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 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.

One of the most popular of the late '50s groups, the Crests were often thought to been all black aggregation. In fact, they were about as integrated as a group could get, with four men (two blacks, a Puerto Rican, and an Italian), and one black female.

MOLLY MAE, The Crests, (Coed #511) 1959
Flipside: FLOWER OF LOVE - Here is another really great unknown ballad from my music collection. The Crests had 10 songs charted nationally on Billboard. Their biggest and considered their signature song was “16 CANDLES” (Coed #506). It charted February 1959 for 21 weeks and reached #2, staying #2 for 2 weeks. It was a giant hit for Johnny Maestro & The Crests!

Billie Dawn Smith (from Brooklyn, New York), co-owner of Hull records (1955) and Coed Records (1958), was also a singer/songwriter and arranger.

He had over 700 songs to his credit, including “STEP BY STEP” which he co-wrote. Other Crests’ songs he has credits for: “THE ANGELS LISTENED IN” & “TROUBLE IN PARADISE”. Some notable artists who recorded Billie Dawn Smith’s songs were Nat King Cole, Perry Como, Aretha Franklin, The Heartbeats, The Passions, The Avons, The Platters and Percy Sledge.

The late Johnny Maestro was a dear friend, and I had the privilege of producing him and The Brooklyn Bridge many times in my 40 plus years in the music business. I was the first promoter/producer to bring them to Atlantic City, New Jersey to headline in the Casino showrooms. Some very special memories for me.

“MOLLY MAE” is one of Mrs. Mint’s favorite ballads by Johnny Maestro & The Crests. This upload is dedicated to her. We both have very fond memories of Johnny Maestro & The Brooklyn Bridge members. Johnny, Fred and Les, you are all sadly missed!

Enjoy this really great unknown ballad “MOLLY MAE” by The Crests with the unmistakable lead voice of the late “GREAT” Johnny Maestro!

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The Crests · The Crests

The Crests - Vintage Sound

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Released on: 2020-10-14

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Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favour of fair use.

Um clássico da década dos '60 na voz do The Crest "Paso a Paso"

HISTORY es una marca registrada de LD RECORDS Digital Company quien rinde tributo a estos grandes artistas y su musica formando recopilaciones, remasterizandolas y editandolas para que las antiguas y nuevas generaciones puedan disfrutarlas.

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"Paper Crown" ~ The Crests (1959)Coed #CO-521 - Flip side of, " A Year Ago Tonight " -
Lead vocals by Johnny Maestro.

Debuted 2/60
#14 Hot 100
This is the original HIT MONO MIX released on Coed CO-525 when this was a HUGE hit on AM Top 40 radio stations in the winter and spring of '60.

Johnny Maestro & The Crests - Step by Step

Rock n' Roll

T.C.B. -- THE COUNTRY BOY FROM TEXAS EITHER REACTS OR SUGGESTS VIDEOS - MOVIES - SONGS AND OTHER COOL STUFF

1. Johnny Maestro The Voice Of The Crests - What A Surprise #33 in May 1961 on the Coed label in stereo.
2. The Crests - Six Nights A Week #28 in April 1959 on the Coed label in a stereo mix.

"Sweetest One" ~ The Crests (1957) Joyce Records #103
Flip side of, "My Juanita"

DES from a mono recording.
The Crests were an American doo-wop group formed by bass vocalist J.T. Carter in the mid-1950s. On Coed Records, the group had several Top 40 hits in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Their most famous 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, and one Italian American.

Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favour of fair use.