Frankie Lymon: 1954-1968

Origin

Career

  • Lymon was born on September 30, 1942 in Harlem, New York
  • Lymon played under the genre American rock and roll/rhythm and blues. 
  • He was a singer and songwriter but he was best known as the boy soprano lead singer of the group The Teenagers.
  • The Teenagers was signed to Gee Records, and “Why Do Fools Fall in Love” became its first single in January 1956. The single did very well on the Billboard pop singles chart, and the Billboard R&B singles chart.
  • Lymon eventually separated from the Teenagers to pursue a solo career but as a solo artist, he didn’t do as well.
  • He released, “My Girl”, and moved to Roulette Records.
  • Unfortunately, Lymon struggled through short-lived deals and wasn’t as successful as a solo artist compared to when he was in the group, the Teenagers.

Legacy

On February 27, 1968, Lymon died of a heroin overdose at the age of 25. The Teenagers period of success inspired/influenced the rock and R&B performers who followed them such as the Temptations.

Discography

Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers discography

Singles

Gee releases
  • 1956-01: [Gee 1002] “Why Do Fools Fall in Love” / “Please Be Mine” 1 (#1 on the R&B chart for 5 weeks)
  • 1956-04: [Gee 1012] “I Want You to Be My Girl” / “I’m Not a Know-It-All” 2 (#3 on R&B chart)
  • 1956-07: [Gee 1018] “I Promise to Remember” / “Who Can Explain?” (double-sided hit on R&B chart (#10 and #7))
  • 1956-09: [Gee 1022] “The ABC’s of Love” / “Share” (#8 on R&B chart)
  • 1956-11: [Gee 1026] “I’m Not a Juvenile Delinquent” / “Baby, Baby”
  • 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” 5 (#10 on R&B chart)
  • 1957-07: [Gee 1039] “Goody Goody” / “Creation of Love” 3
  • 1957-12: [Gee 1046] “Everything to Me” / “Flip Flop” 4

Frankie Lymon solo discography

Singles

Roulette releases
  • 1957: [Roulette 4026] “My Girl” / “So Goes My Love”
  • 1957: [Roulette 4035] “Little Girl” / “It’s Christmas Once Again”
  • 1958: [Roulette 4044] “Thumb Thumb” / “Footsteps”
  • 1958: [Roulette 4068] “Portable on My Shoulder” / “Mama Don’t Allow It” — 4/58
  • 1958: [Roulette 4093] “Only Way to Love” / “Melinda”
  • 1959: [Roulette 4128] “Up Jumped a Rabbit” / “No Matter What You’ve Done”
  • 1969: [Roulette 21095 “”/ “1-20-12 Forever’
Gee release
  • 1959: [Gee 1052] “Goody Good Girl” / “I’m Not Too Young to Dream”
Roulette releases
  • 1960: [Roulette 4257] “Little Bitty Pretty One” / “Creation of Love”
  • 1960: [Roulette 4283] “Buzz Buzz Buzz” / “Waitin’ in School”
  • 1961: [Roulette 4310] “Jailhouse Rock” / “Silhouettes”
  • 1961: [Roulette 4348] “Change Partners” / “So Young (And So in Love)”
  • 1961: [Roulette 4391] “Young” / “I Put the Bomp” (featuring backing vocals by two members of The Delicates (Denise Ferri and Peggy Santiglia))
Later releases
  • 1964: “To Each His Own” / “Teacher, Teacher” (20th Century Fox)
  • 1964: “Somewhere” / “Sweet and Lovely” (Columbia)
  • 1969: “I’m Sorry” / “Seabreeze” (Big Apple)

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)

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