Johnny Maestro is dead

[jon]

I barely had the radio on this morning when Ed Mason did his final News story in the 6:30 a.m. 630-CHED News, announcing that Johnny Maestro had passed away in Florida. Then, a couple of minutes later, after Traffic and Weather, I switched to Billy Williams on W-14-40 and the first full song I heard was "16 Candles" with Johnny doing lead vocal for The Crests.

Johnny was born John Mastrangelo on May 7, 1939, joining The Crests, an interracial doo-wop group, in 1956. "16 Candles" went to #2 in 1959. He scored again with Brooklyn Bridge in 1969 with "Worst That Could Happen" peaking at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100. Johnny appeared on PBS less than a year ago, doing both songs, but I'm not sure when the concert was recorded.

[RationalKeith]

A classic, in the doowop style direction.

Sixteen Candles is itself a classic. I like that piano tinkle.