JOHN E. CARTER 1934-2009
In Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Twice
Chicago native John E. Carter was in two important R&B groups, the Flamingos and the Dells. He is best-known for the Dells hit "Oh What a Night." He died August 20th.
In 1952, at age 18, he formed the Flamingos. The group eventually had nine national chart hits including "I Only Have Eyes for You" and "I'll Be Home" about a serviceman promising to return to his girlfriend. Shortly after this, he was drafted himself.
When he returned, the Flamingos had replaced him. In 1960, he joined the Dells founded by friends from Thornton Township High School in Harvey. Their biggest hit, "Oh, What a Night" was about a party thrown for the band and had been written in 1956. It was rereleased in 1969, with Mr. Carter singing back-up vocals and reached #1 on the R&B and top ten on the pop charts and sold over a million copies.
This lineup continued recording together into the 1990s and they were the inspiration for the 1999 movie "The Five Heartbeats."
I have the Dells single, several of their albums as well as a Flamingos.
Kind of strange, but as I am typing this, I'm listening to John FM on the internet, playing Beach Music out of the Georgia and South Carolina coast, and they just played "Wear it On Our Face" by the Dells. How strange is that?
From August 24th Chicago Tribune
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