R&B vocal groups of the 50s were most popular in northern cities. This style of singing, which was later called doo wop, peaked in the mid-1950s. It just so happened that these were the same years that artists like Fats Domino, Elvis Presley, Little Richard and Buddy Holly had mainstream pop hits. It was the beginning of rock and roll.
The doo wop sound played a major part in R&B and rock and roll's development. The late comedian and social critic George Carlin grew up in New York City at the time doo wop groups were hot. He would often riff on some of his favorite groups.
We were attracted to the Black music as well, man, because it was the groups. It was the beginning of the hallway groups, what I call them. We had the Diamonds, and the Drifters, and the Vocaleers, and the Five Willows, and the Flamingos, and the Spaniels, and the Orioles, and the Crows, and the Clovers, and the Sapphires, and the Five Keys, and it went from there. But this was the original part, before they really ripped off the Black music, when it was still… [sings doo wop vocal riffs] Then you just go from there, whoever had the next part. It was nice. Everybody could sing every part because your voice was cracking anyway, right?
R&B vocal group harmony was popular in most American cities, but probably none more so than New York. Most of the groups were Black. Italian or Hispanic. Some of the most popular groups from New York City included Dion and the Belmonts from the Bronx:
Little Anthony and the Imperials from Brooklyn:
The Five Crowns later known as the Drifters from Harlem:
And the Heartbeats:
There were hundreds of groups in the 50s recording in New York City alone. Dozens of small record labels competed with the major hitters. Groups often recorded in makeshift studios. In many cases, just a small room in the back of a record store or in a basement.
The musicians who backed these groups were often seasoned jazz players who never got any credit. So, to this day, most of them will never be known.
A radio DJ named Gus Gossert is credited with coining the term doo wop in the late 60s. His radio show paid tribute to the teenage groups of the 50s.
Listen next time for the doo wop revival of the 70s.
Listen to the segment, above.
