The Ephemeral Legacy of Girl Group Harmony Arlene Smith's passing at 84 marks the end of an era for a generation of girl groups who dominated the early days of R&B and pop music.
Her legacy serves as a reminder that even accomplished musicians can be overlooked, relegated to footnotes in history books or Wikipedia entries. The Chantels' success in the late 1950s was no fluke.
The group's harmonies were a fusion of doo wop and classical influences, reflecting Smith's rigorous training and early performances at Carnegie Hall.