Profile: Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers
Monday January 2, 2006
A pimp at ten, a star at thirteen, sexually active at fourteen, a junkie at sixteen, and dead by twenty-five -- the life of the kid who sang "I"m Not A Juvenile Delinquent" was fraught with contradictions. But the Teenagers in total, best known for "Why Do Fools Fall In Love," have a significance in pop and rock history that can't be overstated: the first teen rock stars, they exerted an amazingly wide and lasting influence on entire record labels and musical genres, and Lymon's sweet falsetto inspired everyone from Ronnie Spector to Michael Jackson. This profile, the latest in a series on rock's pioneers, focuses on Lymon's tragedy and, more importantly, the lasting legacy of the Teenagers' brand of doo-wop.
Comments
i saw them in early 1956 in woodhaven queens ny .they were appearing on jamacia ave for an opening of a real estate office
I saw the movie about them and I was very intrigude but when I hear how his life was before and what he was doing at those ages is very deep and heart-breaking!
I have always been a huge Frankie Lymon and I can never find enough information about him….I have almost all of his albums and I wish that I could meet the remaining members of the group. If anyone has any information that can help me let me know!!!!!