* The Music *
From Rhythm&Blues, Doo Wop, and Rock&Roll
The tunes we listened to in the late 50s and early 60s were varied in style and genre.
We didn't care how they were classified, we just liked them!
In retrospect, I remember Pat Boone's renditions of Litlle Richard's "Tutti Frutti" and
"Long Tall Sally" as somewhat comic-relief! Pat Boone made the songs popular, But
Little Richard, at the time, as the composer, felt he was being used.
History has shown that Pat Boone's covers of those hits helped to make Little Richard
the legend he is today,
The tunes we listened to in the late 50s and early 60s were varied in style and genre.
We didn't care how they were classified, we just liked them!
In retrospect, I remember Pat Boone's renditions of Litlle Richard's "Tutti Frutti" and
"Long Tall Sally" as somewhat comic-relief! Pat Boone made the songs popular, But
Little Richard, at the time, as the composer, felt he was being used.
History has shown that Pat Boone's covers of those hits helped to make Little Richard
the legend he is today,
The Classics Live On ...
So much of the Doo Wop sounds were based on the Big Band hits of the Forties. We didn't have
access to big band instruments, so we improvised with our voices. Thus began the DOO WOP years!
One of my all time favorites was, and still is ...
"You Belong To Me" originally done by Jo Stafford, brought back to life by the Duprees. Listen to the
covers below to hear and compare.
So much of the Doo Wop sounds were based on the Big Band hits of the Forties. We didn't have
access to big band instruments, so we improvised with our voices. Thus began the DOO WOP years!
One of my all time favorites was, and still is ...
"You Belong To Me" originally done by Jo Stafford, brought back to life by the Duprees. Listen to the
covers below to hear and compare.
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Papa Joe's POP DooWop Pit Stop ...
Remembering the classic hits and the misses of popular
music of the 50's, 60's and beyond.
Remembering the classic hits and the misses of popular
music of the 50's, 60's and beyond.
© Copyright 2010JHF-webSITE.com
Where were the girls?
Girl groups were rare in the early doo wop years. Producers and promoters were reluctant to take on
the responsibilities of the "care and feeding" of young, teenage girls.
Travel was limited to one day theater gigs and, of course, the availability of acceptable chaperones.
Performance venues were mostly restricted to matinees and early evenings. Club dates were a
definite taboo.
"The Bobettes"" was the first female vocal group of the Doo Wop era to top the charts. Their first
hit, "Mr Lee", written by the group, was released by Atlantic Records in June, 1957. "Mr Lee" was in
the Top Ten AND placed number 1 on the R&B charts, in July!
Then came "The Chantels" with their classic hit, "Maybe", written by lead singer, Arlene Smith.
"The Shirelles" weren't far behind when their own "I Met Him On A Sunday" , made it to #49 on
Billboard in late April, '58.
The girls kept coming on strong; "The Chiffons", "The Poni Tails", "The Ronettes", and a
myriad of others were topping the charts until '64 when the Golden Age of the Girl Groups waned to
usher in the "British Invasion".
Girl groups were rare in the early doo wop years. Producers and promoters were reluctant to take on
the responsibilities of the "care and feeding" of young, teenage girls.
Travel was limited to one day theater gigs and, of course, the availability of acceptable chaperones.
Performance venues were mostly restricted to matinees and early evenings. Club dates were a
definite taboo.
"The Bobettes"" was the first female vocal group of the Doo Wop era to top the charts. Their first
hit, "Mr Lee", written by the group, was released by Atlantic Records in June, 1957. "Mr Lee" was in
the Top Ten AND placed number 1 on the R&B charts, in July!
Then came "The Chantels" with their classic hit, "Maybe", written by lead singer, Arlene Smith.
"The Shirelles" weren't far behind when their own "I Met Him On A Sunday" , made it to #49 on
Billboard in late April, '58.
The girls kept coming on strong; "The Chiffons", "The Poni Tails", "The Ronettes", and a
myriad of others were topping the charts until '64 when the Golden Age of the Girl Groups waned to
usher in the "British Invasion".
Doo Wop Favorites 1954-1964 and Beyond |
| American POP Music History THE FIFTIES The 50s brought a mix of styles and genres to popular music. The Big Band sound was losing its edge. The transition to Rock and Roll as the prominent genre of popular music began in the mid fifities. Doo Wop was very popular but did not reach the Top Ten on the POP charts until '63 when the Chiffons reached #5 with He's So Fine". What better measure of music popularity than the Billboard POP Music Charts to illustrate the musical preferences of America in the 50s. We'll begin our walk through popular music history The Number One POP Hits 1950-59 |
| The Number One R&B Hits 1950-59 |
| "Tutti Frutti" Play the clips ... Compare styles ... What do you think? Which one ROCKS? |
| "I'm In Love Again" Play the clips ... Compare styles ... What do you think? Which one ROCKS? |
| "I Hear You Knockin' " Play the clips ... Compare styles ... Which do you prefer? POP or R&B? |
| "FEVER!" Play the clips ... Compare styles ... Which do you prefer? R&B or POP? |
| "Goodnight, Sweetheart" Play the clips ... Compare styles ... Which do you prefer? POP or DooWop? |
Pat Boone
Little Richard
Fats Domino
Ricky Nelson
Gale Storm
Smiley Lewis
Little Willy John
Peggy Lee
McGuire Sisters
The Spaniels
| "You Belong To Me" Play the clips ... Compare styles ... Which do you prefer? POP or DooWop? |
Joe Stafford
The Duprees (now!)
Jimmy Forrest
| "Night Train" Play the clips ... Compare styles ... Which do you prefer? Jump Blues or R&B? |
James Brown & the
Fabulous Flames
Fabulous Flames
Have Some Fun ... Compare these Classic Covers with the Originals!