The Masterettes (Queens, New York)
aka The Exciters

Personnel :

Brenda Reid

Sylvia Wilbur

Carol Johnson

Lillian Walker


Discography :


1961 - Follow The Leader / Never, Ever (Lesage 715/716)


Biography :

Brenda Reid, Carolyn (Carol) Johnson, Lillian Walker, and Sylvia Wilbur formed the group while at high school together in Queens, New York City, in 1961 when they were all 17 years old. They were called the Masterettes, as a sister group to another group called the Masters, and released their first recording, "Follow the Leader", in early 1962. Wilbur then left the group to be replaced by Penny Carter, and they auditioned for Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, winning a recording contract.

  
                                                                                          The Exciters : Lillian Walker, Herb Rooney, Brenda Reid & Carol Johnson

Penny Carter then left, and was replaced by Herb Rooney, a member of the Masters; Reid and Rooney later married. The group's name was changed to the Exciters, and their first hit record, arranged by George "Teacho" Wiltshire and produced by Leiber and Stoller for United Artists Records, was "Tell Him", which reached no. 4 on the U.S. pop chart in early 1963.

Songs :

  
    Never, Ever                                 Follow The Leader

...