Doo Wop is both the simplest and most complex musicalstyle, mixing lyrical nonsense and intricate harmony. And while it may be lost amidst themillennial hoopla, this year marks its 50th birthday.
In 1949 the "Race Records" chart wasrechristened "Rhythm & Blues" and the first black vocal group, The Orioles, conquered the new chart,placing all six of their Jubilee singles into the Top 20. Unlike records by The Ink Spots or TheMills Brothers, this was harmony-based music designed for a young black audience. The flock offollowers, from Flamingos to Penguins, neatly set the stage for the rock 'n' roll explosion of themid-1950s, when black musical styles were embraced en masse by a white teen audience.
Of course,you didn't have to be African-American to sing doo-wop, as paisanos Dion DiMucci or Johnny Maestrowould be quick to remind. You didn't have to live in a big city, though it sure helped; urbanstreetcorners were doo-wop's most fertile breeding ground. You didn't have to play an instrument --that was actually the point. All you had be able to do was blend your voice with three or fourothers (bass, baritone, tenor, and lead was the customary lineup) in angelic harmony.
From sucha rudimentary formula an amazing variety of great records resulted. "Gloria," doo wop's nationalanthem, covered by countless groups in the wake of the Cadillacs' hit version. The Capri's soaringfalsetto-led "There's A Moon Out Tonight," or The Marcels' "Blue Moon," (doo wop singers spent a lotof time staring up at the sky) with its unforgettable bassline intro. Or the haunting harmonies ofThe Flamingoes' "I Only Have Eyes For You."
You can hear all of these discs (and 97 more) on TheDoo Wop Box. Released in 1994 to wide critical acclaim, the 4-CD box celebrates "vocal group gemsfrom the golden age of rock 'n' roll." The collection recently became Rhino's first-ever box set tobe RIAA gold certified, inspiring a follow-up 4-volume package in 1996, with a third installment ,Doo Wop Box III, scheduled for August 2000. Stay tuned for more details regarding the latter!
Itwas the phenomenal success of our box sets that led to Rhino's first TV special, Doo Wop 50: Celebrating Five Decades Of Street Corner Harmony. Produced in association with Pittsburgh'sWQED-TV, the special premiered on PBS affiliates nationwide in December 1999. Hosted by JerryButler of The Impressions (who sings that group's hit "For Your Precious Love" during the show), the90-minute program features more than 20 original groups and performers from doo wop's heyday in the'50s and '60s -- many of whom reunited specifically for this anniversary special.
Taped over twomagical nights the previous May, Doo Wop 50 captures these concerts perfectly. In addition to theacts mentioned above, Doo Wop 50 offers the chance to see such vocal group legends as The Platters,The Spaniels, The Chantels, The Moonglows, The Skyliners, and the Duke Of Earl himself, GeneChandler performing their hits before an enthusiastic live audience. Home videos of the program --including footage not included in the broadcast -- will be available online and in your local retailstore in September both on VHS and DVD. As The Dells might have put it, "Oh What A Nite."
Wonderful as it is to listen to the impressive vocal work evident on Doo Wop 50, the special makesplain an important visual element to the music. In the pre-video era, costumes and slick dancemoves played key roles in establishing a group's identity. As Butler notes during the program,"Part of any great stage show, and especially in the '50s, was the choreography, and while nowadaysfolks happen to think that The Temptations started it all, that's not true. Even though they'reknown for their smooth moves it was a group called The Cadillacs who invented the synchronized stageshow." In fact, The Moonglows' Harvey Fuqua went on to manage Berry Gordy's famed musical finishingschool, further underlining doo wop's influence on the Motown acts to come.
Doo wop has longbeen one of the passions of Rhino Records' founder Richard Foos. "Doo wop is the most pure form ofrock 'n' roll," remarks Foos. "As someone who grew up in Pittsburgh listening to this music on theradio, I can't express how exciting it is for me to see the success of The Doo Wop Box set manifestitself into a nationally televised PBS special hosted in my hometown. Doo wop will live forever,and Rhino is very proud to be a part of the legacy."
T.J. Lubinsky, producer of the Doo Wop 50special is quick to agree. Lubinsky, whose grandfather Herman founded the legendary R&B label SavoyRecords, is ideally qualified to bring the songs of the streetcorner into living rooms across thecountry. "If you were a teenager in the late '50s or early '60s, this show will take you back tothat simple time, but the great thing about these classic songs is that the music really istimeless," he noted. "In the spirit of Alan Freed's rock 'n' roll shows, this tribute will payhonor to all the legends that helped shape rock 'n' roll".
We'll leave it to "The Iceman" to sumthings up. "Doo wop crossed all boundaries, young and old, black and white, and gave teenagers avoice," reflects Jerry Butler. "While the doo wop scene continued to evolve, so did the timelessharmonies and arrangements of the streetcorner composers. They recorded the standards and gave thema whole new sound and wrote original songs which became the classics of a new generation."
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