Johnny Thunder
Leroy "Gil" Hamilton, better known by his stage name Johnny Thunder, is best
known for the R&B hit "Loop de Loop". Born in Leesburg, Florida, on August 15,
1931, he began singing in church and on the street, before moving to New York in
the hope of meeting The Drifters. He succeeded in doing so, and even joined the
group for one tour, while their lead singer Ben E. King went off to pursue a
solo career. He went on to record under his birth name for the Capitol and Fury
labels, where his tenor voice came to the fore as a backing vocalist. One of his
songs, "Tell Her", becomes a hi...
