Obituaries

Singer Johnny Maestro, who sang the hit "16 Candles" for The Crests and later sang for the vocal group The Brooklyn Bridge, has died of cancer. He was 70 years old and died in Florida.

After beginning his career in the 1950s with The Crests — one of the first interracial singing groups — Maestro joined a local New York group, The Del-Satins. It merged with a Long Island band, The Rhythm Method, to form Johnny Maestro and The Brooklyn Bridge in 1968.

Hits by the rock 'n' roll and doo-wop group included "The Worst That Could Happen," which Cauchi said earned "gold record" status with a million sales.

Cauchi said the group performed that song on "The Ed Sullivan Show." Other hits included "Blessed is the Rain," ''Welcome Me Love" and "You'll Never Walk Alone."

An old, old video of The Crests singing "Trouble in Paradise":