Deltairs

(L-R) Barbara Lee, Carol Stanbury, Thelma Stanbury, Barbara Thomas
The Deltairs, originally from Jamaica-Queens, NY are remembered for their 1957 hit "Lullaby Of The Bells" on IVY. They also recorded "Standing At The Altar " on IVY in 1958, and "Who Would Have Thought" for Felsted in 1958.

Members:
    (1957-1948)   
        Barbara Thompson - lead
        Barbara Lee - bass
        Carol Stansbury - 2nd soprano
        Thelma Stansbury - 1st soprano
        Shirley Taylor - alto

The trade magazines in 1961 took notice of a growing trend to female singers, female-led male groups and female groups. The fair sex up to
that point had not been getting much attention (on records, that is). That, and the revival of interest in "oldies," gave a whole newaudience the chance to hear one of the best female harmony groups, the Deltairs.

The Deltairs circa 1957
(L-R) Carol Stansbury, Shirley Taylor, Barbara Thompson, Thelma Stansbury and Barbara Lee

Barbara Lee, Carol Stansbury, Thelma Stansbury, Shirley Taylor, and lead Barbara Thompson were discovered by bandleader Al Browne in 1955. Impressed by their harmony skills, he took them to artist managers Ed Portnoy and Stan Feldman. Portnoy and Feldman started a label to showcase the talent under their wings. They called it Ivy. (Portnoy later had the Porwin label.)"Lullaby Of The Bells," written by Carol Stansbury, got good reviews when it was first released in 1957 and sold well on the East Coast

.

The girls got to do a few personal appearances, including a spot on American Bandstand. The lack of promotion from Ivy kept the record from breaking out nationwide. A few more releases, including one as the Tranquils, and the group left the business to focus on family life. A reissue of "Lullaby Of The Bells" in 1961 made the Bubbling Under charts.