04/06/2025
It is with great sorrow that we must announce the passing of legendary bass vocalist Mr. JT Carter. Carter was the founder of the 1950’s musical group The Crests and last living original member.
Mr. Carter passed away peacefully on April 5th 2025 in California, surrounded by his family and friends. He was 83 years of age. Carter was a former 40 year resident of the Pocono Mountains in PA. Carter is survived by his wife of 50 years Leona Carter, also a musician, writer, performer and manager, a stepson and multiple grandchildren and great grandchildren. (June 5th, 1941 – April 5th, 2025)
In memoriam:
“JT Carter, I will cherish the times. We went to many industry parties together and heard so many of your stories with the most famous stars. You will be missed dearly. You were the last of the greats as more than just a great entertainer but as a friend. Till we meet again.”
Robert Dale – Music Producer
“I began singing with JT around 2012/2013 with Barry Newman and Terry King. JT and I became very close as we knew all the same people. I loved working with JT throughout the country. We would talk on the phone for house about music and life. He will be missed deeply. RIP my friend.”
Richard A. Merritt – Former member of JT Carters Crests
“JT was a Doo-W*p legend. It was an honor to share the stage with him. May his music and memory live on forever”
Kenny Boulden – Former member of JT Carters Crests, currently touring with The Del-Vikings
“This is a sad day for music and for all who were a part of JT’s life. JT was an incredible person to have known and to have become a part of my personal family and musical life. He will be sorely missed. My heart goes out to Leona and his entire family and fan base. May he fly with the angels.”
Tom Martini – Distorted Voices
“RIP JT Carter. Your legacy will live on in the countless lives you have touched here and abroad. I was fortunate to be treated like a son by you. You were more than just a friend. Today we gather to celebrate the extraordinary life and legacy of a truly remarkable person. JT, Thank you for everything. Your memory will forever be etched in my heart”
Vipul Shah
“It was so heartbreaking to hear from Leona very early this morning about JT’s passing. He was truly a living legend and part of the founding of American R&B music in the United States. I have worked with JT as his publicist, booking agent and manager since 2011. We traveled all over the country together and Canada. I always enjoyed arranging these shows and meeting some of the biggest names in music. The greenroom and behind the scene stories I could write a book about. RIP my friend. You will be truly missed.”
EA Kroll – EA Kroll Productions and Publicist to Mr. Carter
About JT Carter and The Crests:
JT Carter and The Crests were a New York R&B group of the late 1950s and early 1960s. Their most popular song was "16 Candles," which rose to number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1959. It sold over one million copies, earning a gold disc. The in*******al group had three black members (one female), one Puerto Rican, and one Italian-American. JT Carter was the 1st African American to create an in*******al vocal group in The United States.
The band was founded by J. T. Carter and included Talmoudge Gough, Harold Torres, and Patricia Van Dross (older sister of R&B great Luther Van dross). Carter selected vocalist Johnny Mastrangelo (shortened to Johnny Mastro and later to Johnny Maestro) to perform as lead vocalist for the group. Maestro's vocal style on the group's recordings became instantly recognizable and a juke box favorite of the national teen audiences. Maestro's quality vocals, great song selections, and recordings with dance-easy beats made the winning combination for charted hits. The group had several Top 40 hits in the late 1950s and early 1960s on Coed Records, including "16 Candles," "Six Nights a Week," "The Angels Listened In," "A Year Ago Tonight," "Step By Step" and "Trouble in Paradise." They also charted with "Sweetest One" (Joyce label) in 1957. The Crests appeared and performed several times on national teen dance television shows in the late 1950s to include The Dick Clark show and The Joe Franklin Show.
In 1978, the group split. Carter went on to sing with Charlie Thomas' The Drifters. Carter then reformed the group in 1980. He auditioned over 200 singers, finally settling on lead Bill Damon, Greg Sereck, and Dennis Ray and New York drummer Jon Ihle. Carter continued the group well into the 1990s.
In 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 movie soundtrack.
The Crests were inducted into the "United in Group Harmony Association (UGHA) Hall of Fame" in 2000. The Crests were then inducted into "The Vocal Group Hall of Fame" in 2004.
On May 9, 2012, Johnny Maestro was honored by the House of Representatives of the United States of America by Congressman Jerrold Nadler of New York.
In 2013 JT performed for Cousin Brucie at his "1st Annual Palisades Park Reunion" with Ronnie Specter, Neil Sedaka, Lesley Gore and Bobby Lewis. 13,000 attended and it was broadcast "live" on SiriusXM Radio and 2.5 million Tuned in.
On November 12th, 2013 Carter was recognized on The Pennsylvania State House Floor by Speaker of the House Sam Smith and Rep Rosemary Brown for his lifetime in the music industry and the 1st African American to create an in*******al vocal group in America.
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 W*p 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.
EA Kroll - 313-220-4757
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EA Kroll Productions
