His life was dramatized in the 1998 film why do fools fall. Three beautiful women visit record executive morris levy. He was found dead at the age of 25 on the floor of his grandmothers bathroom from a heroin overdose. Aug, 2017 boyz ii men induct frankie lymon and the teenagers into the rock and roll hall of fame duration. Three women each claim to be the widow of 1950s doowop singer frankie lymon, claiming legal rights to his estate. The record fell like a gift from the sky, hit the top of the charts, and. Their greatest recordings by frankie lymon and the teenagers on amazon music. Franklin joseph frankie lymon september 30, 1942 february 27, 1968 was an american rock and roll rhythm and blues singer and songwriter, best known as the boy soprano lead singer of the new york city based early rock and roll group the teenagers. In 1956, frankie lymon and the teenagers landed a doowop hit with why do fools fall in love. Although early vinyl single releases of why do fools fall in love credit frankie lymon, herman santiago, and george goldner as cowriters of the song, later releases and cover versions were attributed only to lymon and record producer george goldner. Why do fools fall in love better yet, why do fools take a perfectly fascinating story the brief life and career of 1950s doowop singer frankie lymon and the three women who married him. Most of the film focuses on the three women he was involved with in his lifetime. Frankie lymon and the teenagers baby baby from the movie. Franklin joseph frankie lymon september 30, 1942 february 27, 1968 was an american rock and rollrhythm and blues singer and songwriter, best known as the boy soprano lead singer of the new york citybased early rock and roll group the teenagers.
Funeral services have been held for the widow of 50s rock star frankie lymon. The story in fools stems from the pioneer mid50s new york vocal group frankie lymon and the teenagers. Lymons wives were played by halle berry, vivica fox and lela rochon. The group, which made its most popular recordings with young frankie lymon as lead singer. The record fell like a gift from the sky, hit the top of the charts, and can still be heard on the golden oldies stations. Frankie lymon was considered one of the first africanamerican teenage pop stars. Three women each claim to be the widow of 1950s doowop singer.
Santiagos name was soon dropped and in the midsixties lymon and goldner sold off their rights to the song. All three women fight over, through dramatized flashbacks, who really seduced and is legally married to frankie lymon. Frankie lymon was when he had his big hit record, and 25 when he died. Why do fools fall in love 1998 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. Terrific performances by johnny burnette and the rock and roll trio, chuck berry, frankie lymon and the teenagers, the flamingos, the moonglows, lavern baker, jimmy cavallo and the house rockers. Rock rock rock dvd 1956 movie frankie lymon teenagers. A native of the harlem district of new york city, new york, frank j. Why do fools fall in love tells the story of how he married three women at least according to them, got into trouble with drugs and the army. Lymon moved into his wifes home and continued to perform sporadically. Lewis lymon of the teenchords dead at 69 new york daily news. Funeral held for widow of 50s rocker frankie lymon georgia. If you feel like heading out, check out other movies in theaters. Built on fresh interviews, some archival performance footage, stills and survivor anecdotes, director brent wilson a. Boyz ii men induct frankie lymon and the teenagers into the rock and roll hall of fame duration.
The movie spends no time whatever showing why lymon turned to drugs, nor does it clarify how he quit during the times he surprisingly seems to be clean. He was fourteen years old when why do fools fall in love came out. The fast life of frankie lymon a fool for love at just. Verse 1 why do birds sing so gay and lovers await the. Frankie lymon doesnt have any movies playing in theaters. Diana rosss cover of why do fools fall in love spawns a court case where. What isnt clear in the movie was just how young lymon, a mere when he broke ground with the doowop classic why do fools fall in love, was when he was three timing these women.
The three women claiming to be his wife go to court to settle their bitter dispute over. Frankie lymon biography facts, childhood, family life. Teen idol frankie lymons tragic rise and fall tells the truth about 1950s america the mirage of the singers soaring success echoes the mirage of postwar tranquility at home. The fast life of frankie lymon a fool for love at just 14.
Why do fools fall in love 1998 official trailer halle berry, vivica. The group, which made its most popular recordings with young frankie lymon as lead singer, is also noted for being rocks first allteenaged act. The augusta chronicle reports bryant was depicted in the 1998 movie why do fools fall in love. Frankie lymon and the teenagers baby baby by gnrslashlover. Why do fools fall in love 1998 stream and watch online. Fox movie hd three women each claim to be the widow of 1950s doowop singer frankie lymon, claiming legal rights to his estate. Teen idol frankie lymons tragic rise and fall tells the. Stay in the know with the latest movie news and cast interviews at. Why do fools fall in love 1998 larenz tate as frankie lymon. Jul 11, 20 lewis lymon, the last surviving brother from a groundbreaking harlem family of 1950s teen singers that included the late frankie lymon, died tuesday at his home in las vegas. Oct 07, 20 when pop legend frankie lymon died, he left behind a string of hit records. Frankie lymon 19421968 and the teenagers were a new york doo wop group consisting of joe negroni, herman santiago, jimmy. The first hour or so ranks as favorite movie material.
The teenagers are an american doo wop group, most noted for being one of rock musics earliest successes, presented to international audiences by dj alan freed. Britt junior high school in new york citys washington heights district. The real frankie lymon why do fools fall in love 1998. Frankie lymon 19421968 and the teenagers were a new york doo wop group consisting of joe negroni, herman santiago, jimmy merchant, and sherman garnes, but centered around the extraordinary talents of their lead singer, yearold frankie lymon. Frankie lymon, born as franklin joseph lymon, was an american rock and roll singer and songwriter. Its enormously entertaining and a fresh spin on standard biopic. However, in the film they made him seem to have a grown and sexy appeal. While it is a fun to watch dramatization of true events, it does not do the job of accurately covering a main point in frankies life. Funeral held for widow of 50s rocker frankie lymon. Apr 27, 2016 in the movie, just as it happened in life, there are three women who believe to be frankies legitimate wife and are each laying their case to claim the frankie lymon estate. Theres some suggestion that frankie was a bit too cocky for his own good, but thats not explored. Back then, it was all his voice, charm and dance moves. Why do fools fall in love is a 1998 american romantic drama film directed by gregory nava.
Originally frankie lymon, herman santiago and george goldner were listed as why do fools fall in love composers. Learn about frankie lymon including past and current movies, upcoming movies, and celebrity news at. The group was composed of five boys, all in their early to midteens. Fox plays one of the wives of frankie lymon larenz tate. Frankie lymon was born on september 30, 1942 in harlem, new york city, new york, usa as franklin lymon. Goldner allegedly to pay gambling debts and lymon for money to buy drugs. When pop legend frankie lymon died, he left behind a string of hit records.
Before i bought this cd, i was only familiar with why do fools fall in love and a few other songs. Ooooo wah, oooooo wah, ooooo wah, oooooo wah ooooo wah, oooooo wah, why do fools fall in love. Apr 19, 2019 funeral services have been held for the widow of 50s rock star frankie lymon. Frankie lymon and the teenagers were formed by a group of students at edward w. Mar 22, 2020 n streetlight harmonies is a short, brisk documentary that takes us from gospel close harmony singing as it morphed into pop music, covering the inkspots through doo wop, motown and the beach boys to en vogue and nsync. Santiago was an original member of that group and still sings in it today. He was married to emira lymon, zola taylor and elizabeth waters. Fame turned to tragedy as lead singer lymon larenz tate descended into substance abuse that. It is frankie lymons only real legacy, that two minutes and 15 seconds of doowop. Three women each claim to be the widow of 1950s doowop singer frankie lymon, claiming legal rights to. Hello fellow wikipedians, i have just added archive links to one external link on frankie lymon.
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