The Dartells were an American early 1960s rock band from Oxnard, California, United States.[1]
The group formed in 1962 while its members were teens,[1] and won local attention under the umbrella of manager/record producer Tom Ayers. They released a single in 1962 entitled "Hot Pastrami", which was a takeoff of Nat Kendrick & the Swans' "Mashed Potatoes".[1] Dot Records picked the song up for national distribution, and it peaked at No. 11 on the US Pop[1] and No. 15 on the Hot R&B Singles chart in 1963.[2] The single was successful, and a Hot Pastrami album was released,[1] which hit No. 95 on the Billboard 200. Subsequent singles fared less well: "Dance Everybody Dance" peaked at No. 99 Pop, and the third single, "Clap Your Hands" (not to be confused with the Beau-Marks record with the same title), failed to chart.[3] The group split up shortly thereafter.[1]
Lead singer Doug Phillips later played in New Concepts and Cottonwood, neither of which enjoyed sustained success.[3] Some of the group's members later joined the short-lived late 1960s group, Rain.[3]