Simone Blue Period-7Simone Blue Period-7 11

The History Of Doo WopThe History Of Doo Wop

HistoryHistory

The definition of Doo-Wop: sounds made by a The definition of Doo-Wop: sounds made by a singing group as they provide harmonic singing group as they provide harmonic background vocals for the lead singer. background vocals for the lead singer.

This definition can be found in distinguished This definition can be found in distinguished vocal groups from the 1940’s. The Ink Spots vocal groups from the 1940’s. The Ink Spots established the use of the tenor and bass singers established the use of the tenor and bass singers as the paramount members in a vocal group. as the paramount members in a vocal group. This use of the tenor and bass can be found in This use of the tenor and bass can be found in records of the Ravens who formed in 1945. records of the Ravens who formed in 1945. Other great groups who were influenced by the Other great groups who were influenced by the Ink Spots style of vocals are as follows: the Ink Spots style of vocals are as follows: the Orioles, the Spaniels, and the Platters who Orioles, the Spaniels, and the Platters who remade the Ink Spots song “My Prayer” in 1956, remade the Ink Spots song “My Prayer” in 1956, this doo-wop style even influenced the Motown this doo-wop style even influenced the Motown singers in the 1960’s. singers in the 1960’s.

Major cities such as Chicago, New York, Major cities such as Chicago, New York, Baltimore and Los Angeles all lay claim to the Baltimore and Los Angeles all lay claim to the origins of the Doo-Wop sound. These urban origins of the Doo-Wop sound. These urban communities contained the settings that enabled communities contained the settings that enabled these often-young groups, to express their music these often-young groups, to express their music without instruments. The use of their voices in a without instruments. The use of their voices in a cappella form could be rehearsed in any cappella form could be rehearsed in any location, on a street corner, in a hallway, or location, on a street corner, in a hallway, or wherever the groups could gather together. wherever the groups could gather together. These groups also had their professional These groups also had their professional beginnings in local community center talent beginnings in local community center talent shows, churches, school talent shows, and their shows, churches, school talent shows, and their neighborhood street corners. neighborhood street corners.

GroupsGroups

• In the early 1950s, groups like the Ravens and Five Keys pushed vocal blending techniques from the r & b realm to doo-wop with the use of "blow harmonies." This practice, wherein sounds like "ha-oo" resulted by abruptly forcing air out of the mouth, replaced humming as the predominant form of background support.

GroupsGroups The Dells signing with Vee-The Dells signing with Vee-

Jay in 1955, had their first Jay in 1955, had their first major hit in 1956 with "Oh, major hit in 1956 with "Oh, What A Night". The Dells What A Night". The Dells with only one member with only one member change in almost 40 years change in almost 40 years of existence is a record in of existence is a record in itself. With Marvin Junior's itself. With Marvin Junior's extraordinary vocal leads extraordinary vocal leads the Dells have adapted and the Dells have adapted and weathered the changes in weathered the changes in music. About ten years after music. About ten years after their first hit in 1956 the their first hit in 1956 the Dells hit the charts with a Dells hit the charts with a string of hits for a Chess string of hits for a Chess subsidiary Cadet with "Stay subsidiary Cadet with "Stay in My Corner," "Give Your in My Corner," "Give Your Baby A Standing Ovation," Baby A Standing Ovation," "Always Together". "Always Together".

The ChantelsThe Chantels Arlene Smith (lead), Lois Harris (first tenor), Sonia Arlene Smith (lead), Lois Harris (first tenor), Sonia

Goring (second tenor), Jackie Landry (second alto), Goring (second tenor), Jackie Landry (second alto), and Rene Minus began their musical journey in their and Rene Minus began their musical journey in their preteens while attending choir practice at St. preteens while attending choir practice at St. Anthony of Padua school in the Bronx. By 1957, Anthony of Padua school in the Bronx. By 1957, they had been singing together for more than seven they had been singing together for more than seven years. A staple of their diet was Gregorian chants years. A staple of their diet was Gregorian chants taught to such perfection that changing notes and taught to such perfection that changing notes and parts were second nature.parts were second nature.

Unlike their male counterparts, girls weren't able to Unlike their male counterparts, girls weren't able to "hangout" on street corners at all hours practicing. "hangout" on street corners at all hours practicing. So in 1957 much of their practice took place in the So in 1957 much of their practice took place in the girl's lockeroom at St. Anthony's. Arlene Smith was girl's lockeroom at St. Anthony's. Arlene Smith was a member of the girl's basketball team and, win or a member of the girl's basketball team and, win or lose, the group would sing after every game. lose, the group would sing after every game.

Smith who had been trained as a classical singer had Smith who had been trained as a classical singer had performed solo at Carnegie Hall when she was performed solo at Carnegie Hall when she was twelve. All the girls had sung in the choir where twelve. All the girls had sung in the choir where classical music was interspersed with Latin hymns. classical music was interspersed with Latin hymns. Their ages ranged between thirteen and sixteen.Their ages ranged between thirteen and sixteen.

The Chantels began doing talent shows with the The Chantels began doing talent shows with the Sequins and the Sequins and the CrowsCrows at the P.S. 60 Community at the P.S. 60 Community Center and St. Augustine's church.  That same year Center and St. Augustine's church.  That same year their school team played St. Francis de Chantelle. their school team played St. Francis de Chantelle. One of the girls suggested that they end their search One of the girls suggested that they end their search for a group name by calling themselves the for a group name by calling themselves the Chantelles. It soon became the Chantels. Chantelles. It soon became the Chantels.

ConclusionConclusion

By 1958, the Doo-Wop By 1958, the Doo-Wop style of music ruled the rock style of music ruled the rock n’ roll airwaves. the n’ roll airwaves. the Silhouettes, Dion & the Silhouettes, Dion & the Belmonts, the Chantels with Belmonts, the Chantels with “Maybe”, the Del Vikings “Maybe”, the Del Vikings with “Come Go With Me”, with “Come Go With Me”, the Platters, the Coasters the Platters, the Coasters and most of the greatest and most of the greatest groups to ever record were groups to ever record were capturing the hearts of capturing the hearts of America with their forever-America with their forever-legendary songs. legendary songs.