Bretrick
Well-known Member
- Location
- Perth Western Australia
Taken from; masterclass.com
Doo-wop is a style of music made popular by Black vocal groups in the 1950s that showcased vocal group harmonies and catchy rhythms.
The origins of doo-wop trace back to the 1930s and 1940s, when popular groups like the Mills Brothers simulated the sounds of reed and string instruments with their voices. Another early doo-wop group is The Ink Spots, which featured a tenor singer supported by low-voiced singers who sang the bass line.
By the 1950s, doo-wop became a popular style among Black singers in New York City, Chicago, Philadelphia, and Baltimore because of its accessibility.
Many young singers at the time didn't have access to instruments or music lessons, making a cappella music like doo-wop an inexpensive creative outlet.
Doo-wop groups would rehearse in public spaces like street corners and subway stations that offered good acoustics.
Here are a few characteristics of doo-wop music.
1. Vocal group harmony: Doo-wop is characterized by vocal group harmony with groups featuring a lead vocalist—who is usually a tenor or a soprano—supported by lower-voiced bass singers.
2. “Doo-wop” background: The backup singers in doo-wop groups typically use nonsensical syllables (the "doo-wop-doo-wop," “wah-wah-wah-wah”) as background instrumentation.
3. Light instrumentation: Many doo-wop groups eschew instruments and use only their voices to highlight the vocal harmonies of the group. If they’re not singing a cappella, there may be very light or simple background instrumentation.
4. Simple songs: Doo-wop lyrics are typically very simple and easy to enunciate. Dating, love, longing, marriage, and heartbreak are typical subject matter for doo-wop songs.
I will start the ball rolling with 3 Doo Wop songs
The Del Satins -- Teardrops follow me 1962
The Cadillacs - Speedoo 1955
The Monotones - Book of Love 1957
Doo-wop is a style of music made popular by Black vocal groups in the 1950s that showcased vocal group harmonies and catchy rhythms.
The origins of doo-wop trace back to the 1930s and 1940s, when popular groups like the Mills Brothers simulated the sounds of reed and string instruments with their voices. Another early doo-wop group is The Ink Spots, which featured a tenor singer supported by low-voiced singers who sang the bass line.
By the 1950s, doo-wop became a popular style among Black singers in New York City, Chicago, Philadelphia, and Baltimore because of its accessibility.
Many young singers at the time didn't have access to instruments or music lessons, making a cappella music like doo-wop an inexpensive creative outlet.
Doo-wop groups would rehearse in public spaces like street corners and subway stations that offered good acoustics.
Here are a few characteristics of doo-wop music.
1. Vocal group harmony: Doo-wop is characterized by vocal group harmony with groups featuring a lead vocalist—who is usually a tenor or a soprano—supported by lower-voiced bass singers.
2. “Doo-wop” background: The backup singers in doo-wop groups typically use nonsensical syllables (the "doo-wop-doo-wop," “wah-wah-wah-wah”) as background instrumentation.
3. Light instrumentation: Many doo-wop groups eschew instruments and use only their voices to highlight the vocal harmonies of the group. If they’re not singing a cappella, there may be very light or simple background instrumentation.
4. Simple songs: Doo-wop lyrics are typically very simple and easy to enunciate. Dating, love, longing, marriage, and heartbreak are typical subject matter for doo-wop songs.
I will start the ball rolling with 3 Doo Wop songs
The Del Satins -- Teardrops follow me 1962
The Cadillacs - Speedoo 1955
The Monotones - Book of Love 1957
