Doo-wop singer Marvin Junior of the Dells dead at 77

HARVEY, Ill., June 2 (UPI) -- Marvin Junior, lead singer for the 1950's doo-wop group the Dells, died last week in Illinois at the age of 77, family members said.

Junior suffered from kidney failure and died Wednesday at his home in Harvey.

Junior and the Dells all hailed from Chicago and created 25 Top 40 hits after signing their first record contract with Chess/Cadet in 1954 when they were known as the El Reys.

The Dells, who took their name from the Wisconsin tourist attraction, were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2004. The Chicago Sun-Times said the group was the template for the 1990 movie "The Five Heartbeats."