John E. Carter, first of doo wop group the Flamingos, then of R&B group the Dells, has died from lung cancer, reports the AP.
For those folks who don’t know the name, I guarantee you’ve heard at least one of the hit songs for which Carter was partly responsible: “I Only Have Eyes for You”? “Golden Teardrops”? Not to mention “Oh What a Night,” a re-release of which, with Carter on vocals, went platinum in 1969 (this is not to be confused with the Frankie Valli/Four Seasons song, thankyouverymuch).
Carter earned his stripes, having been a founding member of the Flamingos in 1953, then a member of the Dells from 1960 to 2009 — a career of at least 56 years. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice, once with each band, one of the few musicians to have done so.
To refresh your memory, check out the Flamingos’ “Golden Teardrops” below: