Page "Doo-wop" Paragraph 11

Doo-wop songs had fast beats as frequently as slow ones.

In 1954 doo-wop groups played a significant role in ushering in the rock and roll era when two big rhythm and blues hits by vocal harmony groups, " Gee " by The Crows and " Sh-Boom " by The Chords crossed over onto the pop music charts.

Quickly other R & B vocal groups entered the pop charts, particularly in 1955, which saw such cross-over doowop hits as " Sincerely " by The Moonglows, " Earth Angel " by The Penguins, and " Only You " by The Platters and The Turbans ' " When You Dance " became the first hit to use the " doo-wop " syllables.

The same year saw a number one pop chart hit, " The Great Pretender " by The Platters.

In 1956 Frankie Lymon and The Teenagers appeared on the Frankie Laine show in New York, which was televised nationally, performing their hit " Why Do Fools Fall in Love ?".

Frankie Laine referred to it as " rock and roll " but Lymon's extreme youth made the style appeal to a young and enthusiastic audience.

His string of hits included " I Promise To Remember ", " The ABCs of Love " and " I'm not a Juvenile Delinquent ".

In 1958 " Book of Love " by The Monotones became an icon of the style.