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Brooklyn-born Johnny Maestro (born John Mastrangelo; May 7, 1939 – March 24, 2010) began his career in 1957 as the original lead singer of The Crests, one of the first interracial groups of the recording industry. Patricia VanDross, older sister to famed R&B singer Luther Vandross sang with Johnny Maestro during his tenure as lead vocalists with The Crests. After a regional hit with "My Juanita"/"Sweetest One" on the Joyce label, and two years of chart success on Coed Records with "16 Candles", "Step by Step", "The Angels Listened In", and "Trouble in Paradise", Maestro left the Crests for a solo career. Maestro was unable to reach his former chart heights with the Crests, but did have Top 40 hits with "What A Surprise" and "Model Girl" in 1961 and 1962.

By 1967, another New York group called the Del-Satins, who had made several non-charting recordings between 1959 and 1967 under their own name (and backing up Dion on his post-Belmonts recordings), were looking for a new lead singer to replace original lead Stan Ziska. Other members were brothers Fred and Tom Ferrara (baritone and bass), Les Cauchi (first tenor) and Bobby Failla (second tenor). According to Cauchi, members of the group ran into Maestro at a local gym, playing his guitar, and approached him with the offer to join the group. After initially turning them down, Maestro's manager called Cauchi and told him Maestro had changed his mind.

In 1968, after touring locally and playing in clubs and small venues, the Del-Satins attended a "Battle of the Bands" and encountered a seven piece brass group named the Rhythm Method. Impressed with each other's skills and talents, the groups decided to try to join forces. The name supposedly came from the joke that the group would be "harder to sell than the Brooklyn Bridge".

Johnny and the Bridge rehearsed their unusual combination of smooth vocal harmonies and full horns, and signed a recording contract with Buddha records. Their first release, a version of the Jimmy Webb song "The Worst That Could Happen" (a note-for-note cover of the version previously recorded by The 5th Dimension on the album The Magic Garden, which had not been released as a single), reached No. 3 on the Billboard pop chart. It sold over one and a quarter million copies, and was awarded a gold disc by the R.I.A.A.. The follow up, "Welcome Me Love", and its flip side, "Blessed is the Rain" — both by Tony Romeo — each reached the Top 50. A dramatic version of "You'll Never Walk Alone" and the controversial "Your Husband, My Wife" also reached the middle ranges of the charts. The group sold over 10 million records by 1972, including LP sales, mostly produced by Wes Farrell. Appearances on Ed Sullivan, The Della Reese Show and other programs helped to bring the group to the national stage.

After its heyday, The Brooklyn Bridge downsized to a five-man group, with the vocalists playing their own instruments. For example, Maestro could be seen on stage playing rhythm guitar, while former Rhythm Method bassist Jim Rosica picked up a vocal part. Later in the 1970s, as the Rock and Roll Revival evolved from a nostalgic fad to a respected genre, the group began to add members, retaining its core vocalists. By 1985, the group had solidified into an eight piece group, including original Del Satins Cauchi and Fred Ferrara and original Bridge member Rosica, and augmented by a horn section for special occasions. The drummer for the current line up Lou Agiesta, was the drummer for the original American touring company of Jesus Christ Superstar.

Original Vocals: Johnny Maestro, Les Cauchi, Fred Ferrara, Mike Gregorio. Musical Director Tom Sullivan, keyboardist Carolyn Wood, guitarist Richie Macioce, bass guitarist Jimmy Rosica, trumpeter Shelly Davis, saxophonist Joe Ruvio and drummer Artie Catanzarita.

Current: Vocals: Fred Ferrara, Les Cauchi, keyboards and vocals Marty D'Amico, bass and vocals Jimmy Rosica, guitarist Jim Sarle and drummer Lou Agiesta. (This lineup also previously included members Ed Liscandro (guitar and vocals), who was with the group for some of their earlier [PBS] performances, and Richie Bono, who played saxophone on many of their earlier recordings.

The later version of the Brooklyn Bridge released a Christmas EP in 1989 and a greatest hits compilation in 1993, re-recording Maestro's hits with The Crests. In the early 1990s, Maestro moonlighted as the background tenor on Joel Katz's studio project CD "Joel & the Dymensions" (which also featured baritone-bass Bobby Jay). In 1994, The Brooklyn Bridge recorded a 10-song a cappella CD.

Recently, the Brooklyn Bridge was featured in one of PBS's biggest fundraising events ever, "Doo Wop 50", performing both "Sixteen Candles" and "The Worst That Could Happen" (the entire program was released on VHS and DVD). In 2005, the Brooklyn Bridge released a full concert-length DVD as part of the "Pops Legends Live" series. They continue to tour and in 2004 released a CD titled "Today", featuring more re-recordings of their hits and versions of other groups' songs of the 1950s and 60's.

The Brooklyn Bridge was inducted into the Vocal Group Hall Of Fame with the class of 2005.

The Brooklyn Bridge were inducted into the Long Island Music Hall of Fame on October 15, 2006. On March 31, 2009 Maestro and the Brooklyn Bridge released Today Volume 2.

He was a great voice and an historic pop and soul figure. He will be missed. Maybe now he will be considered for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Johnny Maestro died on March 24, 2010 from cancer in Cape Coral, Florida at age 70.

"He's the man... keep him in your hearts, play his music, and keep him alive forever." ~ Grace Mastrangelo ~ April 11, 2010

(Click on any photo below to view the full size then click on your back button to return here)

501	The Crests	Pretty Little Angel I Thank The Moon	1958
506	The Crests	16 Candles Beside You	1958
509	The Crests	Six Nights A Week I Do	1959
511	The Crests	Flower Of Love Molly Mae	1959
515	The Crests	I Thank The Moon The Angels Listened In	1959
521	The Crests	A Year Ago Tonight Paper Clown	1959
525	The Crests	Step By Step Gee (But I'd Give The World)	1960
531	The Crests	Trouble In Paradise Always You	1960
535	The Crests	Journey Of Love If My Heart Could Write A Letter	1960
537	The Crests	Isn't It Amazing Molly Mae	1960
543	The Crests	I Remember (In The Still Of The Night) Good Golly Miss Molly	1961
545	Johnny Mastro	Model Girl We've Got To Tell Them	1961
549	Johnny Maestro	What A Surprise Warning Voice	1961
552	Johnny Maestro	Mr. Happiness Test Of Love	1961
557	Johnny Maestro	I.O.U. The Way You Look Tonight	1961
561	The Crests	Little Miracles Baby I Gotta Know	1962
562	Johnny Maestro	Besame Baby It Must Be Love	1962

	SONG NAMES	YEAR	POSITION #/ CHART
1.	My Juanita	1957	#86 POP
2.	Sweetest One	1957	#90 POP
3.	Sixteen Candles	1958-59	#2 POP #4 R&B
4.	Six Nights a Week	1959	#28 POP #17 R&B
5.	Flower of Love	1959	#79 POP
6.	The Angels Listen In	1959	#22 POP #14 R&B
7.	A Year Ago Tonight	1959	#42 POP
8.	Step By Step	1960	#14 POP
9.	Trouble In Paradise	1960	#20 POP
10.	Journey Of Love	1960	#81 POP
11.	Isn’t It Amazing	1960	#100 POP

	SONG NAMES	YEAR	POSITION #/ CHART
15.	Worst That Could Happen	1968-69	# 3 POP
16.	Blessed Is The Rain	1969	#46 POP
17.	Welcome Me Love	1969	#48 POP
18.	Your Husband, My Wife	1969	#46 POP
19.	You’ll Never Walk Alone	1969	#51 POP
20.	Down By The River	1970	#91 POP
21.	Day Is Done	1970	#96 POP

Dion:
"Johnny was a class act. He was truly a gentleman," singer Dion DiMucci said on Facebook. 'He sang `You'll Never Walk Alone' like an angel. ... We thank you for the beautiful trip you took us on. Love and peace."

Les Cauchi (Brooklyn Bridge member):
"He's considered one of the premier vocalists in rock 'n' roll — and one of the nicest, most sincere perfectionists in music."

Lou Christie:
"The world has lost one of the greatest voices in our business today. Johnny Maestro lost his battle with cancer and passed away last night in Florida. We shared the stage together many times throughout our careers and, it was always a pleasure working with him. Johnny Maestro will truly be missed!"

Charlie Gracie:
"Joan and I are deeply saddened and shocked--really, over John's passing. We saw him not that long ago. What a great artist and a such a gentleman. I admired his talent and those wonderful early records with the Crests--PERFECTION! God Bless his soul. He and his family will certainly be in our prayers this week. We've lost a wonderful artist!"

Jerry "The Iceman" Butler:
"I had the pleasure to have known Johnny for many years, and to have shared the stage with him. A great entertainer and even better man. He will be missed. God bless his family."
Johnny's last performance was January 17, when The Brooklyn Bridge was among groups appearing at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Connecticut. The show was billed as "Bowzer's Ultimate Doo-Wop Party."

Jon "Bowzer" Bauman:
"As frail and weak as Johnny seemed, I knew he didn't want to have to cancel. I told him afterward it was the most courageous performance I'd ever seen. As frail as he looked, that's how strong he sounded. It was a privilege to have known him, and it was thrilling to have listened to him."