Although their period of success was brief, Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers‘ string of hits were highly influential on the rock and R&B performers who followed them. Lymon’s high-voiced sound is said to be a direct predecessor of the girl group sound, and the list of performers who name him as an influence include Michael Jackson, Ronnie Spector, Diana Ross, The Chantels, The Temptations, Smokey Robinson, Len Barry, and The Beach Boys, among others.
Contributions to music:
- First rock and roll group consisting of teenagers
- 13-year-old lead singer Frankie Lymon was a tremendous influence on all future vocal groups in R&B, doo-wop and rock
- Established the template for boy and girl groups
- A fine doo-wop outfit adept at many styles of music
- Berry Gordy of Motown modeled his assembly-line approach to vocal groups after The Teenagers
- Lymon popularized the falsetto lead in pop, R&B and rock
Awards/Honors:
- Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (1993)
- Vocal Group Hall of Fame (2000)
- Grammy Hall of Fame (2001)
Categories: Stories of artists
