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John E. Carter, the distinctive falsetto/tenor voice of R&B group The Dells, died Friday (Aug. 21) after losing a battle with lung cancer, according to a spokeswoman for Ingalls Memorial Hospital in Carter's hometown of Harvey, Illinois. He was 75.
Carter first rose to fame with The Flamingos before leaving in 1960 to sing with The Dells, who were best known for their hit "Oh What A Night." The 1954 breakout hit sold more than a million records when it was reissued in 1969 with Carter on falsetto lead. The Dells were also famous for "Stay in My Corner," one of the first R&B hits to run more than six minutes.
The band toured with Dinah Washington and Ray Charles in their heyday, and later worked with famed producer Quincy Jones.
In 1991, The Dells were recruited to work as technical advisers for "The Five Heartbeats," a movie loosely based on their career.
Carter, who was the last surviving member of The Flamingos, remains one of the few artists inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with two acts. He is survived by five daughters and several grandchildren.
