Arlene Smith: key obituary facts
Is Arlene Smith dead? Yes. Arlene Smith died on July 29, 2026, at age 84.
Cause of death: Arlene Smith's cause of death has not been publicly confirmed.
What was Arlene Smith known for?
Arlene Smith was an American singer.
More about Arlene Smith
Genres: Pop, doo wop, rock and roll.
Years active: 1957–1970, 1999-present.
Arlene Smith, an American singer best known as the lead vocalist of the Chantels, died on July 29, 2026, at age 84.
Smith helped establish the group in the Bronx while attending St. Anthony of Padua Church and school, and the Chantels went on to become one of the first African-American girl groups to achieve nationwide success.
Trained in classical music, she performed at Carnegie Hall at age 84 and later contributed both lyrics and music to the group’s work. The Chantels’ sound drew on pop, doo wop and rock and roll, and Smith remained identified with the quintet’s early rise in the late 1950s.