DOO WOP ARTISTS

What does Doo-Wop mean? Sounds made by a singing group as they provide harmonic background vocals for the lead singer.

This definition can be found in distinguished vocal groups from the 1940’s. The Ink Spots established the use of the tenor and bass singers as the paramount members in a vocal group. This use of the tenor and bass can be found in records of the Ravens who formed in 1945. Other great groups who were influenced by the Ink Spots style of vocals are as follows: the Orioles, the Spaniels, and the Platters who remade the Ink Spots song “My Prayer” in 1956, this doo-wop style even influenced the Motown singers in the 1960’s.

Chicago, New York, Baltimore and Los Angeles all lay claim to the origins of the Doo-Wop sound. These urban communities contained the settings that enabled these groups, to express their music without instruments, using their voices in capella form.

In Chicago, the El Dorados, the Flamingos, and in nearby, Gary, Indiana, Pookie Hudson and the Spaniels of “Goodnite Sweetheart Goodnite” fame began their respective careers.

In New York City groups such as the Cadillacs, the Crows in 1953 with “Gee”, and the Heartbeats and later several other legendary groups such as; the Ravens, the Five Satins, Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers, the Jesters, Dion and the Belmonts, Jive Five began recording the songs that changed the course of music history.

The earliest of Doo-Wop roots can be found in a Baltimore, Maryland group formed in 1946 by Sonny Til and named the Vibranaires. This group later changed their name to the Orioles and topped the charts with “It’s To Soon To Know”. Many music historians consider “It’s To Soon To Know” by the Orioles to be the first Doo-Wop song to be recorded.

Los Angeles lays claim to the Penguins of “Earth Angel” fame, the Platters in 1953, the Coasters, and several other great groups.

Groups such as Lee Andrews & the Hearts formed in 1953 in Southwest Philadelphia of “Long Lonely Nights” fame also put Philadelphia on the Doo-Wop map. And 1959 the Ly-Dells kept Philadelphia in the limelight by releasing 14 songs over the next four years, the most recognized being “Wizard of Love”. In just five months it soared to number one and sold over a million copies.

By 1958, the Doo-Wop style of music ruled the rock n’ roll airwaves. the Silhouettes, Dion & the Belmonts, the Chantels with “Maybe”, the Del Vikings with “Come Go With Me”, the Platters, the Coasters and most of the greatest groups to ever record were capturing the hearts of America with their forever-legendary songs.

email JonyB