Doo Wop
“Growing up I wasn’t really into in Latin music. I got more interested in and what I was listening to on the radio was doo wop. I just fell in love with that music.”
- Bobby Marin, “We Like it Like That”
The Flamingos perform their only number one hit at Saturday Night Beech-Nut Show which, although it looks like winter, was filmed in July 1959.
Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers were from the Washington Heights district of Manhattan. The group consisted of two Hispanic and three African American singers. They had several big hits in the 1950s before fading into obscurity thanks to mistreatment by the record industry.
“Stay” was written by a then 15-year old Maurice Williams and was a major hit in 1960. This song features a cha cha rhythm and close harmonies typical of doo wop.
The Still of the Night was a major doo wop hit that included repetitive sounds (shoo be doo) and a slow but infectious rhythm.