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Soft Rock

Doo-Wop Vocal Groups

• The Platters, The Coasters, The Orioles, The Crowes, The Chords, The Penguins (car groups & bird groups)

The Flamingos	The Five Satins	Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers
The Drifters (1955)	The Ink Spots

• Typically, these doo-wop groups came on the charts for 1 or 2 successful hits and then faded to obscurity
• there were, of course, exceptions to this rule ...

The Platters

Only You (and You Alone)

(#5, 1955)

The Great Pretender

(#1, 1955-6)

• 1956--appeared in "Rock Around the Clock" and "The Girl Can't Help It"
• summer of 1959--4 members arrested in Cincinnati
  • accused of having sexual relations with minors (3 of them white)
  • group members were acquitted, but their reputation suffered
• last Top 10 hit was "Harbor Lights" (1960)
• 1961--Tony Williams (leader) left for solo career
• remained relatively successful (with personnel changes) through the late 60s
• 1990--inducted into the R&R Hall of Fame

The Coasters

• added humor to the vocal group musical format; wise-cracking vocals with the writing/production of Leiber & Stoller
• one of the first black singing groups to crossover and truly be considered a rock & roll act
• band originated in L.A. during the 40s (proteges of Johnny Otis)

Charlie Brown

(#2, 1959)

• 1971--last chart appearance with Leiber & Stoller's "Love Potion #9"
• 1987--R&R Hall of Fame

Johnny Mathis

• smooth balladeer; one of the 1st African-American millionaires
• early recordings were jazz-oriented; also, some of his later songs

Misty

Chances Are

• 1958--Greatest Hits album stayed on the Charts for 490 weeks (9 1/2 years!!)
• 90s--still headlining concerts in Atlantic City, Las Vegas, as well as Carnegie Hall

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