The Delta Rhythm Boys

{{short description|American vocal group}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2019}}

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = The Delta Rhythm Boys

| image = Delta Rhythm Boys.JPG

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| caption = The quartet with pianist Rene DeKnight. Top left to right: Lee Gaines, DeKnight. Center: Carl Jones. Bottom left to right: Traverse Crawford, Kelsey Pharr.

| background = group_or_band

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| genre = R&B, jazz, gospel, doo-wop

| years_active = 1934–1987

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The Delta Rhythm Boys were an American vocal group active from 1934 to 1987.

The group was formed at Langston University in Langston, Oklahoma, in 1934 by Carl Jones, Traverse Crawford, Otha Lee Gaines, and Kelsey Pharr.{{cite web |last=Harris |first=Craig |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/the-delta-rhythm-boys-mn0000816895/biography |title=The Delta Rhythm Boys |website=AllMusic |access-date=April 12, 2020}} They moved to Dillard University in New Orleans, Louisiana, in 1936 and worked there under Frederick Hall as the Frederick Hall Quintet and the New Orleans Quintet.

They performed on radio programs such as Amos and Andy and The Joan Davis Show, and performed on Broadway in the shows Sing Out the News and Hot Mikado. The group appeared extensively in 15 films.{{cite book|last1=Warner|first1=Jay|title=American Singing Groups: A History from 1940s to Today|date=2006|publisher=Hal Leonard Corporation|isbn=9780634099786|url=https://archive.org/details/americansingingg00warn|url-access=registration|page=[https://archive.org/details/americansingingg00warn/page/24 24]|quote=Delta Rhythm Boys.|access-date=July 24, 2016|language=en}} They resettled permanently in Europe in 1956.

Lee Gaines died of cancer in Helsinki, Finland on July 15, 1987.[https://www.nytimes.com/1987/07/21/obituaries/lee-gaines-73-a-jazz-singer.html Obituaries: Lee Gaines, 73, a Jazz Singer] The New York Times, July 21, 1987.{{Cite web |title=The Dead Rock Stars Club - The 1980s |url=https://thedeadrockstarsclub.com/1980.html |access-date=2023-08-11 |website=thedeadrockstarsclub.com}} At Gaines's funeral (on July 22, 1987), Hugh Bryant collapsed while performing, and died, apparently from a heart attack.[https://www.nytimes.com/1987/07/24/obituaries/hugh-bryant-dies-as-he-sings-tribute-at-lee-gaines-funeral.html Obituaries: Hugh Bryant Dies as He Sings Tribute at Lee Gaines Funeral] The New York Times, July 24, 1987.