Arlene Smith of The Chantels Dies at 84: The Voice Behind "Maybe" and a Life of Teaching Music

Arlene Smith, the co-founder and lead vocalist of The Chantels, passed away on July 29 in a New York City hospital. She was 84 years old. Smith and her high school friends from the Bronx formed one of the first Black girl groups to ever chart nationally, blending doo wop, soul, and R&B in a way that had never been heard before. Their signature song,“Maybe,”was written by Smith when she was just 16 and went on to sell over a million copies, inspiring covers by Janis Joplin and the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

What makes Smith’s story so remarkable is what she did after the fame. She studied at the Juilliard School, worked briefly with legendary producer Phil Spector, and then chose to go back to her roots. She earned a master’s degree and taught music at an elementary school in the Bronx, her old neighborhood, for decades until her retirement in the 2000s. Her manager and friend Paul Errante confirmed her death, noting she died of a heart attack.

The Chantels were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2002, but they never received a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame nod. Fans of classic R&B and pop history are hoping that changes now that her story is back in the spotlight. Did you grow up listening to“Maybe”or any of The Chantels’other hits? Let us know in the comments.