THE DEMISE OF DOO-WOP
The Bluffton Rotary Club was entertained on September 10tth as local photographer Ed Funk talked about the history of music leading up to and the demise of doo-wop.
Rock and Rock music evolved from Deep South Music back in the late 1800's and early 1900's, what we know as Black music or Black Gospel music. From this early beginning, Black Gospel music evolved to Rhythm and Blues, which was created from a combination of Southern Black music and Jazz. Rock and Roll came from the Rhythm and Blues era. Bill Haley and the Comets had the first Rock and Roll hit in 1953 with "Crazy Man Crazy". Their biggest hit was the well-known for "Rock Around the Clock".
After Rock and Roll came doo-wop, a term coined in the 1970's by a New Jersey DJ Alan Freed. Doo-wop is considered to be an innovative arrangement of music with a lead singer and 3 to 4 back-up singers. Doo-wop music was popular in its day, according to Funk, because it was innocent music with no profanity, teenagers loved it and it could be understood by all. Doo-wop musicians were young, uneducated, poor and black.music was the only way out. The #1 doo-wop song, according to Funk, was "In the Still of the Night" recorded by the Five Satins in
Doo-wop ended in 1964 for two reasons.the British Invasion and the assassination of JFK.an era ended.