Influenced by rhythm and blues, doop-wop was a vocalized harmonized genre using phonetic syllables (doo-wop) without obvious meanings to bring in rhythm and harmonic arrangements. Primarily an African American music genre, it became popular throughout the 50’s and the 60’s as a separate genre.
Doo-wop is associated with street corner music groups of 4 or 5 youngsters who had their musical background from local black churches and or their home. As such, each member of the group brought his/her own talent and specialty and allowed the group as a whole to express its vocal qualities mixed in with harmonies and rhythm. As young people, they had a carefree attitude to the doo-wop and music industry.
This particular attitude also meant that they could be manipulated and indeed taken advantages off by a variety of the music industry’s business people such as agents, and record companies’ contact people. It was even a common policy for label owners to list their own name (instead of the name of the musicians) as the actual composer of the music since he was already known in the music industry and would make the marketing of the record much easier, or so he told them.
In addition, these inexperienced youngsters were lead to believe that they would be paid by session, rather than by number of records sold. They were made to sign contracts that permitted studio and promotional costs to be paid directly from the artist’s own royalties.
And just as this wasn’t enough, original rights to the songs had to be passed on to the record companies who also insisted that the musician perform for free on major promotional shows. Finally, agents took a 50 pc cut from all of the musicians’ income.
As in most things related to greed, these companies who were for the most part smaller startups would have benefited from being honest with their artists as they themselves would not have felt so thoroughly cheated and might have gone on to produce even more wonderful music.
Famous doo wop music groups include
The Dubs, who with lead vocalist Richard Blandon released “could this be magic”. Although it was not a huge hit back in 1957 when it was first released, it nevertheless has endured as one of doo wop classics.
The Dupees, one of the finest Italian doo wop made delightful doo wop harmonies, none more than the very successful “you belong to me” who had previously been recorded by Patty Page, Jo Stafford, Dean Martin and Joni James.
“Little Star” released in 1958 by a white doo wop group based in New Yord, The Elegants achieved notoriety and was top of both R&B and Pop charts! The Elegants were led by Vito Picone.
The Five Satins, best known for “In the Still of the Night” who was a true classic and the only hit of this magnitude by the Five Satins. The group was led by Fred Parris in 1954 and he wrote their biggest hits “In the Still of the Night” in the basement of a local church. By the time the song scaled the charts, Parris had been drafted into the army.
In the mid 1960’s British Rock and Rock groups launched what is commonly referred to as the British Invasion and this signaled the end of the doo wop era as a predominant force. The doowop popularity although largely diminished saw various up turns in the decades that followed.
Even today shows and events are organized in front an enthralled audience who together with a very international audience help maintain the vibrancy of doo wop, a truly incredible music phenomena. Attending a show is something that can only be whole heartedly recommended as it will uncover a unique blend of vocal music mixed in with fun and joy.
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