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Doo Wop - Rhythm and Blues vocalized into gorgeous melodies
Originated in the streets of American north-eastern cities, Doo-Wop was an African American Vocal style based in smooth harmonies. It was the closest rock genre to pop music in the 1950's. Drawing its inspiration from the rhythm and blues cultures it became a music style of its own and was widely popular in the 50's and 60's.
Thinking about Doo Wop at the time, one had to think also about street corner youngsters, who formed into groups of 5 or 6 individual and who would harmonize to the sounds of doo-wop for the fun of it. These youngsters owed much of their music background to the teaching and music of the local black churches and as such were particularly adept at adapting to this new vocal genre. They brought fun and a carefree philosophy to music.
This carefree attitude made them ideal victims to unscrupulous agents and record companies' contacts. Indeed label owners had no difficulty in convincing them that his his own name should be listed as the music composer rather than the musicians themselves as "his own name was already known" but deejays.
The young musicians were also made to agree that they would be paid by session instead of being paid by the number of records sold and signed agreements that permitted their agents and record companies to pay studio and promotional costs directly from their own royalties.
As if this was not sufficient, all rights to the original songs had to be given to the record companies and the musician managers was paid 50 pc of the musicians' own royalties. They were further rip-offs such as the musician having to do major shows for free, going as far as having to pay to feature on TV shows.
The irony in the above unsavory practices is that they were often times initiated by smaller record companies. These companies and the groups they badly represented might have survived if the musicians had not bee so cheated of mechanical and performance rights!
Some of doo wop groups included:
The Dubs and their most endearing ballad records "Could this be magic" released in 1957. Even though it was not an overwhelming hit at the time, it is still counted as one of doo wop classics.
1962 saw the re-release of "you belong to me" by the Duprees, a most gifted Italian Doo Wop music group. "you belong to me" 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.
Doo Wop has an international and varied audience. Concerts and events are still being organized today and continue to enthrall an audience that combines both the older with their grand-kids they often times bring to see the show.
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