Biography
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Years Active
1962 – 1974 (12 years)
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Founded In
Jamaica, Queens, New York, New York, United States
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Members
- Brenda Reid
- Carolyn Johnson
- Lillian Walker
The Exciters were originally a quartet of seventeen year olds who were high school classmates in Queens, New York. Then called the Masterettes, the group consisted of Brenda Reid on lead, Sylvia Williams, Lillian Walker, and Carol Johnson.
The group signed with United Artists Records in 1962 and by December 1st had entered the Billboard charts with "Tell Him," which made it all the way to number four Pop on January 26, 1963, and number five R&B. The song was a gender-switched cover of Gil Hamilton's 1962 single "Tell Her." Reid's no-nonsense, tough girl vocal, the group's vocal blend, and a sure fire Bert Burns composition made "Tell Him" a whole new dimension in girl group rock and roll.
In 1964, the Exciters switched to Roulette Records and recorded what some believe to be the first rock videos made by an American group--one each for “Tell Him” and “He’s Got The Power”–for Scopitone.
"Tell Him" is also a soundtrack from the movie "My Best Friend's Wedding."
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