Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers

USA, 1954–1957

American vocal group formed in Harlem in 1954. 'Why Do Fools Fall in Love' (1956), sung by the 13-year-old Frankie Lymon, established the teenage vocal group as a commercial format.

MusicRoots documents 0 artists who influenced Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers and 8 artists Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers influenced in turn. Every connection cites a published source.

Which artists did Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers influence?

• The Ronettes — Ronnie Spector named Frankie Lymon her idol — the teen-vocal-group model she sang along to before the Ronettes existed.
• The Beach Boys — Brian Wilson has named Frankie Lymon a formative vocal-group influence — the falsetto and harmony blend behind the early Beach Boys.
• The Chantels — The Chantels emerged directly from the teen vocal-group boom Frankie Lymon started — they shared manager Richard Barrett, who modelled them on the Teenagers' success.
• Dion — Dion's doo-wop grounding — street-corner a cappella harmony in the Bronx — shared the teen-idol doo-wop mold Frankie Lymon's Teenagers had defined.
• The Miracles — Smokey Robinson idolised Frankie Lymon's soaring boy-tenor — the doo-wop model behind the Miracles' early sound (Lymon in turn lists Robinson among his heirs).
• The Shirelles — The teen doo-wop of Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers was part of the vocal-harmony tradition the Shirelles grew out of.
• The Jackson 5 — Michael's preteen lead was often compared to Frankie Lymon's boy-tenor — the Teenagers were the template for a child fronting a vocal group.
• Smokey Robinson — Frankie Lymon's boy-tenor doo-wop was among the voices the young Robinson modelled himself on.