Johnny Carter Dies at age 75

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame vocalist Johnny Carter, who sang for two classic doo-wop groups, has died Sunday at age 75.

Without naming sources, WBBM Radio and WLS-TV in Chicago reported that Carter died Friday in his hometown of Harvey, Ill., after a long battle with lung cancer.

Carter, whose falsetto tenor voice was admired by fans and fellow singers alike, was a founding member of the rhythm and blues vocal group The Flamingos, based in Chicago, in 1953. Carter's writing and soaring vocals on their hit "Golden Teardrops" established his place in the R&B pantheon.

He moved to The Dells in 1960, remaining with that group for 49 years. Carter gained entry into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with both groups, one of the few performers to have such multiple citations.

The Dells had 46 records on the R&B charts over the years, most of which were recorded for Chicago's Chess label. Their best-known songs were "Stay In My Corner" and "Oh, What a Night," the Hall of Fame says on its Web site.