The Crests

The Crests, an American doo-wop group, were formed in the mid-1950s by bass vocalist J.T. Carter. The group was one of the earliest racially mixed doo wop groups, consisting of African American, Puerto Rican, and Italian American members. The group first gained attention with the single "16 Candles", which reached number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in February 1959 and sold over one million copies, earning a gold disc. Throughout the 1960s, the group toured extensively, appeared on national television shows, and recorded with labels including Coed, United Artists, and Parkway. After a period of decline and lineup changes, J.T. Carter reformed the group in 1980, adding new members and continuing to perform into the 2010s. The Crests were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2004 and the Doo Wop Hall of Fame in 2008. J.T. Carter, the last surviving original member, passed away on April 5, 2025.