Doo Wop 50 is a television and DVD special created and produced by TJ Lubinsky. The special was inspired by a 1994 CD box-set of

doo wop Doo-wop (also spelled doowop and doo wop) is a subgenre of rhythm and blues music that originated in African-American communities during the 1940s, mainly in the large cities of the United States, including New York, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, ...

music which was also a development and production partner WQED in the program and dvd. It aired in December 1999. Doo Wop 50 was videotaped live at The

Benedum Center The Benedum Center for the Performing Arts (formerly the Stanley Theatre) is a theater and concert hall located at 237 7th Street in the Cultural District of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Designed by the Philadelphia architectural firm Hoffman-Hen ...

For The Performing Arts,

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Pittsburgh ( ) is a city in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States, and its county seat. It is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania#Municipalities, second-most populous city in Pennsylvania (after Philadelphia) and the List of Un ...

on May 11 & 12, 1999. It showcased many doo-wop groups that had existed since the 1950s, and was hosted by former

Impressions An impression is the overall effect of something. Impression or impressions may also refer to: Biology * Colic impression, a feature of the gall bladder * Duodenal impression, medial to the renal impression * Gastric impression, a feature of th ...

lead and

soul The soul is the purported Mind–body dualism, immaterial aspect or essence of a Outline of life forms, living being. It is typically believed to be Immortality, immortal and to exist apart from the material world. The three main theories that ...

soloist

Jerry Butler Jerry Butler Jr. (December 8, 1939 – February 20, 2025) was an American soul singer-songwriter, producer, musician, and politician. He was the original lead singer of the R&B vocal group the Impressions, who were inducted into the Rock and ...

. It was followed by Doo Wop 51 and the American Soundtrack and My Music series as seen on public television. Doo Wop 50 became the highest-producing pledge drive special in the history of PBS at that time, garnering more than $75 million for its member stations. The American Soundtrack/My Music series has become a mainstay for public television stations, Lubinsky owns the copyright to the special and the American Soundtrack/My Music series.

Groups on the program

Part One

Herb Reed's Platters *" Only You" *"

The Great Pretender "The Great Pretender" is a popular song recorded by the Platters, with Tony Williams on lead vocals, and released as a single in November 1955. The words and music were written by Buck Ram, the Platters' manager and producer who was a successf ...

" Norman Wright's Dell Vikings *"

Come Go with Me "Come Go with Me" is a song written by C. E. Quick (a.k.a. Clarence Quick), an original member (bass vocalist) of the American doo-wop vocal group the Del-Vikings. The song was originally recorded by The Del-Vikings (lead singer Norman Wright) ...

" The Skyliners *"This I Swear" *"

Since I Don't Have You "Since I Don't Have You" is a song written and composed by Jackie Taylor, James Beaumont, Janet Vogel, Joseph Rock, Joe Verscharen, Lennie Martin, and Wally Lester. It was first a 1958 hit single for the doo-wop group the Skyliners on the US '' ...

The Penguins The Penguins were an American doo-wop group from Los Angeles, California, that were active during the 1950s and early 1960s. They are known for their 1954 hit song, " Earth Angel", which was one of the first rhythm and blues songs to cross ov ...

*" Earth Angel"

Gene Chandler Gene Chandler (born Eugene Drake Dixon; July 6, 1937) is an American singer, songwriter, music producer, and record-label executive. Chandler is nicknamed "the Duke of Earl" or, simply, "the Duke." He is best known for his most successful song ...

with Pure Gold *"

Duke of Earl "Duke of Earl" is a 1962 US number-one song, originally recorded by Gene Chandler. It is the best known of Chandler's songs, and he subsequently dubbed himself "The Duke of Earl". The song was written by Chandler, Bernice Williams, and Earl Edw ...

" Johnny Maestro & the Brooklyn Bridge *"Sixteen Candles" *" Worst That Could Happen" Lee Andrews & the Hearts *" Long Lonely Nights"

The Cleftones The Cleftones were an American vocal group formed in 1955, who were then called The Silvertones at Junior High School 40 in Jamaica, Queens, New York City. Formation In 1955, the members of the group were high school students attending Jamaica H ...

*"Little Girl of Mine" *" Heart and Soul" The Capris *" There's a Moon Out Tonight"

The Marcels The Marcels were an American doo-wop group known for turning popular music songs into rock and roll. The group formed in 1959 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and signed to Colpix Records with lead Cornelius Harp, bass Fred Johnson, Gene Bricker, ...

Blue Moon A blue moon refers either to the presence of a second full moon in a calendar month, to the third full moon in a season containing four, or to a moon that appears blue due to atmospheric effects. The calendrical meaning of "blue moon" is unc ...

" The Jive Five *"

My True Story My True Story may refer to: * My True Story (song), a 1961 single by The Jive Five * My True Story (film), a 1951 American romantic crime drama film * My True Story (radio and TV series), an American radio series, later a TV series See also

* ...

" *"What Time Is It?" The Legends of Doo Wop *"Just to Be with You" *"Oh Rosemarie" *"Guardian Angel" Earl Lewis and

The Channels The Channels were an American doo wop group from New York City. History An R&B/soul group of the 1950s, The Channels formed in 1955 around the singers Larry Hampden, Billy Morris, and Edward Dolphin, "Joe"(Bass) and "Rico"(Lead). But soon afte ...

*"That's My Desire" *"The Closer You Are"

Part Two

The Cadillacs The Cadillacs were an American rock and roll and doo-wop group from Harlem, New York, active from 1953 to 1962. The group was noted for their 1955 chart-topper, hit "Speedoo", written by Esther Navarro, which was instrumental in attracting Whi ...

*"Zoom" *"

Gloria (Leon René song) Most well known as a Doo Wop standard, "Gloria" is a song written by Leon René in the 1940s. The original version of "Gloria" as written by Leon René was first recorded in 1946 as a pop tune, by bandleader Norman "Buddy" Baker with vocal by Bob ...

" *"

Speedoo "Speedoo" is a song written by Esther Navarro and performed by The Cadillacs featuring the Jesse Powell Orchestra. It reached number 3 on the U.S. R&B chart and number 17 on the U.S. pop chart in 1955. The song was featured on their 1957 album ...

The Golden Group Memories The Golden Group Memories is an American touring music group that contains former members of doo-wop groups. The 2006 line-up included: *Vito Balsamo of the Salutations *Randy Silverman of the Salutations and The Impalas *Leo Lucas of J. Frank W ...

Unchained Melody "Unchained Melody" is a 1955 song with music by Alex North and lyrics by Hy Zaret. North wrote the music as a theme for the prison film '' Unchained'' (1955), hence the song title. Todd Duncan sang the vocals for the film soundtrack.Robert ...

" *" Sorry (I Ran All the Way Home)"

The Chantels The Chantels are a pop music group and are the third African-American girl group to enjoy nationwide success in the United States, preceded by The Teen Queens and The Bobbettes. The group was established in the early 1950s by students attendi ...

*"Look at My Eyes"

featuring Arlene Smith *"Maybe"

The Moonglows The Moonglows were an American R&B group in the 1950s. Their song " Sincerely" went to number 1 on the ''Billboard'' R&B chart and number 20 on the ''Billboard'' Juke Box chart. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000. ...

featuring

Harvey Fuqua Harvey Fuqua ( ; July 27, 1929 – July 6, 2010) was an American R&B singer, songwriter, record producer, and record label executive. Fuqua founded the seminal R&B/doo-wop group the Moonglows in the 1950s. He is notable as one of the k ...

*" Sincerely" *"Ten Commandments of Love"

For Your Precious Love "For Your Precious Love" is a song written by Arthur Brooks (singer), Arthur Brooks, Richard Brooks (singer), Richard Brooks and Jerry Butler, and performed by Jerry Butler and The Impressions in 1958. The song was ranked #335 on ''Rolling Stone ...

The Harptones The Harptones are an American doo-wop group which formed in Manhattan, New York in 1953. The group never had a top forty pop hit, or a record on the US ''Billboard'' R&B chart, yet they are known for both their lead singer Willie Winfield and ...

*"Sunday Kind of Love" *"Life Is but a Dream"

The Flamingos The Flamingos are an American doo-wop group formed in Chicago in 1953. The band became popular in mid-to-late 1950s and are best known for their 1959 cover version of "I Only Have Eyes for You". They have since been hailed as being one of the f ...

I Only Have Eyes for You "I Only Have Eyes for You" is a song by composer Harry Warren and lyricist Al Dubin. The song was written for the 1934 film ''Dames (film), Dames'', in which it was performed by Dick Powell. Several other successful recordings of the song were m ...

" *"Lovers Never Say Goodbye"

, The Legends of Doo Wop,

*"Gloria Medley"

The Spaniels The Spaniels were an American R&B and doo-wop group, best known for the hit " Goodnite, Sweetheart, Goodnite". They have been called the first successful Midwestern R&B group. Some historians of vocal groups consider Pookie Hudson to be the fir ...

*"Stormy Weather" *"Goodnight, Sweetheart, Goodnight"

References

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