Arlene Smith, lead singer of pioneering '50s girl group the Chantels, dies at 84

Arlene Smith, lead singer of the 1950s girl group the Chantels, died at 84 from a heart attack in a New York City hospital.

She co-wrote and sang lead on the 1958 doo-wop classic 'Maybe', a Top 20 hit that sold over 1 million copies.

The Chantels were among the first successful Black female vocal groups, paving the way for later girl groups like the Shirelles and the Ronettes.

'Maybe' was covered by Janis Joplin and the Three Degrees, and ranked No. 199 on Rolling Stone's 500 best songs list.

Smith left the Chantels in 1959 after the group's label went bankrupt; her later career faded, but she was inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2002.