From:   "Dik de Heer" 
Date:  Mon Sep 30, 2002  1:23 am
Subject:  Born To Be With You : Frankie Lymon
 
FRANKIE LYMON (By Shaun Mather)

Born 30 September 1942, Washington Heights, New York City
Died 28 February 1968, New York City, New York

The short life of Frankie Lymon was a turbulent one which saw him rise to
world-wide fame at the age and 13 and die, a shagged out wreck at the meagre
age of 26. He worked with fellow New Yorkers, The Teenagers (Joe Negroni,
Herman Santiago, Jimmy Merchant and Sherman Gaines) and immediately hit
paydirt with their single "Why Do Fools Fall in Love" in 1956 (# 6). In the U.K.
it was an even bigger hit, climbing all the way to the top of the charts and
young Frankie was flown over to tour Britain, including a performance at the
London Palladium.
The song was credited to Lymon only, but a lengthy trial ended in the early
'90s with a federal judge ruling that other members of the Teenagers helped
write it. Other hits followed for the group and they appeared in the movies
"Rock Rock Rock" and "Mister Rock 'n' Roll", but after just 18 months together,
Lymon and the Teenagers went their separate ways. Neither faction had a hit
after the split [well, Frankie's revival of "Little Bitty Pretty One" went to #
58
in 1960 - Dik] and Lymon's life went on a sharp downhill slide. He married
three times (including Zola Taylor of the Platters) and died from a drug
overdose
at age 26, a forgotten man. His life was the subject of a so-so movie, "Why
Do Fools Fall In Love" in 1998.
He was a lot more than just a pretty voiced novelty, his influence was
enormous, from other young lead vocal groups to being the initial inspiration
to Berry Gordy's Motown sound. Frankie Lymon was inducted into the Rock
and Roll Hall of Fame in 1993.

Recommended listening:
Essential Recordings 1955-1961 - Sequel 2CD.
For completists there is Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers, Complete
Recordings, Bear Family BCD 15782 (5 CD-set).
Website: http://www.theteenagers.com/