(March 24, 2020) They were another of the great falsetto-led groups of the that bridged the transition between doo wop and soul. We are sad today to inform SoulTrackers of the death of James Mays, the bass singer of the talented trio The Van Dykes (seated at right in the picture)
The group was formed in Fort Worth, Texas by Mays along with lead singer Rondalis Tandy, Wenzon Mosley. The band scored a 1964 hit with the tender ballad, “No Man Is An Island.” They followed it with a string of attractive singles led by Tandy’s expressive tenor voice and the tight group harmonies, including “”I’ve Got To Go On,” and the Temptations-like upbeat number “Save My Love For a Rainy Day.”
The group had split by the end of the decade, but left behind a collection of songs that have become collectors’ favorites to this day. Rest in peace, Mr. Mays.