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	{{other uses\|Crest (disambiguation)}}		{{other uses\|Crest (disambiguation)}}
			{{multiple issues\|
	{{Infobox musical artist <!-- For groups; see Misplaced Pages:WikiProject_Musicians -->
			{{disputed\|date=January 2019}}
			{{COI\|date=July 2018}}
			{{More citations needed\|date=August 2010}}}}
			{{Use mdy dates\|date=October 2018}}
			{{Infobox musical artist
	\| name = The Crests		\| name = The Crests
	\| image =		\| image =
	\| alt =		\| alt =
			\| caption =
	\| caption = Top: The Original Crests with Luthur Vandross' sister (Left to Right: Patricia Vandross, Johnny Maestro, Harold Torres, Tommy Gough & J.T. Carter) Bottom: "16 Candles" lineup.
	\| image_size =		\| image_size =
	\| background = group_or_band		\| background = group_or_band
	\| alias =		\| alias =
	\| origin = ], ], ]		\| origin = ], ], U.S.
	\| genre = ], ], ]		\| genre = {{hlist\|]\|]\|]}}
	\| years_active = ~~1955–Present~~		\| years_active = {{hlist\|1954–1978\|1980–present}}
	\| label = ]		\| label = {{hlist\|]\|Joyce}}
	\| ~~associated_acts~~ =		\| website =
	\| ~~website~~ =		\| current_members =
			\| past_members =
	\| current_members = J.T. Carter <br> ] <br> D.R. Moyer <br> Ray Orta

	\| past_members = Patricia Van Dross <br> ] <br> Talmadge Gough <br> Harold Torres <br> James Ancrum <br> Gary Lewis
	}}		}}

	'''The Crests''' were an American ] group, formed by bass vocalist J.T. Carter in the mid 1950s. The group had several ] ] in the late 1950s and early 1960s on ]. Their most popular song, "]", rose to #2 on the ] ] in February 1959 selling over one million copies and earning a ].<ref name="The Book of Golden Discs">{{cite book
			'''The Crests''' are an American ] group, formed by bass vocalist J.T. Carter in the mid 1950s. The group had several ] ] in the late 1950s and early 1960s on ]. Their most popular song, "]", rose to #2 on the ] ] in February 1959 selling over one million copies and earning a ].<ref name="The Book of Golden Discs">{{cite book
	\| first= Joseph		\| first= Joseph
	\| last= Murrells		\| last= Murrells
Line 27:		Line 31:
	\| location= London		\| location= London
	\| page= 99		\| page= 99
	\| isbn= 0-214-20512-6}}</ref> The group's other hits include "Step By Step", "The Angels Listened In", "Trouble In Paradise", "Six Nights A Week", and "A Year Ago Tonight". The Crests were the ~~first~~ ~~interracially~~ mixed doo-wop ~~group~~, consisting of three ] members (one female), one ], and one ].		\| isbn= 0-214-20512-6}}</ref> The group's other hits include "Step By Step," "The Angels Listened In," "Trouble In Paradise," "Six Nights A Week," and "A Year Ago Tonight." The Crests were one of the earliest racially mixed doo wop groups, consisting of three ] members (one female), one ], named Harold Torres.and one ].

	==Career==		==Career==
	Founded by J.T. Carter, the group included Talmadge "Tommy" Gough (1939-2014), Harold "Chico" Torres (deceased) and Patricia ~~Vandross~~ (1943-1993) (older sister of R&B singer ]). Carter selected vocalist Johnny Mastrangelo (1939-2010) (shortened to Johnny Mastro and later to ]) as lead vocalist.		Founded by J.T. Carter, the group included Talmadge "Tommy" Gough (1939-2014), Harold "Chico" Torres (deceased) and Patricia Van Dross (1943-1993) (older sister of R&B singer ]). Carter selected vocalist Johnny Mastrangelo (1939-2010) (shortened to Johnny Mastro and later changed to ]) as lead vocalist.

	The Crests were discovered in 1956 while singing in a New York ~~subway~~ by the wife of orchestra leader Al Browne~~{{cn\|date=July 2018}}~~. Browne connected the group with Joyce Records where they recorded their first two songs, "My Juanita" and "Sweetest One".{{cn\|date=July 2018}}		The Crests were discovered in 1956 while singing in the ] by the wife of orchestra leader Al Browne. Browne connected the group with Joyce Records where they recorded their first two songs, "My Juanita" and "Sweetest One".{{citation needed\|date=July 2018}}

	In 1957, they charted with their first release, "Sweetest One", on Joyce Records.{{cn\|date=July 2018}}		In 1957, they charted with their first release, "Sweetest One", on Joyce Records.{{citation needed\|date=July 2018}}

	After recording two more singles for Joyce Records, Patricia ~~Vandross~~ left The Crests in 1958 to finish her education.{{cn\|date=July 2018}}		After recording two more singles for Joyce Records, Patricia Van Dross left The Crests in 1958 to finish her education.{{citation needed\|date=July 2018}}

	Their next single after "]" on COED Records was "Six Nights A Week" which hit #28 on the Billboard Hot 100 Charts and #17 on the R&B. Their next release "Flower Of Love" was bland compared to other Crests cuts and attained only a six-week run-up to #79.{{cn\|date=July 2018}}		Their next single after "]" on COED Records was "Six Nights A Week" which hit #28 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 Charts and #17 on the R&B. Their next release "Flower Of Love" was bland compared to other Crests cuts and attained only a six-week run-up to #79.{{citation needed\|date=July 2018}}

	From 1958 to 1960 the group was almost always on the road. In the late 1950s, The Crests performed on several national teen dance television shows, including '']'' and '']''. They appeared seven times on the latter.{{cn\|date=July 2018}}		From 1958 to 1960 the group was almost always on the road. In the late 1950s, The Crests performed on several national teen dance television shows, including '']'' and '']''. They appeared seven times on the latter.{{citation needed\|date=July 2018}}

	In 1961, The Crests recorded a new single, "Little Miracles", with ], lead singer of ], singing lead; it was their first single not to chart in the Top 100. Gough quit the group after the single, moving to ], to work for auto giant ], and was replaced by Gary "Kit" Lewis (not to be confused with Gary Lewis of ] fame).{{cn\|date=July 2018}}		In 1961, The Crests recorded a new single, "Little Miracles", with ], lead singer of ], singing lead; it was their first single not to chart in the Top 100. Gough quit the group after the single, moving to ], to work for auto giant ], and was replaced by Gary "Kit" Lewis (not to be confused with Gary Lewis of ] fame).{{citation needed\|date=July 2018}}

	Maestro recorded with other backup singers under the name "Johnny Maestro & The Crests", producing a single for ] in 1962, two singles for ] in ~~1963-64~~, a single for APT Records in 1965, a single for ] in 1965, and three singles for the ] label in 1966.{{cn\|date=July 2018}}		Maestro recorded with other backup singers under the name "Johnny Maestro & The Crests", producing a single for ] in 1962, two singles for ] in 1963–64, a single for APT Records in 1965, a single for ] in 1965, and three singles for the ] label in 1966.{{citation needed\|date=July 2018}}

	James Ancrum then took over the lead, recording "Guilty" in January 1962 and charting only to #123. The group went back to touring when their 1963 Selma side "Did I Remember?" flopped. A 1964 sequel to "16 Candles", "You Blew Out The Candles", also was not successful.<ref> {{webarchive\|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060508173142/http://members.aol.com/lulusko/east3.htm\|date=May 8, 2006}}</ref>		James Ancrum then took over the lead, recording "Guilty" in January 1962 and charting only to #123. The group went back to touring when their 1963 Selma side "Did I Remember?" flopped. A 1964 sequel to "16 Candles", "You Blew Out The Candles", also was not successful.<ref> {{webarchive\|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060508173142/http://members.aol.com/lulusko/east3.htm\|date=May 8, 2006}}</ref>

	In 1965, J.T. Carter and Mel Tillison signed with Decca Records and were chosen to be the potential artists of the year to come. Carter wrote, "Closer To Your Heart" and "The Wild Ones", originally written for Jordan Christopher's group The Wild Ones. Internal problems prevented Decca from securing the worldwide release of these recordings and the company folded, leaving all their artists in limbo.{{cn\|date=July 2018}}		In 1965, J.T. Carter and Mel Tillison signed with Decca Records and were chosen to be the potential artists of the year to come. Carter wrote, "Closer To Your Heart" and "The Wild Ones", originally written for Jordan Christopher's group The Wild Ones. Internal problems prevented Decca from securing the worldwide release of these recordings and the company folded, leaving all their artists in limbo.{{citation needed\|date=July 2018}}

	By 1968, Johnny Maestro had joined with ] as their lead singer and merged with The Rhythm Method in March 1968 to become ]. In 1969, they had a #3 hit with "]."{{cn\|date=July 2018}} By that time Torres was gone;{{cn\|date=July 2018}} the group continued as a trio of Carter, Ancrum, and Lewis and became a lounge act, disbanding in 1978.{{cn\|date=July 2018}} Carter went to sing with ]' ] for a year, then moved to ], to teach voice and set up his own recording studio.{{cn\|date=July 2018}}		By 1968, Johnny Maestro had joined with ] as their lead singer and merged with The Rhythm Method in March 1968 to become ]. In 1969, they had a #3 hit with "]."

			By then Torres was gone, he had moved to upstate New York and became a jeweler,<ref>{{Cite book\|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mTM_9JTeoMIC&q=the+crests+american+singing+group+harold+torres+moved+to+upstate+new+york+jeweler&pg=PA130\|title=American Singing Groups: A History from 1940s to Today\|isbn=9780634099786\|last1=Warner\|first1=Jay\|year=2006\|publisher=Hal Leonard Corporation }}</ref> but the group continued as a trio of Carter, Ancrum, and Lewis and had become a lounge act, disbanding in 1978. Carter went to sing with ]' ] for a year, then moved to ] to teach voice and set up his own recording studio. Lewis later joined ].
	In 1973, Carter met his wife Leona, an accomplished classical pianist/composer. Leona Carter has been a part of The Crests since then.{{cn\|date=July 2018}}

			In 1973, Carter met his wife Leona, an accomplished classical pianist/composer. Leona Carter has been a part of The Crests since then.
	Carter reformed The Crests in 1980, auditioning over 200 singers at his studio, finally settling on lead Bill Damon (a Maestro sound-alike), Greg Sereck, Dennis Ray and New York drummer, Jon Ihle. The group continued well into the 1990s and toured with a five-piece band including Leona Carter on keys.{{cn\|date=July 2018}}

			Carter reformed The Crests in 1980, auditioning over 200 singers at his studio, finally settling on lead Bill Damon (a Maestro sound-alike), Greg Sereck, Dennis Ray and New York drummer, Jon Ihle. The group continued well into the 1990s and toured with a five-piece band including Leona Carter on keys.{{citation needed\|date=July 2018}}
	The 1984 ]' teen film '']'' took its title from The Crests' song, which was re-recorded by ] for the''Sixteen Candles'' soundtrack.{{cn\|date=July 2018}}

			In 1982 JT Carter created yet another re-incarnation of "The Crests" recruiting singing/keyboardist, Bill Pascali, taking the place of Johnnie Maestro on vocals and Guy Boise on Drums. They toured from New Jersey to New Zealand on a 6 month tour excursion. Shortly after Pascali's return to the States, he moved onto Randy and the Rainbows.
	In June 1987, for a concert in ], Maestro, Carter, Torres, and Gough (The Original Crests) reunited as "The Crests", which was organized by Carter.{{cn\|date=July 2018}}

			The 1984 ]' teen film '']'' took its title from The Crests' song, which was re-recorded by ] for the '']'' soundtrack.{{citation needed\|date=July 2018}}
	From 1990-2010, Johnny Maestro invited Carter to join him and The Brooklyn Bridge to record with them and to re-record some of their greatest hits.{{cn\|date=July 2018}}

			In June 1987, for a concert in ], Maestro, Carter, Torres, and Gough (The Original Crests) reunited as "The Crests", which was organized by Carter.{{citation needed\|date=July 2018}}
	From the late 2000s until the early 2010s, Carter's group consisted of Carter, Carter's wife Leona, Barry Newman and Terry King (formerly of The Drifters). They later became Carter, Newman, King & Richie Merritt (formerly of The Clovers and The Marcels) instead of Carter's wife. Michael D'Amore also sang with this lineup for a time.{{cn\|date=July 2018}}

			From 1990 to 2010, Johnny Maestro invited Carter to join him and The Brooklyn Bridge to record with them and to re-record some of their greatest hits.{{citation needed\|date=July 2018}}
	In April 2010, the Los Angeles-based rights-management firm Beach Road Music, LLC, acquired the Coed Records catalog, subsequently re-releasing The Crests' song "The Great Physician" on the 2011 compilation album ''From The Vault: The Coed Records Lost Master Tapes, Volume 1''. "The Great Physician" was originally released in 1960 as Coed 527, under the pseudonym "Johnny Masters" in an attempt to boost Maestro as a solo performer.{{cn\|date=July 2018}}

			From the late 2000s until the early 2010s, Carter's group consisted of Carter, Carter's wife Leona, Barry Newman and Terry King (formerly of The Drifters). They later became Carter, Newman, King & Richie Merritt (formerly of The Clovers and ]) instead of Carter's wife. Michael D'Amore also sang with this lineup for a time.{{citation needed\|date=July 2018}}
	On November 12, 2013, Carter was recognized on the ] State House Floor by Speaker ] and State Representative Rosemary M. Brown for a lifetime in music and as the first ] to form an interracial vocal group in the ].<ref name="pikecountycourier.com">{{cite web\|url=http://pikecountycourier.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20140102%2FNEWS01%2F140109997%2F0%2FSEARCH \|title=Blow out the candles for J.T. Carter \| Milford PA \| Local News \|publisher=Pikecountycourier.com \|date=2014-01-02 \|accessdate=2014-08-11}}</ref>

			In April 2010, the Los Angeles-based rights-management firm Beach Road Music, LLC, acquired the Coed Records catalog, subsequently re-releasing The Crests' song "The Great Physician" on the 2011 compilation album ''From The Vault: The Coed Records Lost Master Tapes, Volume 1''. "The Great Physician" was originally released in 1960 as Coed 527, under the pseudonym "Johnny Masters" in an attempt to boost Maestro as a solo performer.<ref>Baptista, Todd (March 2011). "Lost and Found", '']'', Volume 37, Issue 797, Page 97.</ref>{{citation needed\|date=July 2018}}
	In 2013, Carter also appeared on the 1st Annual ] Reunion concert with ] aka ],<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/barry-newman-j-t-carter-of-the-crests-and-bruce-morrow-news-photo/171193065 \|title=Barry Newman JT Carter of the Crests and Bruce Morrow attend the... News Photo 171193065 \|publisher=Getty Images \|date=2013-06-22 \|accessdate=2014-08-11}}</ref> broadcast live on ] ]. Other performers included ], ], ] and ]. Carter was also asked to return two years later for Cousin Brucie's 3rd Annual Palisades Park Reunion concert.

			On November 12, 2013, Carter was recognized on the ] State House Floor for a lifetime in music and as the first ] to form an interracial vocal group in the ].<ref name="pikecountycourier.com">{{cite web \|last=Privitar \|first=Ginny \|url=http://pikecountycourier.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20140102%2FNEWS01%2F140109997%2F0%2FSEARCH \|title=Blow out the candles for J.T. Carter \| Milford PA \| Local News \|publisher=Pikecountycourier.com \|date=January 2, 2014 \|access-date=October 6, 2018}}</ref>
	In January of 2014, Carter interviewed ] on the ] network.{{cn\|date=July 2018}}

			In 2013, Carter also appeared on the 1st Annual ] Reunion concert with ] aka ],<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/barry-newman-j-t-carter-of-the-crests-and-bruce-morrow-news-photo/171193065 \|title=Barry Newman JT Carter of the Crests and Bruce Morrow attend the... News Photo 171193065 \|publisher=Getty Images \|date=June 22, 2013 \|access-date=October 6, 2018}}</ref> broadcast live on ] ]. Other performers included ], ], ] and ].<ref>{{cite web\|last=Hinkley \|first=David \|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/music-arts/cousin-bruce-host-oldies-show-state-fair-meadowlands-east-rutherford-n-article-1.1373084 \|title=Radio legend Bruce Morrow will host 'Cousin Brucie's First Annual Palisades Park Reunion' on Saturday at State Fair Meadowlands in N.J. \|work=] \|date=June 17, 2013 \|access-date=October 6, 2018}}</ref> Carter was also asked to return two years later for Cousin Brucie's 3rd Annual Palisades Park Reunion concert.
	In 2014, Carter also began production on "American Classics: The Stars, Music and Cars", a TV show featuring the music and cars of the 1950s and 1960s, produced by ] winner Ashley Russo.<ref>{{cite web\|author=Roseanne Bottone \|url=http://www.poconorecord.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20140725%2FNEWS%2F407250325%2F0%2Fwap \|title=Bushkill doo-wop legend joins TV show celebrating classic music, cars \|publisher=poconorecord.com \|date=2014-07-25 \|accessdate=2015-08-17}}</ref>

	In ~~March~~ ~~of 2015~~, Carter ~~was~~ ~~accepted~~ as a ~~member of~~ ].{{cn\|date=July 2018}}		In January 2014, Carter interviewed ] on the ] network.{{citation needed\|date=July 2018}}

			In 2014, Carter also began production on "American Classics: The Stars, Music and Cars", a TV show featuring the music and cars of the 1950s and 1960s, produced by ] winner Ashley Russo.<ref>{{cite web\|last=Bottone \|first=Roseanne \|url=http://www.poconorecord.com/article/20140725/news/407250325 \|title=Bushkill doo-wop legend joins TV show celebrating classic music, cars \|work=Pocono Record \|date=July 25, 2014 \|access-date=October 6, 2018}}</ref>
	In 2016, Carter performed as J.T. Carter's Crests, based on provisions of the ]. Carter's new lineup included Carter back with ], plus Ken Boulden (formerly of Solid Gold) and one other member, who was replaced by Russell Gore, Jr., (former lead singer of ]) after their first show. J.T. Carter's Crests held their first concert in ], on July 16, 2016, to a sold-out crowd and received standing ovations.<ref>{{cite web\|author=Roseanne Bottone \|url=http://www.poconorecord.com/article/20160215/NEWS/160219671/0/SEARCH\|title=Music legends collaborating on a medley of memories\|publisher=poconorecord.com}}</ref>

			In March 2015, Carter was accepted as a member of ].{{citation needed\|date=July 2018}}
	As of 2018, Carter was still performing throughout the US and Canada, appearing with ] and his ] on occasion.<ref name="pikecountycourier.com"/><ref name="poconorecord.com">{{cite web\|author=Roseanne Bottone \|url=http://www.poconorecord.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20140103%2FNEWS13%2F401030356&cid=sitesearch \|title=J.T. Carter says glory years with the Crests remain popular \|publisher=PoconoRecord.com \|date=2014-01-03 \|accessdate=2014-08-11}}</ref><ref>{{cite web\|author=Andrew Scott \|url=http://www.poconorecord.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120903/NEWS/1010366 \|title=J.T. Carter, an original member of doo-wop's the Crests, still living in harmony \|publisher=PoconoRecord.com \|date=2012-09-03 \|accessdate=2014-08-11}}</ref><ref>{{cite web\|author= \|url=http://www.prlog.org/12238340-crests-legend-and-originator-jt-carter-to-be-recognized-on-the-house-floor-of-the-pa-state-capital.html \|title=Crests Legend and Originator, J.T. Carter to be recognized on the House Floor of the PA State Capital \|publisher=PRLog \|date= \|accessdate=2014-08-11}}</ref><ref>{{cite web\|url=http://classicurbanharmony.net/Crests%20Article%20Web%20106.pdf \|title=The Johnny Maestro Story \|publisher=Classicurbanharmony.net \|accessdate=2014-08-11}}</ref>

			In 2016, Carter performed as J.T. Carter's Crests, based on provisions of the ]. Carter's new lineup included Carter back with ], plus Ken Boulden aka Kenny Grey(formerly of Solid Gold) and one other member, who was replaced by Russell Gore, Jr., (former lead singer of ]) after their first show. J.T. Carter's Crests held their first concert in ], on July 16, 2016, to a sold-out crowd and received standing ovations.<ref>{{cite web\|last=Bottone \|first=Roseanne \|url=http://www.poconorecord.com/article/20160215/NEWS/160219671/0/SEARCH \|title=Music legends collaborating on a medley of memories \|work=Pocono Record \|date=February 15, 2016}}</ref>
	In March of 2018 at the age of 76, Carter appeared on the PBS Music special "My Music: Doo Wop Generations", which was aired nationally. ], ] and ] hosted the event. The event was structured to feature new young doo-wop talent, and had ] in the role of the famed vocalist, Johnny Maestro. Over 20 million people tuned in.<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://eakrollproductions.com/solo/jt-carter/\|title=J.T. Carter's Crests \|publisher=EA Kroll Productions \|accessdate=2018-04-09}}</ref>

			In March 2018 at the age of 76, Carter appeared on the PBS Music special "My Music: Doo Wop Generations", which was aired nationally. ], ] and ] hosted the event. The event was structured to feature new young doo-wop talent, and featured Peter Lemongello, Jr. Over 20 million people tuned in.<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://eakrollproductions.com/solo/jt-carter/\|title=J.T. Carter's Crests \|date=November 22, 2013 \|publisher=EA Kroll Productions \|access-date=April 9, 2018}}</ref>
	==J.T. Carter's Crests 2017 to Present==

			==Later career==
	On August 4, 2017, J.T. Carter came together with a new group of "Crests", consisting of 17-year-old lead, Peter Lemongello, Jr. (son of ]), and tenors Joe Rivera (formerly of ]) and Luis Mercado of The Fabulaires, to perform in an R&B music festival in Indian Head, Maryland, the following day. After only one show, Mercado was replaced by D.R. Moyer, who had sung with a number of groups including ], ], The Paragons and ].<ref>{{cite web\|url=https://www.swinginsoiree.com/crests \|title=J.T. Carter's Crests \|accessdate=2018-01-09}}</ref> Former ] member Ray Orta was also called in as a fill-in replacement for Joe Rivera.
			On December 12, 2017, J.T. Carter's Crests performed at ] in ], along with over 40 other groups from the 1950s and '60s, as part of ]'s new ] TV Special, "Doo Wop Generations" (part of the "My Music" series). The special aired nationally in the US on PBS on March 3, 2018.

	On December 12, 2017, J.T. Carter's Crests performed at ] in ], along with over 40 other groups from the 1950s and '60s, as part of ] new ] TV Special, "Doo Wop Generations" (part of the "My Music" series). The special aired nationally in the US on PBS on March 3, 2018.

	The group was featured singing "The Angels Listened In" on the PBS television broadcast, as well as "Step By Step" listed on the CD/DVD track listing.		The group was featured singing "The Angels Listened In" on the PBS television broadcast, as well as "Step By Step" listed on the CD/DVD track listing.

			On September 22, 2018, J.T. Carter's Crests appeared at The ] in ] on the first ever "] ] Reunion Jubilee of Stars." Also appearing on the bill were ] & ], ] & ], ], ], ], The Knockouts & Kid Kyle. Every group featured one original member who actually played at the Paramount. The Crests left the stage with two standing ovations and received global publicity. At the end, J.T. Carter was presented an award as the last surviving original founding member of The Crests.
	==Death of original members==
	Patricia Vandross died of complications from diabetes in 1993.

			On October 23, 2018, JT Carter announced in an interview on ] that he was no longer working with Peter Lemongello, Jr. at the present time, claiming that they had "different interests".<ref>{{cite interview \|last=Carter \|first=J. T. \|interviewer=Charlie Stinchcomb \|title=Voices From the Hallway: J. T. Carter \|work=] \|publisher=] \|location=Worton, Maryland \|date=October 23, 2018}}</ref>
	Harold "Chico" Torres died sometime in the early 2000s in upstate ].

			As of 2018, Carter was still performing throughout the US and Canada, appearing with ] and his ] on occasion.<ref name="pikecountycourier.com"/><ref name="poconorecord.com">{{cite web\|last=Bottone \|first=Roseanne \|url=http://www.poconorecord.com/article/20140103/NEWS13/401030356 \|title=J.T. Carter says glory years with the Crests remain popular \|work=Pocono Record \|date=January 3, 2014 \|access-date=August 11, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web\|last=Scott \|first=Andrew \|url=http://www.poconorecord.com/article/20120903/NEWS/1010366 \|title=J.T. Carter, an original member of doo-wop's the Crests, still living in harmony \|work=Pocono Record \|date=September 3, 2012 \|access-date=2014-08-11}}</ref><ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.prlog.org/12238340-crests-legend-and-originator-jt-carter-to-be-recognized-on-the-house-floor-of-the-pa-state-capital.html \|title=Crests Legend and Originator, J.T. Carter to be recognized on the House Floor of the PA State Capital \|publisher=PRLog \|date=November 7, 2013 \|access-date=August 11, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web\|url=http://classicurbanharmony.net/Crests%20Article%20Web%20106.pdf \|title=The Johnny Maestro Story \|publisher=Classicurbanharmony.net \|access-date=August 11, 2014}}</ref>
	Johnny Maestro (born John Peter Mastrangelo, May 7, 1939, ]) lived in ], until 2003. He died of cancer on March 24, 2010, at his home in ]. He was 70.<ref>{{cite news\|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/26/arts/music/26maestro.html?_r=1 \|title=Johnny Maestro, Brooklyn Bridge Singer, Dies at 70 \|author=Dennis Hevesi \|newspaper=] \|date=March 26, 2010 \|accessdate=2012-10-18 \|subscription=yes}}</ref>

			==Death of original members==
	Tommy Gough (born Talmadge E. Gough, October 15, 1939, ]) died of throat cancer on August 24, 2014, at his home in ]. He was 74.<ref>{{cite news\|last= \|first= \|title= Mr. Talmadge E. Gough\|url= http://www.lawrenceemoonfuneralhome.com/obituaries/Talmadge-Gough/#!/Obituary \|accessdate=April 28, 2015\|publisher= \|date= }}</ref><ref>{{cite news\|last= \|first= \|title= Passings: Tommy Gough of the Crests\|url= http://www.vintagevinylnews.com/2014/08/passings-tommy-gough-of-crests.html \|accessdate=April 28, 2015\|publisher= \|date= }}</ref>
			Patricia Vandross died of complications from diabetes in 1993 when she was 50.<ref>{{cite web\|last=Prince \|first=Patrick \|url=http://www.goldminemag.com/features/spend-time-in-the-presence-of-a-master-johnny-maestro \|title=Spend time in the presence of a master: Johnny Maestro \|work=] \|date=April 19, 2011 \|access-date=October 6, 2018}}</ref>

			Johnny Maestro (born John Peter Mastrangelo, May 7, 1939, ]) lived in ], until 2003. He died of cancer on March 24, 2010, at his home in ] when he was 70.<ref>{{cite news\|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/26/arts/music/26maestro.html?_r=1 \|title=Johnny Maestro, Brooklyn Bridge Singer, Dies at 70 \|last=Havesi \|first=Dennis \|newspaper=] \|date=March 26, 2010 \|access-date=October 6, 2018 \|url-access=subscription}}</ref>
	==Awards and recognition==
	The Crests were inducted into the United in Group Harmony Association (UGHA) Hall of Fame in 2000.

			Tommy Gough (born Talmadge E. Gough, October 15, 1939, ]) died of throat cancer on August 24, 2014, at his home in ] when he was 74.<ref>{{cite news\|title= Mr. Talmadge E. Gough Obituary \|url=http://www.lawrenceemoonfuneralhome.com/obituaries/Talmadge-Gough/#!/Obituary \|access-date=April 28, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news\|title= Passings: Tommy Gough of the Crests \|url= http://www.vintagevinylnews.com/2014/08/passings-tommy-gough-of-crests.html \|access-date=April 28, 2015\|publisher= VVN Music }}</ref>
	The Crests were inducted into The ] in 2004.

			Harold "Chico" Torres later became a handyman and moved back to New York City. He died in Brooklyn on July 18, 2024.<ref>{{cite web \|title=We mourn the passing of Harold Torres, original member of the Crests, on July 18, 2024. \|url=https://www.facebook.com/PopRockDooWopp/posts/pfbid0YfDZyYNe75vzbZ6rySSfeu5gbrKtfTtHLKwArGwwCSHC4mVEZ1Srbxp9V587iEF4l \|website=Pop, Rock & Doo Wopp on Facebook \|access-date=23 July 2024 \|date=21 July 2024}}</ref>
	The Crests were inducted into The Doo Wop Hall of Fame in 2008.

			==Awards and recognition==
	The Crests were inducted into The Doo Wop Music Hall of Fame in 2015.
			The Crests were inducted into the United in Group Harmony Association (UGHA) Hall of Fame in 2000. The Crests were inducted into The ] in 2004. The Crests were inducted into The Doo Wop Hall of Fame in 2008. The Crests were inducted into The Doo Wop Music Hall of Fame in 2015.{{citation needed\|date=January 2019}}

	On May 9, 2012, Johnny Maestro was honored by the House of Representatives of the United States of America. Congressman ] of New York, whose district includes the neighborhood where Maestro was born and where he began his music career, introduced an Extension of Remarks in the House of Representatives. This posthumous honor is now a permanent part of the Congressional Record. The Extension of Remarks includes the original members of The Crests.<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CREC-2012-05-09/pdf/CREC-2012-05-09-pt1-PgE748.pdf\|title=Congressional Record – Extension of Remarks \|date=May 9, 2012 \|publisher=~~Gpo.gov~~ \|~~accessdate=2012~~-~~10-18~~}}</ref>		On May 9, 2012, Johnny Maestro was honored by the House of Representatives of the United States of America. Congressman ] of New York, whose district includes the neighborhood where Maestro was born and where he began his music career, introduced an Extension of Remarks in the House of Representatives. This posthumous honor is now a permanent part of the Congressional Record. The Extension of Remarks includes the original members of The Crests.<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CREC-2012-05-09/pdf/CREC-2012-05-09-pt1-PgE748.pdf\|title=Congressional Record – Extension of Remarks \|date=May 9, 2012 \|publisher=] \|access-date=October 6, 2018}}</ref>

	On November 12, 2013, J.T. Carter was honored by the ] State House, ] ], and PA State Representative ], for his lifetime in the music industry and for being the first ] to form an interracial vocal group in the ]. Carter was officially recognized on the state house floor.<ref name="pikecountycourier.com"/><ref name="poconorecord.com"/>		On November 12, 2013, J.T. Carter was honored by the ] State House, ] ], and PA State Representative ], for his lifetime in the music industry and for being the first ] to form an interracial vocal group in the ]. Carter was officially recognized on the state house floor.<ref name="pikecountycourier.com"/><ref name="poconorecord.com"/>
Line 117:		Line 120:

	==Discography==		==Discography==
	{\| class="wikitable"		{\| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
	\|-		\|-
	! rowspan="2"\| ~~Year~~		! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:20em;"\| Title
	! rowspan="2"\| ~~Title~~		! scope="col" rowspan="2"\| Year
	! colspan="2"\| ~~Chart~~ positions		! scope="col" colspan="3"\| Peak chart positions
	! rowspan="2"\| Record ~~Label~~		! scope="col" rowspan="2"\| Record label
	! rowspan="2"\| Notes		! scope="col" rowspan="2"\| Notes
	\|-		\|-
	! style="width:~~45px~~;"\|~~<small>~~]~~</small>~~		! scope="col" style="width:3.5em;font-size:90%;"\| ]
	! style="width:~~45px~~;"\|~~<small>~~US R&B~~</small>~~		! scope="col" style="width:3.5em;font-size:90%;"\| US R&B
			! scope="col" style="width:3.5em;font-size:90%;"\| ]<ref>{{cite web\|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060208100626/http://www.1050chum.com/index_chumcharts.aspx?artist=9146\| title=CHUM results}}</ref>
	\|-		\|-
			!scope="row"\| '''A:''' "Sweetest One"<br />'''B:''' "My Juanita"
	\| rowspan="2"\| 1957
			\| 1957
	\| '''A:''' "Sweetest One" <br> '''B:''' "My Juanita"
			\| 86
	\| style="text-align:center;"\| 86
			\| —
	\| style="text-align:center;"\| —
			\| —
	\| rowspan="2" style="text-align:center;"\| Joyce
			\| rowspan="2"\| Joyce
	\| Recorded in early 1957 <br> Recorded in early 1957
			\| Recorded in early 1957<br />Recorded in early 1957
	\|-		\|-
	\| '''A:''' "No One To Love" <br> '''B:''' "Wish She Was Mine"		!scope="row"\| '''A:''' "No One To Love"<br />'''B:''' "Wish She Was Mine"
			\| 1957
	\| style="text-align:center;"\| —
			\| —
	\| style="text-align:center;"\| —
			\| —
	\| Recorded on May 22, 1957 <br> Recorded on May 22, 1957
			\| —
			\| Recorded on May 22, 1957<br />Recorded on May 22, 1957
	\|-		\|-
			!scope="row"\| '''A:''' "Pretty Little Angel"<br />'''B:''' "I Thank The Moon"
	\| rowspan="2"\| 1958
			\| 1958
	\| '''A:''' "Pretty Little Angel" <br> '''B:''' "I Thank The Moon"
			\| —
	\| style="text-align:center;"\| —
			\| —
	\| style="text-align:center;"\| —
			\| —
	\| rowspan="15" style="text-align:center;"\| Coed
			\| rowspan="15"\| Coed
	\| Recorded on June 25, 1958 <br> Recorded on June 25, 1958
			\| Recorded on June 25, 1958<br />Recorded on June 25, 1958
	\|-		\|-
	\| '''A:''' "]" (~~Originally~~ the B ~~Side~~) <br> '''B:''' "Beside You"		!scope="row"\| '''A:''' "]" (originally the B-side)<br />'''B:''' "Beside You"
			\| 1958
	\| style="text-align:center;"\| 2
			\| 2
	\| style="text-align:center;"\| 4
			\| 4
	\| Recorded on August 12, 1958 <br> Recorded on June 25, 1958
			\| 5
			\| Recorded on August 12, 1958<br />Recorded on June 25, 1958
	\|-		\|-
			!scope="row"\| '''A:''' "Six Nights A Week"<br />'''B:''' "I Do"
	\| rowspan="4"\| 1959
			\| 1959
	\| '''A:''' "Six Nights A Week" <br> '''B:''' "I Do"
			\| 28
	\| style="text-align:center;"\| 28
			\| 17
	\| style="text-align:center;"\| 17
			\| 24
	\| Recorded on January 14, 1959 <br> Recorded on January 14, 1959
			\| Recorded on January 14, 1959<br />Recorded on January 14, 1959
	\|-		\|-
	\| '''A:''' "Flower Of Love" <br> '''B:''' "Molly Mae"		!scope="row"\| '''A:''' "Flower Of Love"<br />'''B:''' "Molly Mae"
			\| 1959
	\| style="text-align:center;"\| 79
			\| 79
	\| style="text-align:center;"\| —
			\| —
	\| Recorded on January 14, 1959 <br> Recorded on August 12, 1958
			\| —
			\| Recorded on January 14, 1959<br />Recorded on August 12, 1958
	\|-		\|-
	\| '''A:''' "The Angels Listened In" <br> '''B:''' "I Thank The Moon"		!scope="row"\| '''A:''' "The Angels Listened In"<br />'''B:''' "I Thank The Moon"
			\| 1959
	\| style="text-align:center;"\| 22
			\| 22
	\| style="text-align:center;"\| 14
			\| 14
	\| Recorded on March 24, 1959 <br> Recorded on June 25, 1958
			\| 6
			\| Recorded on March 24, 1959<br />Recorded on June 25, 1958
	\|-		\|-
	\| '''A:''' "A Year Ago Tonight" <br> '''B:''' "Paper Crown"		!scope="row"\| '''A:''' "A Year Ago Tonight"<br />'''B:''' "Paper Crown"
			\| 1959
	\| style="text-align:center;"\| 42
			\| 42
	\| style="text-align:center;"\| —
			\| —
	\| Recorded on October 11, 1959 <br> Recorded on October 11, 1959
			\| —
			\| Recorded on October 11, 1959<br />Recorded on October 11, 1959
	\|-		\|-
			!scope="row"\| '''A:''' "Step By Step"<br />'''B:''' "Gee (But I'd Give The World)"
	\| rowspan="6"\| 1960
			\| 1960
	\| '''A:''' "Step By Step" <br> '''B:''' "Gee (But I'd Give The World)"
			\| 14
	\| style="text-align:center;"\| 14
			\| —
	\| style="text-align:center;"\| —
			\| 12
	\| Recorded on January 18, 1960 <br> Recorded on January 18, 1960
			\| Recorded on January 18, 1960<br />Recorded on January 18, 1960
	\|-		\|-
	\| '''A:''' "Trouble In Paradise" <br> '''B:''' "Always You"		!scope="row"\| '''A:''' "Trouble In Paradise"<br />'''B:''' "Always You"
			\| 1960
	\| style="text-align:center;"\| 20
			\| 20
	\| style="text-align:center;"\| —
			\| —
	\| Recorded on May 4, 1960 <br> Recorded on May 04, 1960
			\| 11
			\| Recorded on May 4, 1960<br />Recorded on May 04, 1960
	\|-		\|-
	\| '''A:''' "Journey Of Love" <br> '''B:''' "If My Heart Could Write A Letter"		!scope="row"\| '''A:''' "Journey Of Love"<br />'''B:''' "If My Heart Could Write A Letter"
			\| 1960
	\| style="text-align:center;"\| 81
			\| 81
	\| style="text-align:center;"\| —
			\| —
	\| Recorded on January 18, 1960 <br> Recorded on May 04, 1960
			\| —
			\| Recorded on January 18, 1960<br />Recorded on May 04, 1960
	\|-		\|-
	\| '''A:''' "Isn't It Amazing" <br> '''B:''' "Molly Mae"		!scope="row"\| '''A:''' "Isn't It Amazing"<br />'''B:''' "Molly Mae"
			\| 1960
	\| style="text-align:center;"\| 100
			\| 100
	\| style="text-align:center;"\| —
			\| —
	\| Recorded on May 4, 1960 <br> Recorded on August 12, 1958
			\| —
			\| Recorded on May 4, 1960<br />Recorded on August 12, 1958
	\|-		\|-
	\| '''A:''' "]" <br> '''B:''' "Good Golly Miss Molly"		!scope="row"\| '''A:''' "]"<br />'''B:''' "Good Golly Miss Molly"
			\| 1960
	\| style="text-align:center;"\| 102
			\| —
	\| style="text-align:center;"\| —
			\| —
	\| <br> Recorded on March 24, 1959
			\| —
			\|<br />Recorded on March 24, 1959
	\|-		\|-
	\| '''A:''' "Say It Isn't So" <br> '''B:''' "The Great Physician"		!scope="row"\| '''A:''' "Say It Isn't So"<br />'''B:''' "The Great Physician"
			\| 1960
	\| style="text-align:center;"\| —
			\| —
	\| style="text-align:center;"\| —
			\| —
	\| Recorded on January 18, 1960 <br> Recorded on January 18, 1960
			\| —
			\| Recorded on January 18, 1960<br />Recorded on January 18, 1960
	\|-		\|-
			!scope="row"\| '''A:''' "Model Girl"<br />'''B:''' "We've Got To Tell Them"
	\| rowspan="3"\| 1961
			\| 1961
	\| '''A:''' "Model Girl" <br> '''B:''' "We've Got To Tell Them"
			\| 20
	\| style="text-align:center;"\| 20
			\| —
	\| style="text-align:center;"\| —
			\| —
	\| Recorded on December 29, 1960 <br> Recorded on December 29, 1960
			\| Recorded on December 29, 1960<br />Recorded on December 29, 1960
	\|-		\|-
	\| '''A:''' "What A Surprise" <br> '''B:''' "The Warning Voice"		!scope="row"\| '''A:''' "What A Surprise"<br />'''B:''' "The Warning Voice"
			\| 1961
	\| style="text-align:center;"\| 33
			\| 33
	\| style="text-align:center;"\| —
			\| —
	\| Recorded on December 19, 1960 <br> Recorded on December 29, 1960
			\| —
			\| Recorded on December 19, 1960<br />Recorded on December 29, 1960
	\|-		\|-
	\| '''A:''' "Little Miracles" <br> '''B:''' "Baby I Gotta' Know"		!scope="row"\| '''A:''' "Little Miracles"<br />'''B:''' "Baby I Gotta' Know"
			\| 1961
	\| style="text-align:center;"\| —
			\| —
	\| style="text-align:center;"\| —
			\| —
	\| Recorded Autumn 1961 - Released December 1961 - Tony Middleton singing lead
			\| —
			\| Recorded late 1961, released December 1961;<br />Tony Middleton singing lead
	\|-		\|-
			!scope="row"\| '''A:''' "The Actor"<br />'''B:''' "Three Tears In A Bucket"
	\| rowspan="2"\| 1962
			\| 1962
	\| '''A:''' "The Actor" <br> '''B:''' “Three Tears In A Bucket”
			\| —
	\| style="text-align:center;"\| —
			\| —
	\| style="text-align:center;"\| —
			\| —
	\| style="text-align:center;"\| Trans Atlas
			\| Trans Atlas
	\| James Ancrum singing lead		\| James Ancrum singing lead
	\|-		\|-
	\| '''A:''' "]" <br> '''B:''' "Number One With Me"		!scope="row"\| '''A:''' "]"<br />'''B:''' "Number One With Me"
			\| 1962
	\| style="text-align:center;"\| 123
			\| —
	\| style="text-align:center;"\| —
			\| —
	\| rowspan="2" style="text-align:center;"\| Selma
			\| —
			\| rowspan="2"\| Selma
	\| James Ancrum singing lead		\| James Ancrum singing lead
	\|-		\|-
			!scope="row"\| '''A:''' "Did I Remember"<br />'''B:''' "Tears Will Fall"
	\| 1963		\| 1963
			\| —
	\| '''A:''' "Did I Remember" <br> '''B:''' "Tears Will Fall"
			\| —
	\| style="text-align:center;"\| —
			\| —
	\| style="text-align:center;"\| —
	\| James Ancrum singing lead		\| James Ancrum singing lead
	\|-		\|-
			!scope="row"\| '''A:''' "A Love To Last A Lifetime"<br />'''B:''' "You Blew Out The Candles"
	\| 1964		\| 1964
			\| —
	\| '''A:''' "A Love To Last A Lifetime" <br> '''B:''' "You Blew Out The Candles"
			\| —
	\| style="text-align:center;"\| —
			\| —
	\| style="text-align:center;"\| —
			\| Coral
	\| style="text-align:center;"\| Coral
	\| James Ancrum singing lead		\| James Ancrum singing lead
	\|}		\|}

	~~'''<big>~~Unreleased recordings~~</big>'''~~		=== Unreleased recordings ===
			{\| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"

	{\| class="wikitable"
	\|-		\|-
			! scope="col" style="width:20em;"\| Title
	! rowspan="1"\| Year
	! ~~rowspan~~="1"\| ~~Title~~		! scope="col"\| Year
	! ~~rowspan~~="1"\| Record ~~Label~~		! scope="col"\| Record label
	! ~~rowspan~~="1"\| Notes		! scope="col"\| Notes
	\|-		\|-
			!scope="row"\| "Strange Love"
	\| 1958		\| 1958
			\| rowspan="7"\| Coed
	\| "Strange Love"
			\| Recorded on June 25, 1958<br />Released in 1991
	\| rowspan="7" style="text-align:center;"\| Coed
	\| Recorded on June 25, 1958 <br> Released in 1991
	\|-		\|-
			!scope="row"\| "Let Me Be The One"
	\| rowspan="2"\| 1959
			\| 1959
	\| "Let Me Be The One"
	\| Recorded on January 14, 1959 <br> Released in 1991		\| Recorded on January 14, 1959<br />Released in 1991
	\|-		\|-
	\| "Young Love"		!scope="row"\| "Young Love"
	\| Recorded on October 11, 1959 <br> Released in 1990		\| 1959
			\| Recorded on October 11, 1959<br />Released in 1990
	\|-		\|-
			!scope="row"\| "You Took The Joy Out Of Spring"
	\| rowspan="4"\| 1960
			\| 1960
	\| "You Took The Joy Out Of Spring"
	\| Recorded on May 4, 1960 <br> Released in 1991		\| Recorded on May 4, 1960<br />Released in 1991
	\|-		\|-
	\| "Learning 'Bout Love"		!scope="row"\| "Learning 'Bout Love"
	\| Recorded on May 4, 1960 <br> Released in 1991		\| 1960
			\| Recorded on May 4, 1960<br />Released in 1991
	\|-		\|-
	\| "Let True Love Begin"		!scope="row"\| "Let True Love Begin"
	\| Recorded on December 19, 1960 <br> Released in 1991		\| 1960
			\| Recorded on December 19, 1960<br />Released in 1991
	\|-		\|-
	\| "Keep Away From Carol"		!scope="row"\| "Keep Away From Carol"
	\| Recorded on December 29, 1960 <br> Released in 1991		\| 1960
			\| Recorded on December 29, 1960<br />Released in 1991
	\|}		\|}

Line 286:		Line 327:

	==External links==		==External links==
	* ~~Vocal~~ ~~Group~~ ~~Hall of~~ ~~Fame~~		* page at publicist's site
			* Inductee page at Vocal Group Hall of Fame
	*
	*
	*
	*

	{{Authority control}}		{{Authority control}}

Latest revision as of 00:46, 23 July 2024

For other uses, see Crest (disambiguation).

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The Crests
Origin	New York City, New York, U.S.
Genres	Doo-wop R&B rock and roll
Years active	1954–1978 1980–present
Labels	Coed Joyce

Musical artist

The Crests are an American doo-wop group, formed by bass vocalist J.T. Carter in the mid 1950s. The group had several Top 40 hits in the late 1950s and early 1960s on Coed Records. Their most popular song, "16 Candles", rose to #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in February 1959 selling over one million copies and earning a gold disc status. The group's other hits include "Step By Step," "The Angels Listened In," "Trouble In Paradise," "Six Nights A Week," and "A Year Ago Tonight." The Crests were one of the earliest racially mixed doo wop groups, consisting of three African American members (one female), one Puerto Rican, named Harold Torres.and one Italian American.

Career

Founded by J.T. Carter, the group included Talmadge "Tommy" Gough (1939-2014), Harold "Chico" Torres (deceased) and Patricia Van Dross (1943-1993) (older sister of R&B singer Luther Vandross). Carter selected vocalist Johnny Mastrangelo (1939-2010) (shortened to Johnny Mastro and later changed to Johnny Maestro) as lead vocalist.

The Crests were discovered in 1956 while singing in the New York City Subway by the wife of orchestra leader Al Browne. Browne connected the group with Joyce Records where they recorded their first two songs, "My Juanita" and "Sweetest One".

In 1957, they charted with their first release, "Sweetest One", on Joyce Records.

After recording two more singles for Joyce Records, Patricia Van Dross left The Crests in 1958 to finish her education.

Their next single after "16 Candles" on COED Records was "Six Nights A Week" which hit #28 on the Billboard Hot 100 Charts and #17 on the R&B. Their next release "Flower Of Love" was bland compared to other Crests cuts and attained only a six-week run-up to #79.

From 1958 to 1960 the group was almost always on the road. In the late 1950s, The Crests performed on several national teen dance television shows, including American Bandstand and The Dick Clark Show. They appeared seven times on the latter.

In 1961, The Crests recorded a new single, "Little Miracles", with Tony Middleton, lead singer of The Willows, singing lead; it was their first single not to chart in the Top 100. Gough quit the group after the single, moving to Detroit, to work for auto giant General Motors, and was replaced by Gary "Kit" Lewis (not to be confused with Gary Lewis of Gary Lewis & the Playboys fame).

Maestro recorded with other backup singers under the name "Johnny Maestro & The Crests", producing a single for United Artists in 1962, two singles for Cameo Records in 1963–64, a single for APT Records in 1965, a single for Scepter Records in 1965, and three singles for the Parkway label in 1966.

James Ancrum then took over the lead, recording "Guilty" in January 1962 and charting only to #123. The group went back to touring when their 1963 Selma side "Did I Remember?" flopped. A 1964 sequel to "16 Candles", "You Blew Out The Candles", also was not successful.

In 1965, J.T. Carter and Mel Tillison signed with Decca Records and were chosen to be the potential artists of the year to come. Carter wrote, "Closer To Your Heart" and "The Wild Ones", originally written for Jordan Christopher's group The Wild Ones. Internal problems prevented Decca from securing the worldwide release of these recordings and the company folded, leaving all their artists in limbo.

By 1968, Johnny Maestro had joined with The Del Satins as their lead singer and merged with The Rhythm Method in March 1968 to become The Brooklyn Bridge. In 1969, they had a #3 hit with "Worst That Could Happen."

By then Torres was gone, he had moved to upstate New York and became a jeweler, but the group continued as a trio of Carter, Ancrum, and Lewis and had become a lounge act, disbanding in 1978. Carter went to sing with Charlie Thomas' Drifters for a year, then moved to Plainfield, New Jersey to teach voice and set up his own recording studio. Lewis later joined The Cadillacs.

In 1973, Carter met his wife Leona, an accomplished classical pianist/composer. Leona Carter has been a part of The Crests since then.

Carter reformed The Crests in 1980, auditioning over 200 singers at his studio, finally settling on lead Bill Damon (a Maestro sound-alike), Greg Sereck, Dennis Ray and New York drummer, Jon Ihle. The group continued well into the 1990s and toured with a five-piece band including Leona Carter on keys.

In 1982 JT Carter created yet another re-incarnation of "The Crests" recruiting singing/keyboardist, Bill Pascali, taking the place of Johnnie Maestro on vocals and Guy Boise on Drums. They toured from New Jersey to New Zealand on a 6 month tour excursion. Shortly after Pascali's return to the States, he moved onto Randy and the Rainbows.

The 1984 John Hughes' teen film Sixteen Candles took its title from The Crests' song, which was re-recorded by The Stray Cats for the Sixteen Candles soundtrack.

In June 1987, for a concert in Peekskill, New York, Maestro, Carter, Torres, and Gough (The Original Crests) reunited as "The Crests", which was organized by Carter.

From 1990 to 2010, Johnny Maestro invited Carter to join him and The Brooklyn Bridge to record with them and to re-record some of their greatest hits.

From the late 2000s until the early 2010s, Carter's group consisted of Carter, Carter's wife Leona, Barry Newman and Terry King (formerly of The Drifters). They later became Carter, Newman, King & Richie Merritt (formerly of The Clovers and The Marcels) instead of Carter's wife. Michael D'Amore also sang with this lineup for a time.

In April 2010, the Los Angeles-based rights-management firm Beach Road Music, LLC, acquired the Coed Records catalog, subsequently re-releasing The Crests' song "The Great Physician" on the 2011 compilation album From The Vault: The Coed Records Lost Master Tapes, Volume 1. "The Great Physician" was originally released in 1960 as Coed 527, under the pseudonym "Johnny Masters" in an attempt to boost Maestro as a solo performer.

On November 12, 2013, Carter was recognized on the Pennsylvania State House Floor for a lifetime in music and as the first African American to form an interracial vocal group in the United States.

In 2013, Carter also appeared on the 1st Annual Palisades Park Reunion concert with Cousin Brucie aka Bruce Morrow, broadcast live on SiriusXM satellite radio. Other performers included Neil Sedaka, Lesley Gore, Bobby Lewis and Ronnie Spector. Carter was also asked to return two years later for Cousin Brucie's 3rd Annual Palisades Park Reunion concert.

In January 2014, Carter interviewed Joe Franklin on the Bloomberg Radio network.

In 2014, Carter also began production on "American Classics: The Stars, Music and Cars", a TV show featuring the music and cars of the 1950s and 1960s, produced by Emmy Awards winner Ashley Russo.

In March 2015, Carter was accepted as a member of The Recording Academy.

In 2016, Carter performed as J.T. Carter's Crests, based on provisions of the Truth in Music Act. Carter's new lineup included Carter back with Richard Merritt, plus Ken Boulden aka Kenny Grey(formerly of Solid Gold) and one other member, who was replaced by Russell Gore, Jr., (former lead singer of The Original Tymes) after their first show. J.T. Carter's Crests held their first concert in Upland, California, on July 16, 2016, to a sold-out crowd and received standing ovations.

In March 2018 at the age of 76, Carter appeared on the PBS Music special "My Music: Doo Wop Generations", which was aired nationally. TJ Lubinsky, Bowzer and Little Anthony hosted the event. The event was structured to feature new young doo-wop talent, and featured Peter Lemongello, Jr. Over 20 million people tuned in.

Later career

On December 12, 2017, J.T. Carter's Crests performed at The Paramount Theatre in Asbury Park, New Jersey, along with over 40 other groups from the 1950s and '60s, as part of TJ Lubinsky's new PBS TV Special, "Doo Wop Generations" (part of the "My Music" series). The special aired nationally in the US on PBS on March 3, 2018.

The group was featured singing "The Angels Listened In" on the PBS television broadcast, as well as "Step By Step" listed on the CD/DVD track listing.

On September 22, 2018, J.T. Carter's Crests appeared at The State Theatre in New Brunswick, New Jersey on the first ever "Alan Freed Brooklyn Paramount Reunion Jubilee of Stars." Also appearing on the bill were Charlie Thomas & The Drifters, Leon Hughes & The Coasters, The Flamingos, The Chantels, The Belmonts, The Knockouts & Kid Kyle. Every group featured one original member who actually played at the Paramount. The Crests left the stage with two standing ovations and received global publicity. At the end, J.T. Carter was presented an award as the last surviving original founding member of The Crests.

On October 23, 2018, JT Carter announced in an interview on WKHS that he was no longer working with Peter Lemongello, Jr. at the present time, claiming that they had "different interests".

As of 2018, Carter was still performing throughout the US and Canada, appearing with Charlie Thomas and his Drifters on occasion.

Death of original members

Patricia Vandross died of complications from diabetes in 1993 when she was 50.

Johnny Maestro (born John Peter Mastrangelo, May 7, 1939, Manhattan, New York) lived in Islip, New York, until 2003. He died of cancer on March 24, 2010, at his home in Cape Coral, Florida when he was 70.

Tommy Gough (born Talmadge E. Gough, October 15, 1939, Sardis, Georgia) died of throat cancer on August 24, 2014, at his home in Flint, Michigan when he was 74.

Harold "Chico" Torres later became a handyman and moved back to New York City. He died in Brooklyn on July 18, 2024.

Awards and recognition

The Crests were inducted into the United in Group Harmony Association (UGHA) Hall of Fame in 2000. The Crests were inducted into The Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2004. The Crests were inducted into The Doo Wop Hall of Fame in 2008. The Crests were inducted into The Doo Wop Music Hall of Fame in 2015.

On May 9, 2012, Johnny Maestro was honored by the House of Representatives of the United States of America. Congressman Jerrold Nadler of New York, whose district includes the neighborhood where Maestro was born and where he began his music career, introduced an Extension of Remarks in the House of Representatives. This posthumous honor is now a permanent part of the Congressional Record. The Extension of Remarks includes the original members of The Crests.

On November 12, 2013, J.T. Carter was honored by the Pennsylvania State House, Speaker of the House Sam Smith, and PA State Representative Rosemary M Brown, for his lifetime in the music industry and for being the first African American to form an interracial vocal group in the America. Carter was officially recognized on the state house floor.

In 2014, Carter was honored with a lifetime achievement award from The Lehigh Valley Music Awards in Allentown, Pennsylvania.

In 2016, J.T. Carter, Charlie Thomas of The Drifters and Ernest Wright of Little Anthony & The Imperials were honored in both House and Senate chambers at the State Capital in Dover, Delaware for their contributions to American Music, declaring them “Rock-n-Roll Royalty.” The three also met with Governor Jack A. Markell, who presented them a special Gubernatorial tribute. (148th General Assembly, State of Delaware Senate Concurrent Resolution No: 53, March 22, 2016), (State of Delaware, Office of the Governor Tribute No: 160201)

Discography

Title	Year	Peak chart positions			Record label	Notes
Title	Year	US Hot 100	US R&B	CAN	Record label	Notes
A: "Sweetest One" B: "My Juanita"	1957	86	—	—	Joyce	Recorded in early 1957 Recorded in early 1957
A: "No One To Love" B: "Wish She Was Mine"	1957	—	—	—	Joyce	Recorded on May 22, 1957 Recorded on May 22, 1957
A: "Pretty Little Angel" B: "I Thank The Moon"	1958	—	—	—	Coed	Recorded on June 25, 1958 Recorded on June 25, 1958
A: "16 Candles" (originally the B-side) B: "Beside You"	1958	2	4	5		Recorded on August 12, 1958 Recorded on June 25, 1958
A: "Six Nights A Week" B: "I Do"	1959	28	17	24		Recorded on January 14, 1959 Recorded on January 14, 1959
A: "Flower Of Love" B: "Molly Mae"	1959	79	—	—		Recorded on January 14, 1959 Recorded on August 12, 1958
A: "The Angels Listened In" B: "I Thank The Moon"	1959	22	14	6		Recorded on March 24, 1959 Recorded on June 25, 1958
A: "A Year Ago Tonight" B: "Paper Crown"	1959	42	—	—		Recorded on October 11, 1959 Recorded on October 11, 1959
A: "Step By Step" B: "Gee (But I'd Give The World)"	1960	14	—	12		Recorded on January 18, 1960 Recorded on January 18, 1960
A: "Trouble In Paradise" B: "Always You"	1960	20	—	11		Recorded on May 4, 1960 Recorded on May 04, 1960
A: "Journey Of Love" B: "If My Heart Could Write A Letter"	1960	81	—	—		Recorded on January 18, 1960 Recorded on May 04, 1960
A: "Isn't It Amazing" B: "Molly Mae"	1960	100	—	—		Recorded on May 4, 1960 Recorded on August 12, 1958
A: "I'll Remember (In The Still Of The Night)" B: "Good Golly Miss Molly"	1960	—	—	—		Recorded on March 24, 1959
A: "Say It Isn't So" B: "The Great Physician"	1960	—	—	—		Recorded on January 18, 1960 Recorded on January 18, 1960
A: "Model Girl" B: "We've Got To Tell Them"	1961	20	—	—		Recorded on December 29, 1960 Recorded on December 29, 1960
A: "What A Surprise" B: "The Warning Voice"	1961	33	—	—		Recorded on December 19, 1960 Recorded on December 29, 1960
A: "Little Miracles" B: "Baby I Gotta' Know"	1961	—	—	—		Recorded late 1961, released December 1961; Tony Middleton singing lead
A: "The Actor" B: "Three Tears In A Bucket"	1962	—	—	—	Trans Atlas	James Ancrum singing lead
A: "Guilty" B: "Number One With Me"	1962	—	—	—	Selma	James Ancrum singing lead
A: "Did I Remember" B: "Tears Will Fall"	1963	—	—	—	Selma	James Ancrum singing lead
A: "A Love To Last A Lifetime" B: "You Blew Out The Candles"	1964	—	—	—	Coral	James Ancrum singing lead

Unreleased recordings

Title	Year	Record label	Notes
"Strange Love"	1958	Coed	Recorded on June 25, 1958 Released in 1991
"Let Me Be The One"	1959		Recorded on January 14, 1959 Released in 1991
"Young Love"	1959		Recorded on October 11, 1959 Released in 1990
"You Took The Joy Out Of Spring"	1960		Recorded on May 4, 1960 Released in 1991
"Learning 'Bout Love"	1960		Recorded on May 4, 1960 Released in 1991
"Let True Love Begin"	1960		Recorded on December 19, 1960 Released in 1991
"Keep Away From Carol"	1960		Recorded on December 29, 1960 Released in 1991

References

Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. p. 99. ISBN 0-214-20512-6.
Archived May 8, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
Warner, Jay (2006). American Singing Groups: A History from 1940s to Today. Hal Leonard Corporation. ISBN 9780634099786.
Baptista, Todd (March 2011). "Lost and Found", Goldmine, Volume 37, Issue 797, Page 97.
^ Privitar, Ginny (January 2, 2014). "Blow out the candles for J.T. Carter | Milford PA | Local News". Pikecountycourier.com. Retrieved October 6, 2018.
"Barry Newman JT Carter of the Crests and Bruce Morrow attend the... News Photo 171193065". Getty Images. June 22, 2013. Retrieved October 6, 2018.
Hinkley, David (June 17, 2013). "Radio legend Bruce Morrow will host 'Cousin Brucie's First Annual Palisades Park Reunion' on Saturday at State Fair Meadowlands in N.J." New York Daily News. Retrieved October 6, 2018.
Bottone, Roseanne (July 25, 2014). "Bushkill doo-wop legend joins TV show celebrating classic music, cars". Pocono Record. Retrieved October 6, 2018.
Bottone, Roseanne (February 15, 2016). "Music legends collaborating on a medley of memories". Pocono Record.
"J.T. Carter's Crests". EA Kroll Productions. November 22, 2013. Retrieved April 9, 2018.
Carter, J. T. (October 23, 2018). "Voices From the Hallway: J. T. Carter". Voices From the Hallway (Interview). Interviewed by Charlie Stinchcomb. Worton, Maryland: WKHS.
^ Bottone, Roseanne (January 3, 2014). "J.T. Carter says glory years with the Crests remain popular". Pocono Record. Retrieved August 11, 2014.
Scott, Andrew (September 3, 2012). "J.T. Carter, an original member of doo-wop's the Crests, still living in harmony". Pocono Record. Retrieved August 11, 2014.
"Crests Legend and Originator, J.T. Carter to be recognized on the House Floor of the PA State Capital". PRLog. November 7, 2013. Retrieved August 11, 2014.
"The Johnny Maestro Story" (PDF). Classicurbanharmony.net. Retrieved August 11, 2014.
Prince, Patrick (April 19, 2011). "Spend time in the presence of a master: Johnny Maestro". Goldmine. Retrieved October 6, 2018.
Havesi, Dennis (March 26, 2010). "Johnny Maestro, Brooklyn Bridge Singer, Dies at 70". The New York Times. Retrieved October 6, 2018.
"Mr. Talmadge E. Gough Obituary". Retrieved April 28, 2015.
"Passings: Tommy Gough of the Crests". VVN Music. Retrieved April 28, 2015.
"We mourn the passing of Harold Torres, original member of the Crests, on July 18, 2024". Pop, Rock & Doo Wopp on Facebook. July 21, 2024. Retrieved July 23, 2024.
"Congressional Record – Extension of Remarks" (PDF). United States Government Publishing Office. May 9, 2012. Retrieved October 6, 2018.
"CHUM results".

External links

J.T. Carter's Crests page at publicist's site
The Crests Inductee page at Vocal Group Hall of Fame

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