The Chantels were Arlene Smith (lead), Lois Harris, Sonia Goring, Jackie Landry, and Rene Minus, they all met at the St. Anthony of Padua school in the Bronx. All the girls were in the choir and cut their singing teeth with Lain hymns and Gregorian chants. It was the writing ability of lead singer Arlene Smith, her first song was He's Gone, that helped propel the young group forward, and with help and guidance form Richard Barrett, they were signed to George Goldner's End label. Their first release in summer of 1957 was, He's Gone / and another Smith composition The Plea. The above Maybe was recorded in a church with Richard Barrett playing piano, and although the writers credits on the record are Casey / Goldner it is in fact another of Arlene Smith's. The Chantels left End in 1959, Arlene Smith went solo, and most of the group moved to Gone records still under the guidance of Barrett, and continued to record as the Chantels.