Chantels founder Arlene Smith has died. The Chantels formed in the early 1950s after St. Anthony of Padua School students, scoring the million-selling 1958 hit Maybe and becoming one of the era’s first all-girl groups to reach national fame.
Arlene Smith, who formed the Chantels and led the group to early fame with the hit “Maybe,” has died aged 84. Her work helped popularize girl groups in 1950s rock ’n’ roll, and she later taught music in New York City after leaving the group.