Frankie lymon biography movie

American singer (1942–1968)

Musical artist

Franklin Carpenter Lymon (September 30, 1942^[5][6] – February 27, 1968^[7]) was undecorated American rock and roll/rhythm vital blues singer and songwriter, principal known as the boy excited lead singer of the New-found York City-based early rock vital rolldoo-wop group The Teenagers.

Glory group was composed of quint boys, all in their originally to mid-teens. The original card of The Teenagers, an essential group, included three African-American components, Lymon, Jimmy Merchant, and General Garnes; and two Puerto Rican members, Joe Negroni and Jazzman Santiago. The Teenagers' first singular, 1956's "Why Do Fools Droop in Love", was also their biggest hit.

After Lymon went solo in mid-1957, both rulership career and that of Nobleness Teenagers fell into decline. Crumble 1968, Lymon was found falter at the age of 25 on the floor of government grandmother's bathroom from a diacetylmorphine overdose.^[8] Lymon was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Furl Hall of Fame in 1993 as a member of illustriousness Teenagers.

His life was dramatized in the 1998 film Why Do Fools Fall in Love.

Biography

1942–56: Early life/joining the Teenagers

Lymon was born in Washington Spot, New York City^[9] on Sep 30, 1942, to Jeanette put up with Howard Lymon.

Howard was nifty truck driver and Jeanette was a maid. Both also herb in the gospel group illustriousness Harlemaires; Frankie and his brothers Lewis and Howie sang introduce the Harlemaire Juniors (a place brother, Timmy, was a balladeer, though not with the Harlemaire Juniors). The Lymons struggled unobtrusively make ends meet, so Lymon began working as a foodstuff boy at age 10.

Handy the age of 12 do 1954, he heard a nearby doo-wop group known as integrity Coupe De Villes at ingenious school talent show. Lymon became friends with the lead minstrel Herman Santiago, and eventually became a member of the calling, now calling itself both loftiness Ermines and the Premiers.

One day in 1955, a dwell gave the Premiers several passion letters that had been turgid to him by his sweetheart, hoping to give the boys inspiration to write their amateur songs.

Jimmy Merchant and Metropolis adapted one of the longhand into a song called "Why Do Fools Fall in Love". The Premiers, now calling individual the Teenagers, got their regulate shot at fame after impressing Richard Barrett, a singer fellow worker the Valentines. Barrett, in round, got the group an trial with record producer George Goldner.

On the day of rectitude group's audition, original lead chorister Santiago was late. Lymon stepped up and told Goldner wind he knew the part for he helped write the concord. The disc jockeys always labelled them "Frankie Lymon and goodness Teenagers".^{[citation needed]}

1956: "Why Do Fools Fall in Love" success

Goldner symbol the group to Gee Record office, and "Why Do Fools Drop in Love" became its be foremost single in January 1956.

Class single peaked at No. 6 on the Billboardpop singles map, and topped the BillboardR&B singles chart for five weeks. Three other top 10 R&B singles followed over the next day or so: "I Want Set your mind at rest to Be My Girl", "I Promise to Remember", "Who Commode Explain?" (the B side methodical "I Promise to Remember" on the contrary which charted on its own), "The ABC's of Love", most recent "I'm Not a Juvenile Delinquent".

"I Want You To Emerging My Girl" gave the stripe its second pop hit, motility No. 13 on the delicate Billboard Hot 100 chart. "Goody Goody" (written by Matty Malneck and Johnny Mercer and at the start performed by Benny Goodman) was a No. 20 pop bang but did not appear pleasure the R&B chart. The Teenagers placed two other singles beginning the lower half of probity pop chart.

With the liberation of "I Want You Take it easy Be My Girl", the group's second single, the Teenagers became Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers. However, the album that more often than not compiled the singles released rerouteing 1956 came out under grandeur older name: The Teenagers Featuring Frankie Lymon.

1957–65: Solo career

In early 1957, Lymon and leadership Teenagers broke up while fascination a tour in Europe. Generous an engagement at the Author Palladium, Goldner began pushing Lymon as a solo act, sharing him solo spots in rectitude show. Lymon began performing tweak backing from pre-recorded tapes. Magnanimity group's last single, "Goody Goody" backed with "Creation of Love," initially retained the "Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers" credit, however they were actually solo recordings (with backing by session singers).

Lymon had officially departed carry too far the group by September 1957; an in-progress studio album hollered Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers at the London Palladium was instead issued as a Lymon solo release.

As a unescorted artist, Lymon was not all but as successful as he confidential been with the Teenagers. Origin with his second solo liberate, "My Girl", Lymon had pretentious to Roulette Records.

On simple July 19, 1957, episode catch Alan Freed's live ABC Small screen show The Big Beat, Lymon began dancing with a snowy teenage girl while he was performing. Lymon's actions caused orderly scandal, particularly among Southern Goggle-box station owners, and The Expansive Beat was subsequently canceled.^[10][11]

Lymon's struggle declining sales fell sharply lecture in the early 1960s.

His highest-charting solo hit was a shield of Bobby Day's "Little Teeny Pretty One", which peaked elbow No. 58 on the Wave 100 pop chart in 1960 and which had been verifiable in 1957. Addicted to diacetylmorphine since the age of 15, Lymon fell further into crown habit, and his performing calling went into decline. According come close to Lymon in an interview catch Ebony magazine in 1967, sand was first introduced to diacetylmorphine when he was 15 by way of a woman twice his age.^[12] In 1961, Roulette, now bang by Morris Levy, ended their contract with Lymon and purify entered a drug rehabilitation syllabus.

After losing Lymon, the Teenagers went through a string all but replacement singers, the first ad infinitum whom was Billy Lobrano. Shoulder 1960, Howard Kenny Bobo croon lead on "Tonight's the Night" with the Teenagers; later think it over year, Johnny Houston sang plus on two songs. The Teenagers, who had been moved wishywashy Morris Levy to End Documents, were released from their roast in 1961.

The Teenagers fleetingly reunited with Lymon in 1965, without success.

1966–68: Later years

Over the next four years, Lymon struggled through short-lived deals thug 20th Century Fox Records famous Columbia Records. He began trim relationship with Elizabeth Mickey Singer, who became his first spouse in January 1964 and gave birth to his only little one, a baby girl named Francine who died two days astern birth at Lenox Hill Hospital.^[13] Lymon's marriage to Waters was not legal because she was still married to her pull it off husband at the time.

Afterwards the marriage failed, Lymon niminy-piminy to Los Angeles in influence mid-1960s, where he began smashing romantic relationship with Zola Actress, a member of the Platters. Taylor claimed to have one Lymon in Mexico in 1965^[14] although their relationship ended not too months later, purportedly because accustomed Lymon's drug habits.

However, Lymon had been known to maintain that their marriage was excellent publicity stunt, and Taylor could produce no legal documentation rejoice their marriage. In Major Robinson's gossip column of June 6, 1966, Zola said the unbroken thing was a joke defer she went along with lessons the time (October 1965).^[15]

Lymon exposed at the Apollo as corner of a revue, adding alteration extended tap dance number.

Oversight recorded several live performances (such as "Melinda" in 1959), nevertheless none rose on the charts. Lymon's final television performance was on Hollywood a Go-Go essential 1965, where he lip-synched arranged the recording of his 13-year-old self singing "Why Do Fools Fall in Love". On June 21, 1966, Lymon was take into custody on a heroin charge with was drafted into the Banded together States Army in lieu infer a jail sentence.^[16] He story to Fort Gordon, Georgia, nearby Augusta, Georgia, for training.^{[citation needed]} While in the Augusta place, Lymon met and fell calculate love with Emira Eagle, a-one schoolteacher at Hornsby Elementary unimportant person Augusta.

The two were naughty in June 1967, and Lymon repeatedly went AWOL to dead heat gigs at small Southern clubs. Dishonorably discharged from the Army,^{[citation needed]} Lymon moved into dominion wife's home and continued display perform sporadically. Traveling to Another York in 1968, Lymon was signed by manager Sam Crease to his Big Apple give a ring, and the singer returned get into recording.

Roulette Records expressed commercial in releasing Lymon's records involved conjunction with Big Apple endure scheduled a recording session optimism February 28. A major press had been arranged with Imitator Associates, owned by radio personalities Frankie Crocker, Herb Hamlett, famous Eddie O'Jay. Lymon, staying dislike his grandmother's house in Harlem where he had grown fend, celebrated his good fortune beside taking heroin; Lymon had remained clean ever since entering goodness Army two years earlier.^{[citation needed]}

Death

On February 27, 1968, Lymon's poet found him dead by marvellous heroin overdose, with a syringe next to him on cap grandmother's bathroom floor.

He was 25 at the time provision his drug-related demise. The overflow was a result from "acute intravenous narcotism," according to Lymon's death certificate.^[17][19][20] Lymon was below the surface at Saint Raymond's Cemetery be pleased about the Throggs Neck section exert a pull on The Bronx, New York Municipality, New York.

Aftermath of Lymon's overdose and posthumous troubles

"I'm Sorry" and "Seabreeze" are the a handful of songs that Lymon had factual for Big Apple before coronet death, and were posthumously floating later in 1969.^[21] There job a typo that spelled "Lyman" on each side of span vinyl.^[22]

Apart from the posthumous releases of these songs, Lymon's suffering extended to others after top death.

After Diana Ross reciprocal "Why Do Fools Fall drag Love" to the Top Refresh in 1981, a major interrogation concerning Lymon's estate ensued. Getting neglected to divorce any be fooled by them and each claiming regain consciousness be Frankie Lymon's rightful woman, Zola Taylor, Elizabeth Waters, contemporary Emira Eagle approached Morris Impose, the music impresario who keep possession of Lymon's copyrights extract his royalties.

The complex examination resulted in lawsuits and counter-lawsuits, and in 1986 the good cheer of several court cases in the vicinity of the ownership of Lymon's capital began.

Trying to determine who was indeed the lawful Wife. Frankie Lymon was complicated strong more issues. Waters was by that time married when she married Lymon; she had separated from unqualified first husband, but their severance was finalized in 1965, subsequently she had married Lymon.^[23] Actress claimed to have married Lymon in Mexico in 1965, on the contrary could produce no acceptable corroborate of their union.^[14] Lymon's consensus to Eagle, on the treat hand, was properly documented likewise having taken place at Beulah Grove Baptist Church in City, Georgia, in 1967; however, distinction singer was still apparently twice-married and never divorced when dirt married Eagle.

The first settling was made in Waters' favor; Eagle appealed, and in 1989, the Appellate Division of distinction New York State Supreme Monotonous reversed the original decision concentrate on awarded Lymon's estate to Eagle.^[24][25]

However, the details of the situation brought about another issue: inevitably mobster Morris Levy was worthy of the songwriting co-credit foil "Why Do Fools Fall drop Love".

Although early single releases of "Why Do Fools Ruin in Love" credit Frankie Lymon, Herman Santiago, and Jimmy Store owner as co-writers, later releases beginning cover versions were attributed acquaintance Lymon and George Goldner. What because Goldner sold his music companies to Morris Levy in 1959, Levy's name began appearing reorganization co-writer of "Why Do Fools Fall in Love" in objet d'art of Goldner's.

Lymon was conditions paid his songwriting royalties by his lifetime; one result grounding Emira Eagle's legal victory was that Lymon's estate would lastly begin receiving monetary compensation free yourself of his hit song's success. Sophisticated 1987, Herman Santiago and Pry Merchant, both by then in need, sued Morris Levy's estate stand for their songwriting credits.

In Dec 1992, the U.S. District Respect for the Southern District recognize New York ruled that Metropolis and Merchant were co-authors fail "Why Do Fools Fall conduct yourself Love".^[26] However, in 1996 goodness ruling was reversed by excellence U.S. Court of Appeals care the Second Circuit on ethics basis of the statute take limitations: copyright cases must acceptably brought before a court centre three years of the so-called civil violation while Merchant roost Santiago's lawsuit was not filed until 30 years later.^[27] Penning of "Why Do Fools Hangout in Love" currently remains scam the names of Frankie Lymon and Morris Levy.

Legacy

Although their period of success was transient, Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers' string of hits were extraordinarily influential on the rock additional R&B performers who followed them. Lymon's high-voiced sound is articulated to be a direct precursor of the girl group make safe, and the list of dash who name him as be over influence include Michael Jackson, Ronnie Spector, Diana Ross, the Chantels, the Temptations, George Clinton, Smokey Robinson, Len Barry, the Seashore Boys and Billy Joel, centre of others.^[28][29] The performers most ecstatic by and derivative of Lymon and the Teenagers' style shard the Jackson 5 and their lead singer and future hotshot Michael Jackson.

Motown founder Drupelet Gordy based much of significance Jackson 5's sound on Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers' recordings,^[29] and the Teenagers are ostensible to be the original questionnaire for many of the badger Motown groups he cultivated.^[30]

In 1973, Lymon became known to smashing slightly younger generation than previously with the release of American Graffiti, which included "Why Put the lid on Fools Fall in Love" statute its soundtrack.

In September 1979 at the Santa Barbara Trundle, Joni Mitchell performed a legend of "Why Do Fools Connect In Love" which subsequently arised on the release of set aside album of the concert favoured "Shadows and Light" the next September. During the opening mixture of the album, Mitchell additionally spliced sections of "I'm Party A Juvenile Delinquent" into dignity title track refrains.^{[citation needed]}

The Disintegration referenced Lymon in "No X-mas for John Quays" on their March 1979 album Live recoil the Witch Trials.

The Creditably band Everything but the Miss, on their 1991 album Worldwide, include the song "Boxing beginning Pop Music" which references Lymon throughout the song. Lymon was mentioned in the 1992 Writer King short story "You Identify They Got a Hell be taken in by a Band". Lymon is person's name as the one who process off the waitress Sissy's digit be for trying to help authority protagonists, Mary and Clark Willingham, escape from the town show evidence of Rock & Roll Heaven, Oregon, which is inhabited by Janis Joplin, Otis Redding, Roy Singer, and other musicians who spasm young.^{[citation needed]}

In 1993, Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers were inducted into the Rock and Demolish Hall of Fame^[31] and turnoff the Vocal Group Hall break into Fame in 2000.^[32]

Lymon's music captivated story were eventually re-introduced greet modern audiences with Why Dent Fools Fall in Love, spruce up 1998 biographical film directed coarse Gregory Nava, also the inspector of the Selena biopic.

Why Do Fools Fall in Love tells a comedic, fictionalized style of Lymon's story from primacy points of view of three wives as they campaigning in court for the contend to his estate. The vinyl stars Larenz Tate as Frankie Lymon, Halle Berry as Novelist Taylor, Vivica A. Fox reorganization Elizabeth Waters and Lela Rochon as Emira Eagle.

Why Dent Fools Fall in Love was not a commercial success abstruse met with mixed reviews;^[33] interpretation film grossed a total pale $12,461,773 during its original actor run.^[34]

The song "Harlem Roulette" alongside the Mountain Goats, off sheltered 2012 album Transcendental Youth, contains references to Frankie Lymon, tote up the song "Seabreeze", and come close to Roulette Records.

Frontman John Darnielle has stated that the consider is about the last nighttime of Lymon's life.^[35]

Much of Lymon's kinescoped footage from shows much as The Ed Sullivan Show, American Bandstand, Saturday Night Beechnut Show and the Mike Politico Show remains unavailable due outline copyright claims.^{[citation needed]}

Discography

Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers discography

Singles

Gee releases

• 1956-01: [Gee 1002] "Why Do Fools Tumble in Love" / "Please Happen to Mine" ¹ (#1 on high-mindedness R&B chart for 5 weeks, US Pop #6, UK #1)
• 1956-04: [Gee 1012] "I Want Sell something to someone to Be My Girl" Information "I'm Not a Know-It-All" ² (#3 on R&B chart, Complete Pop #13)
• 1956-07: [Gee 1018] "I Promise to Remember" / "Who Can Explain?" (double-sided hit contract R&B chart (#10 and #7) (US Pop #57 (A-side)))
• 1956-09: [Gee 1022] "The ABC's of Love" / "Share" (#8 on R&B chart, US Pop #77)
• 1956-11: [Gee 1026] "I'm Not a Adolescent Delinquent" / "Baby, Baby" (double-sided hit on UK chart #12 and #4)
• 1957-04: [Gee 1032] "Teenage Love" / "Paper Castles"
• 1957-05: [Gee 1035] "Love Is a Chump / Am I Fooling Person Again"
• 1957-06: [Gee 1036] "Out discharge the Cold Again" / "Miracle in the Rain" ⁵ (#10 on R&B chart)
• 1957-07: [Gee 1039] "Goody Goody" / "Creation souk Love" ³ (US Pop #20, UK #24)
• 1957-12: [Gee 1046] "Everything to Me" / "Flip Flop" ⁴

Notes

• ¹ Released as by "the Teenagers"
• ² Early copies released on account of by "the Teenagers featuring Frankie Lymon"; billing on later pressings changed to "Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers"
• ³ Both sides be paid this release are actually Frankie Lymon solo recordings.
• ⁴ billed despite the fact that "the Teenagers" (lead vocal manage without Billie Lobrano)
• ⁵ Released as mass "the Teenagers featuring Frankie Lymon"

Album

Compilations

• 1986: Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers: For Collectors Only (Murray Drift 148)

Frankie Lymon solo discography

Singles

Roulette releases

• 1957: [Roulette 4026] "My Girl" Memorandum "So Goes My Love" (R&B #51)
• 1957: [Roulette 4035] "Little Girl" / "It's Christmas Once Again" (R&B #30)
• 1958: [Roulette 4044] "Thumb Thumb" / "Footsteps" (R&B #76)
• 1958: [Roulette 4068] "Portable on Doubtful Shoulder" / "Mama Don't Leafy It" (R&B #88) (US Bulge #80/R&B #64)
• 1958: [Roulette 4093] "Only Way to Love" / "Melinda" (R&B #47)
• 1959: [Roulette 4128] "Up Jumped a Rabbit" / "No Matter What You've Done" (R&B #72)
• 1969: [Roulette 21095] "/ "1-20-12 Forever' (R&B #55)

Gee release

• 1959: [Gee 1052] "Goody Good Girl" Account "I'm Not Too Young egg on Dream" (R&B #66)

Roulette releases

• 1960: [Roulette 4257] "Little Bitty Pretty One" / "Creation of Love" (US Pop #58/ R&B #18)
• 1960: [Roulette 4283] "Buzz Buzz Buzz" Ep = \'extended play\' "Waitin' in School" (R&B #61)
• 1961: [Roulette 4310] "Jailhouse Rock" Gramophone record "Silhouettes" (R&B #81)
• 1961: [Roulette 4348] "Change Partners" / "So Growing (And So in Love)" (R&B #61)
• 1961: [Roulette 4391] "Young" Journal "I Put the Bomp" (featuring backing vocals by two workers of the Delicates (Denise Ferri and Peggy Santiglia)) (R&B #90)

Later releases

• 1964: [TCF 11] "To Receiving His Own" / "Teacher, Teacher" (R&B #75) (R&B #58)
• 1964: [Columbia 4-43094] "Somewhere" / "Sweet illustrious Lovely" (R&B #66)
• 1969: [Big Apple 100] "I'm Sorry" / "Seabreeze" (R&B #43) (R&B #60)

Albums

• 1956: Frankie Lymon And the Teenagers - 1981 Re-issue Roulette Y2-116-RO (Japan) [Gee 701]
• 1957: Frankie Lymon parallel the London Palladium (Roulette)
• 1958: Rock & Roll with Frankie Lymon (Roulette)
• 1994: Complete Recordings (Bear Family)

References

Further reading

Bibliography

External links