Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Jango Song Of The Day-The Exciters

Artist:The Exciters
Song:Tell Him
Album:Girl Group Greats





The 1962 hit Tell Him is one of my favourite one hit wonders and it was also the first song issued by Scopitone as a music video. The Exciters started out as a girl group in Queens, NY in 1961. Lead singer Brenda Reid, Carol Johnson, Lillian Walker and Sylvia Wilbur were known as The Masterettes, sisters group to the doo wop group The Masters. The connection got them a single called Follow The Leader. Wilbur was replaced by Penny Carter and The Masterettes auditioned for legendary producers Jerry Lieber & Mike Stoller. They signed but Carter left and Herb Rooney of The Masters was brought in for the recording session. Lieber & Stoller renamed them The Exciters. Tell Him has a great lead vocal by Brenda Reid and it reached #4 on the pop singles chart. Their follow ups didn't do as well. The Exciters were the first to record Do Wah Diddy but it didn't click and Manfred Mann had a smash with the song. The Exciters continued to record for various labels in the 60s without much success. Brenda Reid and Herb Rooney married in 1967. This Rhino comp is a perfect intro to girl groups but next month Ace Records is releasing a comprehensive Exciters comp on their Kent label. Brenda Reid and her four children have toured as The Exciters and one of those children is Def Jam Records president LA Reid. Enjoy this video of Tell Him by The Exciters.

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