Frankie Lymon

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Frankie Lymon
Frankie Lymon performing "Goody, Goody" on Toast of the Town circa 1958.
Frankie Lymon performing "Goody, Goody" on Toast of the Town circa 1958.
Background information
Birth name Franklin Joseph Lymon
Born September 30, 1942(1942-09-30)
Origin Harlem, New York City, New York, U.S.
Died February 27, 1968 (aged 25), Harlem, New York City, New York, USA
Genre(s) Rhythm and blues, doo-wop, rock and roll, pop
Occupation(s) Singer-songwriter
Instrument(s) Vocals
Years active 1955-1968
Label(s) Gee, Roulette
Associated acts The Teenagers

Franklin Joseph "Frankie" Lymon (September 30, 1942 – February 27, 1968) was an African-American rock and roll/Rhythm and blues singer, best known as the boy soprano lead singer of a New York City-based early rock and roll group called The Teenagers. The group included five boys, all in their early to mid teens. The original lineup of the Teenagers, an integrated group, included three African-American members, Frankie Lymon, Jimmy Merchant and Sherman Garnes, and two Puerto Rican members, Herman Santiago and Joe Negroni.

The Teenagers' first single, 1956's "Why Do Fools Fall in Love", was also their biggest. After Lymon went solo in mid-1957, both his career and those of the Teenagers fell into decline. Lymon eventually fell into heroin addiction, and died in 1968 at the age of 25.

Contents

[edit] Biography

[edit] Early years: joining the Teenagers

Frankie Lymon was born in Harlem, New York to a truck driver father and a domestic mother. Lymon's father, Howard Lymon, also sang in a gospel group known as the Harlemaires; Frankie Lymon and his brothers Louis and Howie sung with the Harlemaire Juniors (a fourth Lymon brother, Timmy, a singer, but not with the Harlemaire Juniors). The Lymon family struggled to make ends meet, and Lymon began working as a grocery boy at age ten, augmenting his legitimate income with proceeds gained from hustling prostitutes.[1]

At the age of twelve, Lymon heard a local doo-wop group known as the Coupe De Villes at a school talent show. He befriended their lead singer, Herman Santiago, and eventually became a member of the group, now calling itself both The Ermines and The Premiers.

One day in 1955, a neighbor gave The Premiers several love letters that had been written to him by his girlfriend, with the hopes that he could give the boys inspiration to write their own songs. Merchant and Santiago adapted one of the letters into a song called "Why Do Birds Sing So Gay?" With Lymon's input, the song became "Why Do Fools Fall in Love". The Premiers, now calling themselves The Teenagers, got their first shot at fame after impressing Richard Barrett, a singer with The Valentines. Barrett in turn got the group an audition with record producer George Goldner. On the day of the group's audition, Santiago was the original lead singer but, Goldner noticed Frankie's voice in the background and asked him to have a try at singing lead. Lymon led the Teenagers through "Why Do Fools Fall in Love".

[edit] "Why Do Fools Fall in Love": fame and success

Goldner signed the quintet to Gee Records, and "Why Do Fools Fall in Love" became their first single in January 1956. The single peaked at #6 on the Billboard pop singles chart, and topped the Billboard R&B singles chart for five weeks.

Five other R&B top ten singles followed over the next year-plus: "I Want You To Be My Girl", "I Promise To Remember", "Who Can Explain?", "Out in the Cold Again", and "The ABC's of Love." "I'm Not A Juvenile Delinquent" and "Baby Baby" were also popular Teenagers releases. "I Want You To Be My Girl" gave the band its second pop hit, reaching #13 on the national Billboard Hot 100 chart. "Goody Goody" was a #20 pop hit, but did not appear on the R&B chart. The Teenagers placed two other singles in the lower half of the pop chart.

With the release of "I Want You to Be My Girl", the group's second single, The Teenagers became Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers. A long-playing album, The Teenagers Featuring Frankie Lymon, was issued in December 1956.

The group's success made Frankie Lymon the first African-American teen idol. [2] In March 1956, the Teenagers began appearing with pioneering rock and roll DJ Alan Freed's rock-and-roll revues, performing alongside acts such as Little Richard, Bo Diddley, The Platters, and Bill Haley and His Comets. The group also appeared in two of Freed's early rock and roll films, Rock, Rock, Rock (1956) and Mister Rock and Roll (1957), and performed on Freed's radio and television programs. While touring with the Platters, Lymon befriended that group's sole female singer, Zola Taylor, whom he later began a romantic relationship with.

[edit] Going solo

In early 1957, Lymon and the Teenagers split apart while on a tour of Europe. During an engagement at the London Palladium, Goldner began pushing Lymon as a solo act, giving him solo spots in the show. Lymon began performing with backing from pre-recorded tapes. The group's last single, "Goody Goody" backed with "Creation of Love," initially retained the Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers credit, but were actually solo recordings (with backing by session singers). Lymon had officially departed from the group by September 1957; an in-progress studio album called Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers at the London Palladium was instead issued as a Lymon solo release.

As a solo artist, Lymon was not nearly as successful as he was with the Teenagers. Beginning with his second solo release, "My Girl", Lymon was moved to Roulette Records. On a July 19, 1957 episode of Freed's live ABC TV show The Big Beat, Lymon began dancing with a white teenage girl while performing. His actions caused a scandal, particularly among Southern TV station owners, and The Big Beat was subsequently canceled.[3]

Lymon's slowly tapering sales fell sharply after his voice changed and he lost his signature soprano voice. Adopting a falsetto, Lymon carried on. His highest charting solo hit was a cover of Thurston Harris' "Little Bitty Pretty One", which peaked at number 58 on the Hot 100 pop chart in 1960, and which had actually been recorded in 1957. Addicted to heroin since age 15, Lymon fell further into his habit, and his performing career went into decline. According to Lymon in an interview with Ebony in 1967, he said that he was first introduced to heroin by a woman twice his age, when he was 15. In 1961, Roulette, now run by Morris Levy, ended their contract with Lymon and the singer entered a drug rehabilitation program.

After losing Lymon, the Teenagers went through a string of replacement singers, the first of whom was Lymon's immediate successor Billy Lobrano. In 1960, Howard Kenny Bobo sang lead on "Tonight's The Night" with the Teenagers; later that year, Johnny Houston sang lead on 2 songs. The Teenagers, who had been moved by Morris Levy onto End Records, were released from their contract in 1961. The Teenagers briefly reunited with Lymon in 1965, without success.

[edit] Later years and death

Over the next four years, Lymon struggled through short-lived deals with 20th Century Fox Records and Columbia Records. Lymon began a relationship with Elizabeth Waters, who became his first wife in January 1964. Lymon's marriage to Ms. Waters was not legal in the beginning, due to her still being legally married to her first husband. However, they supposedly became married by way of common law marriage eventually. Lymon's marriage failed, and he moved to Los Angeles in the mid-1960s, where he began a romantic relationship with Zola Taylor. He appeared at the Apollo as part of a revue, adding an extended tap dance number. His final television performance was on Hollywood a Go-Go in 1965, where the then twenty-two year old singer lip-synched to the recording of his thirteen-year-old self singing "Why Do Fools Fall in Love," which was a bold and courageous step toward revitalizing his career. Taylor claimed to have married Lymon in Mexico in 1965,[4] although their relationship ended several months later because of Lymon's drug habits. Though, Lymon has been known to say that their marriage was a publicity stunt. Taylor could produce no legal documentation of their marriage.

The same year, Lymon was drafted into the United States Army, and stationed at Fort Gordon, Georgia near Augusta, Georgia for training. While in the Augusta area, Lymon met and fell in love with Elmira Eagle, a schoolteacher at Hornsby Elementary in Augusta. The two were wed in June 1967, and Lymon repeatedly went AWOL to secure club dates at small Southern clubs. Dishonorably discharged from the Army, Lymon moved into his wife's home and continued to perform sporadically.

Traveling to New York in 1968, manager Sam Bray signed Lymon to his Big Apple label, and the singer returned to recording. Roulette Records expressed interest in releasing Lymon's records in conjunction with Big Apple and scheduled a recording session for February 28. Lymon, staying at his grandmother's house in Harlem where he had grown up, celebrated his good fortune by taking heroin -- he had remained clean ever since entering the Army three years prior. On February 27, 1968, Lymon was found dead from a heroin overdose. [5][6] He was twenty-five years old. He was buried at Saint Raymond's Cemetery in the Throggs Neck section of The Bronx in New York. "I'm Sorry" and "Seabreeze", the two sides Lymon had recorded for Big Apple before his death, were released later in the year. "Seabreeze" showcased the beauty of his mature sound along with the vocal skills and techniques that made him famous.

[edit] Legal issues

Lymon's troubles did not end with his death. After R&B singer Diana Ross returned "Why Do Fools Fall in Love" to the Top Ten in 1981, a major controversy concerning Lymon's estate ensued. Zola Taylor, Elizabeth Waters, and Elmira Eagle each approached Morris Levy, who retained possession of Lymon's copyrights and his royalties, claiming to be Lymon's rightful widow - Lymon had neglected to divorce both Taylor and Waters. The complex issue resulted in lawsuits and counter-lawsuits, and in 1986, the first of several court cases concerning the ownership of Lymon's estate began.

Trying to determine who was indeed the lawful Mrs. Frankie Lymon was complicated by more issues. Waters was already married when she married Lymon; she had separated from her first husband, but their divorce was finalized in 1965, after she had married Lymon.[7] Taylor claimed to have married Lymon in Mexico in 1965, but could produce no acceptable evidence of their union.[8] Lymon's marriage to Eagle, on the other hand, was properly documented as having taken place at the Beulah Grove Baptist Church in Augusta, Georgia in 1967; however, the singer was still apparently twice-married and never divorced when he married Eagle. The first decision was made in Waters' favor; Eagle appealed, and in 1990, the New York State Supreme Court reversed the original decision and awarded Eagle Lymon's estate.[9]

However, the details of the case brought about another issue: whether Morris Levy was deserving of the songwriting co-credit on "Why Do Fools Fall in Love". Although early vinyl single releases of "Why Do Fools Fall in Love" credit Frankie Lymon, Herman Santiago, and Jimmy Merchant as co-writers of the song, later releases and cover versions were attributed to Lymon and George Goldner. When Goldner sold his music companies to Morris Levy in 1959, Levy's name began appearing as co-writer of "Why Do Fools Fall in Love" in place of Goldner's. Lymon was never paid his songwriters' royalties during his lifetime; one result of Elmira Eagle's legal victory was that Lymon's estate would finally begin receiving monetary compensation from his hit song's success. In 1987, Herman Santiago and Jimmy Merchant, both then poor, sued Morris Levy for their songwriters' credits.

In December 1992, the United States federal courts ruled that Santiago and Merchant were co-authors of "Why Do Fools Fall in Love"[6]. However, in 1996 the ruling was reversed by the Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit on the basis of the statute of limitations: copyright cases must be brought before a court within three years of the alleged civil violation, and Merchant and Santiago's lawsuit was not filed until 30 years later. Authorship of "Why Do Fools Fall in Love" currently remains in the names of Frankie Lymon and Morris Levy.[10]

[edit] Legacy

Although their period of success was brief, Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers' string of hits were highly influential on the rock and R&B performers who followed them. Lymon's high-voiced sound is said to be a direct predecessor of the girl group sound, and the list of performers who name him as an influence include Ronnie Spector, The Chantels, Diana Ross, The Temptations, Smokey Robinson, and Len Barry, among others.[11][12] [2] The performers most inspired by and derivative of Lymon and the Teenagers' style are The Jackson 5 and its lead singer and future superstar Michael Jackson. Motown Records founder Berry Gordy, Jr. based much of the Jackson 5's sound on Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers' recordings, [2] and the Teenagers are believed to be the original model for many of the other Motown groups he cultivated.[13]

Lymon's music and story were re-introduced to modern audiences with Why Do Fools Fall in Love, a 1998 biographical film directed by Gregory Nava, also the director of the Selena biopic. Why Do Fools Fall in Love tells a comedic, fictionalized version of Lymon's story from the points of view of his three wives as they battle in court for the rights to his estate. The film stars Larenz Tate as Frankie Lymon, Halle Berry as Zola Taylor, Vivica A. Fox as Elizabeth Waters, and Lela Rochon as Elmira Eagle. Why Do Fools Fall in Love was not a commercial success: it met with mixed reviews,[14] the film grossed a total of $12,461,773 during its original theatrical run.[15]

Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1993, and into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2000.

[edit] Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers discography

[edit] Singles

Gee releases
  • 1956-01: [Gee 1002] "Why Do Fools Fall In Love" / "Please Be Mine" 1 (#1 on the R&B chart for 5 weeks)
  • 1956-04: [Gee 1012] "I Want You To Be My Girl" / "I'm Not A Know It All" ² (#3 on R&B chart)
  • 1956-07: [Gee 1018] "I Promise To Remember" / "Who Can Explain" (double-sided hit on R&B chart (#10 and #7))
  • 1956-10: [Gee 1022] "The ABC's Of Love" / "Share" (#8 on R&B chart)
  • 1957-02: [Gee 1026] "I'm Not A Juvenile Delinquent" / "Baby, Baby"
  • 1957-04: [Gee 1032] "Paper Castles" / "Teenage Love"
  • 1957-05: [Gee 1035] "Love Is A Clown / Am I Fooling Myself Again"
  • 1957-06: [Gee 1036] "Out In The Cold Again" / "Miracle In The Rain" 1 (#10 on R&B chart)
  • 1957-07: [Gee 1039] "Goody Goody" / "Creation Of Love" ³
  • 1957-12: [Gee 1046] "Everything To Me" / "Flip Flop" 4

[edit] Notes

  • 1 Released as by "The Teenagers featuring Frankie Lymon"
  • ² Early copies released as by "The Teenagers featuring Frankie Lymon"; billing on later pressings changed to "Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers"
  • ³ Both sides of this release are actually Frankie Lymon solo recordings.
  • 4 billed as "The Teenagers" (lead vocal by Billy Lobrano)

[edit] Album

  • 1956: [Gee 701] The Teenagers Featuring Frankie Lymon

[edit] Frankie Lymon solo discography

[edit] Singles

Roulette releases
  • 1957: [Roulette 4026] "My Girl" / "So Goes My Love"
  • 1957: [Roulette 4035] "Little Girl" / "It's Christmas Once Again"
  • 1958: [Roulette 4044] "Thumb Thumb" / "Footsteps"
  • 1958: [Roulette 4068] "Portable On My Shoulder" / "Mama Don't Allow It" — 4/58
  • 1958: [Roulette 4093] "Only Way To Love" / "Melinda"
  • 1959: [Roulette 4128] "Up Jumped A Rabbit" / "No Matter What You've Done"
  • 1959: [Roulette 4150] "What A Little Moonlight Can Do" / "Before I Fall Asleep"
Gee release
  • 1959: [Gee 1052] "Goody Good Girl" / "I'm Not Too Young To Dream"
Roulette releases
  • 1960: [Roulette 4257] "Little Bitty Pretty One" / "Creation Of Love"
  • 1960: [Roulette 4283] "Buzz Buzz Buzz" / "Waitin' In School"
  • 1961: [Roulette 4310] "Jailhouse Rock" / "Silhouettes"
  • 1961: [Roulette 4348] "Change Partners" / "So Young (And So In Love)"
  • 1961: [Roulette 4391] "Young" / "I Put The Bomp"
Later releases
  • 1964: "To Each His Own" / "Teacher, Teacher" (20th Century Fox)
  • 1964: "Somewhere" / "Sweet And Lovely" (Columbia)
  • 1968: "I'm Sorry" / "Seabreeze" (Big Apple)

[edit] Albums

  • 1956: Frankie Lymon And The Teenagers - 1981 Re-issue Roulette Y2-116-RO (Japan) [Gee 701]
  • 1957: Frankie Lymon at the London Palladium (Roulette)
  • 1958: Rock & Roll with Frankie Lymon (Roulette)

[edit] References

  1. ^ Fotenot, Robert. "Profile: Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers."
  2. ^ a b c Koda, Cub. "Frankie Lymon", All Music Guide. Retrieved on 2007-08-21. "Frankie Lymon (1942-1968) & the Teenagers were a New York doowop group consisting of Joe Negroni, Herman Santiago, Jimmy Merchant, and Sherman Garnes but centered around the extraordinary talents of their lead singer, 13-year-old Frankie Lymon. Lymon was credited with their first big hit, "Why Do Fools Fall in Love" (In the early '90s, a federal judge ruled after a lengthy trial that Lymon hadn't written "Why Do Fools Fall in Love" -- another member of the Teenagers had). His wise-beyond-his-years vocal and performing abilities not only made the Teenagers a group several notches above the competition but made Lymon the first Black teenage pop star." 
  3. ^ Quebec, Michael (May 2002). "Alan Freed". Balboafeet.com. Retrieved from http://www.balboafeet.com/articles/alanfreed.php on November 19, 2006.
  4. ^ Bennett, Joy. "The Real Story of Why Do Fools Fall in Love"
  5. ^ "Frankie Lymon Dies in Apartment.", New York Times, February 28, 1968, Wednesday. Retrieved on 2007-08-21. "Frankie Lymon, the rock 'n' roll singer who popularized "Why Do Fools Fall in Love?" was found dead yesterday in the apartment of a friend, apparently, of an overdose of narcotics, according to the police." 
  6. ^ a b Frankie Lymon, Find A Grave Memorial
  7. ^ Goldberg, Marc. "Marc Goldberg's R&B Notebook: The Teenagers".
  8. ^ Bennett, Joy. "The Real Story of Why Do Fools Fall in Love"
  9. ^ Bennett, Joy. "The Real Story of Why Do Fools Fall in Love" The 1998 Frankie Lymon biographical film colludes with a post-script comical note, stating that Elmira Eagle (now legally Elmira Eagle-Lymon) received only $15,000 from winning Lymon's estate, after legal and other expenses were paid off. An excerpt from this article states otherwise: "A major discrepancy in the movie left the impression that [Elmira Eagle-Lymon] only received a $15,000 settlement. After Diana Ross re-recorded Frankie's song, "Why Do Fools Fall in Love," his estate was worth more than $1 million. Attorney [William] McCracken confirms that 'the settlement was well over seven figures.'"
  10. ^ Jimmy Merchant and Herman Santiago v. Morris Levy, Big Seven Music Corp, and Roulette Records, Inc. Appeal decided August 7, 1996. Text available from http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/cgi-bin/getcase.pl?court=2nd&navby=case&no=957763.
  11. ^ Peneny, D.K. (1998). "Frankie Lymon".
  12. ^ Williams, Otis and Romanowski, Patricia (1988, 2002). Temptations [2nd edition]. New York: Cooper Square Press. Pg. 120-21
  13. ^ Fotenot, Robert. "Profile: Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers."
  14. ^ "Reviews for Why Do Fools Fall in Love". Rotten Tomatoes.com. Reviews weighed on Rottentomatoes.com give Why Do Fools Fall in Love a rating of 55%.
  15. ^ Box Office Mojo entry for Why Do Fools Fall in Love. Retrieved from http://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?page=weekend&id=whydofoolsfallinlove.htm on November 19, 2006.

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