The Chantels recorded “Maybe,” a 1958 hit often regarded as an early rock-era classic.
“Maybe” was written by Arlene Smith, the lead singer of The Chantels, and became the group’s signature recording. The song combines doo-wop harmonies with a powerful lead vocal, helping define the sound of early female vocal groups in popular music.
The Chantels formed at a Bronx, New York, Catholic school in the 1950s. Their name came from St. Anthony of Padua School, where the members studied. They were among the first successful all-female rock groups, preceding the major commercial girl-group wave of the early 1960s.
Listeners sometimes confuse The Chantels with The Shirelles because both groups had influential late-1950s and early-1960s recordings. However, The Shirelles recorded “Will You Love Me Tomorrow,” while “Maybe” is specifically associated with The Chantels.