Why doo wop

In other words, they attempted to replicate the formula employed a generation earlier by black groups like the Mills Brothers and the Ink Spots. Doo-wop features began emerging in African American pop music during the period. The doo-wop era began around a time when the key musical qualities of the genre were all clearly in evidence--and remained artistically and commercially viable until the early s.

This time frame can be subdivided into several phases of stylistic development. This subgenre retains many visible features of its stylistic ancestors; e. This phase featured tight and sweet harmonies; however, the lead singers lost much of the smoothness typifying paleo-doo-wop recordings.

Bass singers were given a more prominent role; in the past they had tended to function merely as part of the background harmony. The performers were generally quite young, featuring lyrics primarily concerned with young, idealistic love.

Nonsense syllables were employed in the majority of songs. Instrumentation remained in the background, albeit with a heavy backbeat.

The classical period saw the development of a wide array of spinoff styles, in part a response to newly devised marketing strategies. The focal point here was an ultra-high tenor, usually a male in his early teenage years. While Frankie Lymon was the definitive interpreter from the standpoint of both commercial success and singing prowess, he has many imitators, including brother Lewis Lymon the Teenchords , the Kodaks, the Schoolboys, and the Students. Lead singers studiously avoided being smooth; rather, they seemed to swagger as they sang.

Likewise, harmonies, though intricate, were rough in approach. Like African Americans, Italian Americans accorded music a prime place in their upbringing through church. Although isolated white groups had appeared in the early s e. This variant was distinguished by even tighter group harmonies, roughly-hewn tenors pushing their upper registers to produce a "sweet" sound, and the prominence of bass singers the latter a premonition of the neo-doo-wop phase. Generally, the East Coast produced the best black vocal groups.

I used to talk to my bassman and my trumpet player and we used to say, "There must be something here in the water that causes that". The direct influence of these great black singing units was, then, one reason why white groups on the East Coast were so good. But equally important was social and racial background.

White groups from the West Coast were usually over-privileged kids who sang and surfed in equal proportions. White doo-wop's best exponents sprang from lower status minorities.

By WASP standards, 'white' is really a misnomer since it was the Italian, Hispanic and Polish kids who took to the subways in search of the perfect echo. Of all these ethnic groups, the Italians were the most important.

By , white doo-woppers were coming from all over the country. Danny and the Juniors were one of the most successful, if not the most talented of white groups. Doo Wop is a soulful music genre that has evolved into a common vocal technique used by several singers. These shows feature singers and groups who use the pure vocal harmonies iconic to Doo Wop.

Sing along to your favorites and walk away with unforgettable musical memories! Call us at and grab your tickets to one of our upcoming Doo Wop Cavalcade shows! What is Doo Wop? History of Doo Wop Doo Wop began in the s. Notable Bands The list of Doo Wop groups is seemingly endless. But for a few fleeting moments, these velvet-tongued lotharios must have been the toast of their towns.

Brian Wilson was enough of a fan to base the entire career of the Beach Boys on the close vocal harmonies and subject matter love, or lack thereof of doo-wop.

And the core elements are there in the works of modern harmony junkies such as Weezer or even the arrangements of the occasional Futureheads song. Of course, the music of doo-wop is as cheesy as Shane Richie tap-dancing on a giant double-cheese burger with extra cheese in an American-themed diner while pink ladies pelt him with miniature Babybels.

The lyrics initially seem crass and sentimental, but perhaps it is only our cynical modern ears that make them that way. Listening today it's hard not to be taken back to your spotty teenage years, when all that mattered was getting the girls of your dreams.