The Bells
A Canadian sextet, the Bells were a one-hit-wonder in the USA, although their popularity in their native country was more significant. Formed in the late '60s by Montreal Cliff Edwards (vocals) and Doug Gravelle (b. Montreal, Canada; drums), the group's membership solidified with the addition of vocalist Jacki Ralph (b. Surrey, England), guitarist Charles Clarke, bassist Michael Waye (both from St. John, New Brunswick, Canada) and Dennis Will (keyboards), from Quebec, Canada. The Bells were signed to Polydor Records in Canada in 1971, and their contract was also picked up by the label's US branch. That same year, their first single, Fly, Little White Dove, Fly, was a minor hit in both countries, but Stay Awhile, released shortly after, became a Canadian number 1 and a US Top 10 hit. The group only charted once more in the US, with I Love You Lady Dawn. By the end of 1971, Will and Ralph had left following a rift within the group and keyboardist Frank Mills and vocalist Jackie Edwards, sister of Cliff, were drafted in. Although they continued to record for Polydor through 1972 (switching to MGM Records for one US single the following year) they were popular thereafter only in Canada. The Bells released two US albums on Polydor, only the first of which charted.