Frankie Lymon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Frankie Lymon
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Franklin Joseph Lymon |
| Also known as | Frankie Lyman |
| Born | September 30, 1942 Harlem, New York, U.S. |
| Died | February 27, 1968 (aged 25) Harlem, New York, U.S. |
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| Instruments | Vocals |
| Years active | 1954–1968 |
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Franklin Joseph Lymon (born September 30, 1942 – died February 27, 1968) was an American singer and songwriter. He was famous as the lead singer of the New York City-based doo-wop group, The Teenagers. Frankie Lymon was known for his high, clear voice, called a boy soprano.
The Teenagers were a group of five young boys. The original group included three African-American members: Frankie Lymon, Jimmy Merchant, and Sherman Garnes. It also had two Puerto Rican members: Joe Negroni and Herman Santiago. Their first song, "Why Do Fools Fall in Love" in 1956, was their biggest hit. Frankie Lymon started a solo career in 1957. Both his career and the Teenagers' group career became less successful after that. He was honored in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1993 as a member of the Teenagers. A movie about his life, Why Do Fools Fall in Love, came out in 1998.
Biography
Early Life and Joining The Teenagers (1942–1956)
Frankie Lymon was born in Harlem, New York, on September 30, 1942. His parents, Jeanette and Howard Lymon, were both singers in a gospel group. Frankie and his brothers, Lewis and Howie, also sang in a junior gospel group. Their family faced financial struggles. Frankie started working as a grocery boy when he was 10 years old to help out.
In 1954, when he was 12, Frankie heard a local doo-wop group called the Coupe De Villes. He became friends with their lead singer, Herman Santiago. Soon, Frankie joined the group, which later changed its name to The Teenagers.
One day in 1955, the group found some love letters. They used these letters to help them write a new song called "Why Do Fools Fall in Love". The Teenagers got their first chance to become famous after impressing a singer named Richard Barrett. He helped them get an audition with record producer George Goldner. On the day of the audition, the original lead singer, Herman Santiago, was late. Frankie Lymon stepped up and sang the lead part. He told Goldner that he knew the song well because he helped write it. After their success, disc jockeys often called them "Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers".
Success with "Why Do Fools Fall in Love" (1956)
George Goldner signed the group to Gee Records. "Why Do Fools Fall in Love" was released as their first single in January 1956. This song became a huge hit! It reached number 6 on the Billboard pop singles chart. It also stayed at number 1 on the Billboard R&B singles chart for five weeks.
Over the next year, the group had four more top 10 R&B songs. These included "I Want You to Be My Girl", "I Promise to Remember", "Who Can Explain?", and "The ABC's of Love". "I Want You To Be My Girl" also became a pop hit, reaching number 13. Another song, "Goody Goody", reached number 20 on the pop chart. With the release of "I Want You To Be My Girl", the group officially became "Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers".
Solo Career (1957–1965)
In early 1957, Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers decided to go their separate ways during a tour in Europe. The record producer started to promote Frankie as a solo artist. Frankie began performing alone with music playing in the background. Their last song together, "Goody Goody", was actually a solo recording by Frankie. By September 1957, Frankie had officially left the group.
As a solo artist, Frankie Lymon did not have as much success as he did with The Teenagers. He moved to Roulette Records for his solo music. In July 1957, Frankie appeared on Alan Freed's TV show The Big Beat. During his performance, he danced with a white teenage girl. This caused some controversy, especially in Southern states, and the TV show was later canceled.
Frankie's solo music sales began to drop in the early 1960s. His highest-charting solo song was "Little Bitty Pretty One" in 1960, which reached number 58 on the pop chart. After Frankie left, The Teenagers tried different lead singers but did not find the same success. Frankie and The Teenagers briefly reunited in 1965, but it did not last.
Later Years (1966–1968)
Over the next few years, Frankie Lymon continued to record music with different record labels. He appeared on TV shows, including Hollywood a Go-Go in 1965. In this performance, the 22-year-old Frankie sang along to a recording of himself singing "Why Do Fools Fall in Love" when he was 13.
Frankie also joined the United States Army. While serving, he continued to pursue music. He met and married Emira Eagle in June 1967. After leaving the Army, Frankie moved into his wife's home and kept performing occasionally. In 1968, he traveled to New York and signed with a new record label, Big Apple. He was planning to record new music, with a session scheduled for February 28.
Death
Frankie Lymon passed away on February 27, 1968, at the age of 25. He was buried at Saint Raymond's Cemetery in The Bronx, New York City. Two songs he recorded for Big Apple before his death, "I'm Sorry" and "Seabreeze", were released in 1969.
After His Death
After Frankie Lymon's death, there were legal issues regarding his estate and the rights to his music. In 1981, Diana Ross released a popular cover of "Why Do Fools Fall in Love". This led to a big discussion about who should receive the money from Frankie's songs.
Three women, Zola Taylor, Elizabeth Waters, and Emira Eagle, all claimed to be Frankie Lymon's legal wife. This was a very complicated situation. Courts had to decide who was truly his lawful widow. In 1989, a court decided that Emira Eagle was his legal wife. This meant Frankie's estate would finally start receiving money from his hit song.
Another issue was about who should be credited as a songwriter for "Why Do Fools Fall in Love". Early versions of the song credited Frankie Lymon, Herman Santiago, and Jimmy Merchant. Later, the name of music executive Morris Levy appeared as a co-writer. In 1992, a court ruled that Herman Santiago and Jimmy Merchant were indeed co-authors. However, this decision was later changed in 1996 due to a legal rule about how long someone has to file a lawsuit. Today, the song's writing credit remains with Frankie Lymon and Morris Levy.
Legacy
Even though their time at the top was short, Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers had a huge impact on music. Many rock and R&B artists who came after them were influenced by their songs. Frankie's high-pitched voice is said to have inspired the "girl group" sound.
Many famous performers have said Frankie Lymon influenced them. These include Michael Jackson, Ronnie Spector, Diana Ross, The Temptations, and Smokey Robinson. Motown founder Berry Gordy based much of The Jackson 5's sound on Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers' recordings. The Teenagers are seen as the original model for many other Motown groups.
In 1973, Frankie Lymon's music reached a new generation when "Why Do Fools Fall in Love" was included in the movie soundtrack for American Graffiti. His music has also been referenced in other songs and stories.
In 1993, Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. They were also inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2000.
Frankie Lymon's story was brought to new audiences with the 1998 movie Why Do Fools Fall in Love. The movie tells a fun, fictionalized version of his life. It shows his three wives battling 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 Emira Eagle.
Discography
Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers Discography
Singles
- Gee releases
- 1956-01: [Gee 1002] "Why Do Fools Fall in Love" / "Please Be Mine" (No. 1 R&B, No. 6 US Pop, No. 1 UK)
- 1956-04: [Gee 1012] "I Want You to Be My Girl" / "I'm Not a Know-It-All" (No. 3 R&B, No. 13 US Pop)
- 1956-07: [Gee 1018] "I Promise to Remember" / "Who Can Explain?" (No. 10 and No. 7 R&B, No. 57 US Pop)
- 1956-09: [Gee 1022] "The ABC's of Love" / "Share" (No. 8 R&B, No. 77 US Pop)
- 1956-11: [Gee 1026] "I'm Not a Juvenile Delinquent" / "Baby, Baby" (No. 12 and No. 4 UK)
- 1957-04: [Gee 1032] "Teenage Love" / "Paper Castles"
- 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" (No. 10 R&B)
- 1957-07: [Gee 1039] "Goody Goody" / "Creation of Love" (No. 20 US Pop, No. 24 UK)
- 1957-12: [Gee 1046] "Everything to Me" / "Flip Flop"
Album
- 1956: [Gee 701] The Teenagers Featuring Frankie Lymon
Compilations
- 1986: Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers: For Collectors Only (Murray Hill 148)
Frankie Lymon Solo Discography
Singles
- Roulette releases
- 1957: [Roulette 4026] "My Girl" / "So Goes My Love" (No. 51 R&B)
- 1957: [Roulette 4035] "Little Girl" / "It's Christmas Once Again" (No. 30 R&B)
- 1958: [Roulette 4044] "Thumb Thumb" / "Footsteps" (No. 76 R&B)
- 1958: [Roulette 4068] "Portable on My Shoulder" / "Mama Don't Allow It" (No. 80 US Pop/No. 64 R&B)
- 1958: [Roulette 4093] "Only Way to Love" / "Melinda" (No. 47 R&B)
- 1959: [Roulette 4128] "Up Jumped a Rabbit" / "No Matter What You've Done" (No. 72 R&B)
- 1969: [Roulette 21095] "/ "1-20-12 Forever' (No. 55 R&B)
- Gee release
- 1959: [Gee 1052] "Goody Good Girl" / "I'm Not Too Young to Dream" (No. 66 R&B)
- Roulette releases
- 1960: [Roulette 4257] "Little Bitty Pretty One" / "Creation of Love" (No. 58 US Pop/ No. 18 R&B)
- 1960: [Roulette 4283] "Buzz Buzz Buzz" / "Waitin' in School" (No. 61 R&B)
- 1961: [Roulette 4310] "Jailhouse Rock" / "Silhouettes" (No. 81 R&B)
- 1961: [Roulette 4348] "Change Partners" / "So Young (And So in Love)" (No. 61 R&B)
- 1961: [Roulette 4391] "Young" / "I Put the Bomp" (No. 90 R&B)
- Later releases
- 1964: "To Each His Own" / "Teacher, Teacher" (20th Century Fox) (No. 75 R&B)
- 1964: "Somewhere" / "Sweet and Lovely" (Columbia) (No. 66 R&B)
- 1969: "I'm Sorry" / "Seabreeze" (Big Apple) (No. 43 R&B)
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)
- 1994: Complete Recordings (Bear Family)
Images for kids
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Frankie Lymon
See also
In Spanish: Frankie Lymon para niños
