R.I.P. Johnny Carter

[Sonic Youth]

Dells singer Carter dies aged 75
BBC News

Soul crooner Johnny Carter, who was a member of doo-wop groups The Dells and The Flamingos, has died aged 75. The musician, who was famed for his falsetto vocals, was one of the few artists to be inducted into the US Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with two acts.

He left The Flamingos in 1960 to join The Dells, performing on their best-known hit Oh What A Night. One of the band's last public concerts was in Chicago five years ago to celebrate their Hall of Fame induction.

The group toured extensively with Ray Charles, and later came under the tutelage of Quincy Jones, who broadened their singing repertoire. They served as advisers on 1991 film The Five Heartbeats, which was based on their career.

Carter performed lead falsetto on Oh What A Night, which was first recorded in 1954 but became a hit when it was reissued 15 years later. Their other notable hits included Stay In My Corner, which was one of the first R&B songs to run to six minutes.

Carter's first group The Flamingos were honoured with a Hall of Fame induction in 2000.