Allison sang second tenor in the quintet, which began performing as the El-Rays in 1952 while its members attended Thornton Township High School. The group later became known for its high, closely blended vocals and long run in rhythm and blues.

The Dells’ biggest hit, “Oh What a Night,” reached No. 3 on the charts in 1956. The song drew on a story about the group meeting young women at a Markham nightclub. The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame noted the group had 46 R&B hits between 1956 and 1992 before inducting it in 2004.

The band’s career also included touring and backing performances for artists including Jerry Butler and Etta James. The Dells stopped touring in 2009, after more than five decades together.

Allison’s son, Verne, recalled a 1966 Carnegie Hall performance where the Dells opened for Ray Charles. The group received standing ovations and five encores before Charles took the stage, his son said. Charles’ manager later asked the Dells where they wanted to be dropped off, a sign that the group had been dismissed from the tour. Allison would laugh about the episode in later years, his son said.

The younger Allison, a musician who performed with his father, described the group as one in which no member stood above the others. “The Dells did everything together,” he said, crediting that shared approach with helping them stay together for decades.

Allison lived in Flossmoor in recent years and enjoyed golf. He is survived by his son, daughter Sheila Allison Moore and three grandchildren. Funeral services are being planned.