The History Of Doo Wop

1. The History Of Doo Wop Simone Blue Period-7

2. History • The definition of Doo-Wop: sounds made by a singing group as they provide harmonic background vocals for the lead singer. • This definition can be found in distinguished vocal groups from the 1940’s. The Ink Spots established the use of the tenor and bass singers as the paramount members in a vocal group. This use of the tenor and bass can be found in records of the Ravens who formed in 1945. Other great groups who were influenced by the Ink Spots style of vocals are as follows: the Orioles, the Spaniels, and the Platters who remade the Ink Spots song “My Prayer” in 1956, this doo-wop style even influenced the Motown singers in the 1960’s. • Major cities such as Chicago, New York, Baltimore and Los Angeles all lay claim to the origins of the Doo-Wop sound. These urban communities contained the settings that enabled these often-young groups, to express their music without instruments. The use of their voices in a cappella form could be rehearsed in any location, on a street corner, in a hallway, or wherever the groups could gather together. These groups also had their professional beginnings in local community center talent shows, churches, school talent shows, and their neighborhood street corners.

3. Groups • 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.

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

5. The Chantels • Arlene Smith (lead), Lois Harris (first tenor), Sonia Goring (second tenor), Jackie Landry (second alto), and Rene Minus began their musical journey in their preteens while attending choir practice at St. Anthony of Padua school in the Bronx. By 1957, they had been singing together for more than seven years. A staple of their diet was Gregorian chants taught to such perfection that changing notes and parts were second nature. • Unlike their male counterparts, girls weren't able to "hangout" on street corners at all hours practicing. So in 1957 much of their practice took place in the girl's lockeroom at St. Anthony's. Arlene Smith was a member of the girl's basketball team and, win or lose, the group would sing after every game. • Smith who had been trained as a classical singer had performed solo at Carnegie Hall when she was twelve. All the girls had sung in the choir where classical music was interspersed with Latin hymns. Their ages ranged between thirteen and sixteen. • The Chantels began doing talent shows with the Sequins and the Crows at the P.S. 60 Community Center and St. Augustine's church.  That same year their school team played St. Francis de Chantelle. One of the girls suggested that they end their search for a group name by calling themselves the Chantelles. It soon became the Chantels.

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