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Vocal Groups & Doo Wop

The essence of Doo-Wop was simplicity

Crying In The Chapel

The Orioles were also the first group to gain 'mass-market' acceptance when 'Crying In The Chapel' became a national pop hit in 1953. The song's pop success was due to the relative sophistication of the Orioles' delivery which, in contrast to that of the earthier R&B hits of the time, did not immediately give away their colour.

The following year, 1954, was perhaps the turning-point for acceptance of doo-wop (and R&B in general) with the Crows "Gee', the Chords' Sh-Boom' and the Penguins' `Earth Angel' selling in huge quantities 'across the board', paving the way for the subsequent success and popularity of the Platters, Coasters, Drifters, Moonglows, etc. during the rock'n'roll heyday of the mid- and late Fifties.

From New York to Los Angeles

This, in turn, inspired the literally hundreds of similar groups in Doo-Wop hotbeds like New York and Philadelphia in the East, and Los Angeles in the West, many of which had national hits. The essence of Doo-Wop was simplicity, and passing years saw arrangers become more ambitious. Until vocal harmonies became engulfed in string and brass sections of studio orchestras.

The essence of Doo-Wop was simplicity Crying In The Chapel The Orioles were also the first group to gain 'mass-market' acceptance when 'Crying In The Chapel' became a national pop... read more »