Doo Wop - Rhythm and Blues vocalized into gorgeous melodies

By Themusicmam

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 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.

Record companies often times had these inexperienced youngster sign contracts allowing for the payment of studio and promotional costs to be met by the artists themselves! Furthermore, they also had to agree that they would be paid on a session basis rather than on the number of records sold.

To make matter worse, musicians often times had to perform for free on major shows and even had to pay in order to feature on TV shows. Also, all rights to the original songs had to be released to the record companies, and agents took 50% of their earnings.

The tragedy in this is that in all likelihood, the groups would have been able to survive and might have gone on to produce more music had they not been so cheated by their own record companies. These companies for the most part were startups themselves, and hence would have been more likely to have benefited from relationships and practices that did not alienated the artists they were representing.

Some of doo wop groups included:

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, formed by Fred Harris in 1954 release "In the Still of the Night" a true favorite amongst doo wop lovers. Created in the basement of a local church the single was release in the spring of 1956 and became a huge hit. Musician leader Harris was not in the US when this happened as by then he had already been drafted into the army.

Doo Wop was surpassed and its popularity at the time destroyed by the British Invasion, this very civilized and pacific take over of our popular culture of the time by British Rock and Roll groups. In spite of that, doo wop has endured into the hearts and souls many!

To this day Doo wop music is still a favorite for a large and international audience. Music lovers from as far as Japan, Germany, France and many more countries contribute in maintaining its popularity. Concerts and shows are held on a regular basis and continue to charm and enthrall their audience.