Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers

Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers came together in New York City around 1955, originally calling themselves the Teenagers. The group featured Frankie Lymon on lead vocals, with Herman Santiago, Joe Negroni, and Sherman Garnes providing harmonies. They caught a break when disc jockey Alan Freed played their demo on his radio show, which led to a deal with Gee Records.

In 1956 they released "Why Do Fools Fall in Love?" and it became a massive hit, selling over a million copies in its first month. That song, along with tracks like "I Want You To Be My Girl" and "I'm Not a Juvenile Delinquent," defined their sound, a blend of doo-wop harmonies with gospel and R&B touches that felt both youthful and polished.

Lymon's personal struggles with addiction and legal issues over royalties created turbulence for the group. He died in 1968 at age 25 from a heroin overdose. The surviving members kept performing afterward, but the original lineup's run was effectively over. Their music, particularly those early singles, remains a clear reference point for the doo-wop era.