# Verne Allison of The Dells Dies at 90

> R&B legend Verne Allison, co-founder of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame group The Dells, dies at 90 after decades of chart success.
- Title: Verne Allison of The Dells Dies at 90 · Chicago Sun-Times
- Summary: R&B legend Verne Allison, co-founder of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame group The Dells, dies at 90 after decades of chart success. R&B group The Dells' founder…
- Keywords: verne allison, the dells, rock roll hall of fame, r&b, harvey, thornton township high school, oh what a night, doo-wop, el-rays, marvin junior, michael mcgill, flossmoor
- Source: Chicago Sun-Times — https://chicago.suntimes.com/obituaries/2026/10/16/verne-allison-dells-rock-roll-hall-fame-harvey-thornton-township-high-school
- Published: 2026-10-16T10:15:00+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: verne allison, the dells, rock roll hall of fame, r&b, harvey, thornton township high school, oh what a night, doo-wop, el-rays, marvin junior, michael mcgill, flossmoor
## Verne Allison Dies at 90
Verne Allison, co-founder of the R&B group The Dells, died at 90 on October 6.
## The Dells Formed in Harvey
The Dells began as the El-Rays in 1952 when members were students at Thornton Township High School in Harvey.
## Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Inductees
The Dells were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2004 after 46 R&B hits between 1956 and 1992.
## Biggest Hit: 'Oh What a Night'
Their biggest hit, 'Oh What a Night,' peaked at No. 3 on the charts in 1956 behind Elvis Presley's 'Don’t Be Cruel' and Fats Domino's 'Blueberry Hill.'
## Ray Charles Story
The Dells sang so well they got standing ovations and five encores before Ray Charles even went on stage.
## Ray Charles Fired Them
Ray Charles fired The Dells after a Carnegie Hall show in 1966, saying they were doing too much.
## The Dells' Legacy
The Dells were called 'The Grandfathers of R&B Harmony' by the Vocal Group Hall of Fame and paved the road for groups like the Temptations and Boyz II Men.
## Long-Term Success
The Dells stayed together for over 50 years, touring Europe and Japan and performing for more than 40 years.
## Family and Survivors
Verne Allison is survived by his daughter Sheila Allison Moore and three grandchildren.
## Last Surviving Member
Michael McGill, the last surviving member of The Dells, couldn't be reached for comment.
## Golfer and Resident
Allison lived in Flossmoor and was an avid golfer in recent years.
## Group Disbanded in 2009
The Dells stopped touring in 2009 after more than 50 years together.
## Key takeaway

R&B group The Dells' founder Verne Allison dies at 90 following a career spanning 50+ years and multiple chart hits.