Jackie & the Starlites were an American doo wop group active between 1960 and 1963.

Their leader, Jackie LaRue, sang with The Five Wings (who recorded for King Records

King Records (USA)

King Records is an American record label, started in 1943 by Syd Nathan and originally headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio.-History:At first it specialized in country music, at the time still known as "hillbilly music." King advertised, "If it's a King, It's a Hillbilly -- If it's a Hillbilly, it's a...

 in 1955) and The Dubs

The Dubs

The Dubs are an American doo wop vocal group formed in 1956, best known for their songs "Could This Be Magic", "Don't Ask Me To Be Lonely" and "Chapel of Dreams".-Original career, 1956-1958:The original members of the Dubs were:...

 prior to joining the Starlites in 1960. They are best known for the single "Valerie" (or "Valarie"), cut for Fury Records

Fury Records

Fury Records was set up by Bobby Robinson in 1957. In 1959 it had a Billboard No.1 hit with Kansas City, sung by Wilbert Harrison. In the early seventies the label launched early rap groups like Grandmaster Flash....

 in 1960. The song reached the lower echelons of the U.S. charts that year, and featured LaRue literally breaking down into a fit of crying jags over a lost love. Their lone other charting hit was for Mascot Records in 1962, a tune called "I Found Out Too Late" which reached #17 on the R&B charts. By 1963 the group was defunct.

"Valarie" was later covered by Frank Zappa

Frank Zappa

Frank Vincent Zappa was an American composer, singer-songwriter, electric guitarist, record producer and film director. In a career spanning more than 30 years, Zappa wrote rock, jazz, orchestral and musique concrète works. He also directed feature-length films and music videos, and designed...

 on the album Burnt Weeny Sandwich

Burnt Weeny Sandwich

Burnt Weeny Sandwich is a live and studio compilation album by Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention, released in 1970 ....

.