Lewis Lymon & The Teenchords - Doo Wop Essentials (2014 WEB) @ 320

Lewis Lymon was the younger brother of Frankie Lymon. He fronted his own ensemble Lewis Lymon and the Teenchords. Born in Harlem, New York, his father was a truck driver, Lewis (or sometimes called Louie) was exposed to music at an early age, as his father was a participant in a vocal group. After Frankie found fame with the Teenagers, Lewis responded to his brother's success by forming the Teenchords. They landed a contract with the Fury label and released the single "I'm So Happy" (1956). The following year (1957) at the height of their popularity, they were a featured act at the Apollo Theater and had a performance in the motion picture "Jamboree!" (1957). After the Teenchords disbanded, Lymon joined The Townsmen and sang lead vocals on the single "I Can't Go On" (1961), which he co-wrote. During the 1960s, he left the entertainment arena to serve with the United States Military during the Vietnam War and upon his return home, he joined the oldies touring circuit of the 1970s. In 2003, Lyman reformed The Teenagers (replacing Frankie who died in 1968) with the surviving members.

The Teenchords 

The year was 1956. The place was Washington Heights, a couple of miles north of Harlem. The hottest R&B group in the country was Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers. They'd first hit big with "Why Do Fools Fall In Love" and then again with "I Want You To Be My Girl." The success of the Teenagers led to the era of the "kid sound" groups (most of which were, let's be honest here, abysmal). But if the Teenagers could influence so many others to sing, then why couldn't one of those be Frankie's own brother, Lewis?

Lewis was the third of the Lymon brothers (Howie and Frankie were older; Timmy was the youngest); he was all of 12 years old in 1956.

The group that coalesced around Lewis' lead tenor consisted of Rossilio Rocca (second tenor), Lyndon Harold (baritone), and David Little (bass). When it came time for a name, it wasn't a big leap from "Teenagers" to "Teenchords." Rossilio was the oldest (at 19), David was 17, and Lyndon was 15. They were an integrated group: Lewis and David were black, Lyndon was white, and Rossilio was Hispanic.

But there was something missing from their sound: a first tenor. Lyndon had a friend named Ralph Vaughn, whom he thought would be a good candidate. He arranged for 13-year-old Ralph to audition one evening in early June, 1956.

The day of the audition, however, the Teenchords, with Ralph in tow, went to the Apollo Theater to see the Teenagers perform (this would have been sometime during the week of June 8). After having walked the two miles from 165th Street to 125th Street, they were hanging out behind the theater, when all of a sudden, Charles Sampson (lead of the Red Robin Velvets and a friend of Ralph's) wandered by. Sampson mentioned that Bobby Robinson (who owned Red Robin) was looking for acts to record and manage. Were these guys Ralph's group? Well, you don't let a chance like that go by, and suddenly Ralph, without having sung a note for his audition, was touted by Lyndon as their new first tenor.  ----> https://www.uncamarvy.com/Teenchords/teenchords.html

Lewis Lymon & The Teenchords (12 / 29:57)

1. I'm so Happy (2:44)

2. Falling in Love (2:27)

3. Them There Eyes (1:59)

4. I Found out Why (2:50)

5. Lydia (2:43)

6. Honey Honey (2:27)

7. Please Tell the Angels (2:32)

8. I'm Not Too Young to Fall in Love (2:08)

9. Your Last Chance (2:27)

10. Too Young (2:28)

11. Dance Girl (2:41)

12. Tell Me Love (2:30)

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