Johnny Maestro, a native of the Lower East Side in Manhattan, born John Mastrangelo, holds the distinction of being a member of three highly successful vocal groups that date back to the early days of rock and roll. His musical journey began in the 1950s with The Del-Satins and The Crests, and continued into the 1960s and 1970s with The Brooklyn Bridge.
As the lead singer of The Crests, formed in 1956, Maestro was instrumental in creating the group's signature smooth harmonies that epitomized the "doo-wop" sound of the 1950s. The Crests achieved significant commercial success, with several big hits, including the timeless classic "Sixteen Candles" in 1958, as well as "Step By Step," "The Angels Listened In," and "Trouble in Paradise."
Maestro left The Crests in 1960 and embarked on a solo career, recording with backing vocals from The Crests on several of his tracks. Although he managed to place some of his songs in the top 20, his solo career did not reach the same level of success as his work with The Crests.
In 1968, Maestro combined forces with The Del-Satins, a group he had sung with in the 1960s, and a Long Island-based group called Rhythm Method, to form an 11-piece band that would become known as The Brooklyn Bridge. Their debut record, "The Worst That Could Happen," was also their biggest hit, and they went on to have some minor chart successes.
To this day, Maestro continues to perform in oldies shows, both as a solo artist and with various incarnations of The Brooklyn Bridge.
