The Exciters
| Company type | Musical group |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1961 in Queens, New York, United States |
| Founder | Brenda Reid, Carolyn Johnson, Lillian Walker, Sylvia Wilbur |
| Defunct | 1974 |
| Headquarters | Queens , United States |
| Products | Music recordings |
The Exciters were an American pop ensemble from the 1960s, initially formed as a female vocal group before incorporating a male member. Their most recognized lineup featured lead vocalist Brenda Reid, Herb Rooney, Carolyn Johnson, and Lillian Walker.
Career
The group originated in Queens, New York, in 1961, founded by Brenda Reid, Carolyn Johnson, Lillian Walker, and Sylvia Wilbur. Initially named the Masterettes as a counterpart to the Masters, they debuted with the single "Follow the Leader" in early 1962. After Wilbur's departure, Penny Carter briefly joined before being succeeded by Herb Rooney, who was part of the Masters and later became Reid's spouse.
Adopting the name the Exciters, they achieved their major success with "Tell Him," produced by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller under United Artists Records. This track climbed to number 4 on the U.S. pop charts in early 1963 and reached number 12 in Canada. Their passionate vocal style on this record influenced groups such as the Shangri-Las and the Ronettes.
Their influence was felt beyond the U.S.; for instance, Dusty Springfield credited "Tell Him" as a motivating factor in shaping her solo career. Other significant tracks included "He's Got the Power," "Get Him," and the Northern soul favorite "Blowing Up My Mind." In 1963, they also recorded "Do-Wah-Diddy," prior to its worldwide success by Manfred Mann.
In 1964, the Exciters served as an opening act for the Beatles during their inaugural North American tour and became the first African American artists to perform at Jacksonville's Gator Bowl following advocacy from the Beatles.
By 1965, they parted ways with Leiber-Stoller and United Artists to join Roulette Records, releasing a cover of Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers' "I Want You to Be My Boy." Throughout the late 1960s, they continued recording under Bert Berns' Bang and Shout labels and later with RCA Records but experienced limited commercial achievements. Before disbanding in 1974, Ronnie Pace and Skip McPhee replaced Johnson and Walker.
In 1975, under the Exciters name, Brenda and Herb Rooney achieved a UK chart presence with "Reaching for the Best," produced by Rooney alongside Ian Levine to appeal to Northern soul enthusiasts; it reached number 31 on the UK Singles Chart. As Brenda & Herb, they also secured an R&B chart entry in 1978 with "Tonight I'm Gonna Make You A Star." After their separation, Reid assembled a new version of the Exciters featuring family members. Reid and Walker occasionally reunited to perform as The Exciters.
Herb Rooney passed away in 1991. Their son, Mark Cory Rooney, has established himself as an executive within the music industry. Carolyn Johnson died in 2007 at age 62, while Lillian Walker-Moss succumbed to angiosarcoma in 2023 at age 78.
Chart singles
| Year | Single | Chart Positions | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Pop | US R&B |
UK | ||
| 1962 | "Tell Him" | 4 | 5 | 46 |
| 1963 | "He's Got the Power" | 57 | — | — |
| "Get Him" | 76 | — | — | |
| 1964 | "Do-Wah-Diddy" | 78 | n/a | — |
| 1965 | "I Want You to Be My Boy" | 98 | n/a | — |
| 1966 | "A Little Bit of Soap" | 58 | — | — |
| 1969 | "You Don't Know What You're Missing ('Til It's Gone)" | — | 49 | — |
| 1975 | "Reaching for the Best" | — | — | 31 |
| 1978 | "Tonight I'm Gonna Make You a Star" Brenda & Herb (The Exciters) |
— | 70 | — |
Albums
- Tell Him (United Artists, 1963)
- The Exciters (Roulette, 1965)
- Caviar and Chitlins (1969)
- Black Beauty (1971)
- Heaven Is Where You Are (1976)
- The Exciters (1977)
See also
External links
- Biography of The Exciters at History of Rock
- Discography of The Exciters at Soulful Kinda Music