They also opened for Connie Francis many times. In 1961/62 they toured with Clay Cole's "Twistorama" replacing the Ronettes. Also on that tour were The Capris and Lou Dana and the Furies.

In studio with Lou Christie for "Lighting Strikes" sessions. 1965
(L-R) Lou Christie, Peggy Santiglia, Bernadette Carroll,  Denise Ferri
photo courtesy Denise Ferri

The Delicates sang on many commercials and their first backup singing experience was for Al Martino singing "Journey to Love" written by Teddy Randazzo and produced by Don Costa. The girls went on to do lucrative backup session work, later teaming up with Bernadette Carroll, backing artists such as Connie Francis, Neil Sedaka, Patty Duke, Frankie Valli, Jose Feliciano, Kitty Kallen, Frankie Lymon, and most notably Lou Christie; Lou Christie's MGM hits including "Rhapsody in the Rain", "Painter", "Trapeze", and his No. 1 hit "Lightnin' Strikes".

All three girls were prolific songwriters and wrote many of the songs the group recorded for single release and for Murray’s own show. Although every single put out by the group gained local airplay, none had enough of a push to make the national charts.

After a couple more sides on United Artists the Delicates moved to Roulette Records to record the countryish "Little Ship." By this time Arleen had left the group and Peggy and Denise continued as a duo for the Delicates’ last three releases.

During this early phase in their performing careers, Arleen decided to quit although Denise and Peggy went on to sign with Roulette Records where they sang as a duet continuing to call themselves the Delicates. After this, they teamed up with Bernadette Carroll for work on commercials and as a vocal backing group for other artists. The girls were highly regarded in this role and there was a great deal of demand for their services- they were employed on the discs of many famous artists. These included Patty Duke, Al Martino, Don Costa, Neil Sedaka, as well as fellow Belleville artists Frankie Valli and Connie Francis. Their most significant contribution was probably in helping to compose the arrangements and backing for Lou Christie's "Lightning Strikes"- a single which reached #1.

While at Roulette the Delicates recorded the Cleftones' "Little Girl Of Mine" which became "Little Boy of Mine." During the studio session the girls sang the lead vocals together and were about to overdub their voices for the background when the studio door opened. It was the Cleftones! The group had been recording next door and once they heard about the Delicates plans to cover their song, they jumped at the chance to sing back-up vocals the very same way they had on their own recording.

In the mid-60s former Starlet/Angel Bernadette Carroll, who had her own minor hit with "Party Girl" in 1964, joined Peggy and Denise to do some highly successful session work. The girls sang back-up for many artists, including Patty Duke, Frankie Valli, Connie Francis, Al Martino, Don Costa, Neil Sedaka. But their biggest success was Lou Christie’s monster smash "Lightning Strikes." Denise, Peggy and Bernadette helped write and arrange the backing vocals for the project which rewarded them with a Number 1 hit in 1965.

Peggy, Denise and Bernadette also moonlighted as Dynovoice recording artists Jessica James and the Outlaws and recorded the girl group classics "We'll Be Makin' Out" and "Give Her Up Baby."

Denise received her teaching degree in the 1970s, but she also continues to work in the recording business and has worked on many demos, performed at numerous studio sessions and created commercial jingles over the years, including the long-running "Shop-rite can-can!" She worked in a club act with Joe Pesci, was a singer before he became an actor. Bernadette Carroll married and retired from the business. Peggy joined several other groups with varying degrees of success and continues to perform with the Angels to this day.

On October 8, 9 and 10, 2013, the Delicates were honored in their hometown of Belleville and inducted into "The Belleville Wall Of Recognition." There is now a plaque on the wall of Belleville High next to that of Connie Francis. The auditorium in Number 8 grammar school was renamed "The Delicates Auditorium" and part of Union Avenue was named "The Delicates Drive." Denise lived on Union Ave., and her family owned "Lou's Deli" which is where the girls ot their name.

After the Delicates disbanded Denise continued to perform in nightclubs. Arleen settled into domestic life

Arleen Lanzotti died on May 29, 2017, at her home in Chatham, New Jersey. She was 73.
Denise Ferri died on October 29, 2020, at her home in Boca Raton, Florida. She was 76