Franklin Joseph Lymon was an American singer and songwriter who was best known as the boy soprano lead singer of the early rock and roll doo-wop group The Teenagers, which was based in New York City. There were five boys in the group, and they were all in their early to mid-teens.
Frankie Lymon, Jimmy Merchant, and Sherman Garnes were the only members of the Teenagers who were not black. Joe Negroni and Herman Santiago were the only members of the group who were Puerto Rican.
If you want to know “How Old Was Frankie Lymon When He Died?” then you are at the right place. Read the full article to know all details.
How Old Was Frankie Lymon When He Died?
Lymon was discovered on the floor of his grandmother’s toilet on the 27th of February, 1968, dead from an overdose of heroin. He was 25 years old at the time of his death.
A syringe was found at his side. Saint Raymond’s Cemetery is located in the Throggs Neck neighborhood of The Bronx in New York City, New York.
This is where Lymon was laid to rest after his death. Later on, in 1969, Big Apple distributed “I’m Sorry” and “Seabreeze,” the two tracks that Lymon had recorded for the label shortly before his passing away.
How Did Frankie Lymon Join the Teenagers? When Was He Born?
Frankie Lymon was born in Harlem, New York, on September 30, 1942, to truck driver dad Howard and maid mom Jeanette. Frankie’s parents both sang in a gospel group called The Harlemaires, so singing was in his blood.
Frankie, Lewis, and Howie sang with the Harlemaire Juniors, and Frankie worked as a grocery boy when he was 10 years old. Frankie became friends with Herman Santiago, the lead singer of a local doo-wop group called the Coupe De Villes, when he was only 12 years old.
Frankie had heard the group for the first time at a school talent show. He then joined a band that was called The Ermines, then The Premiers, and finally The Teenagers.
Read More: How Old Was Dick Clark When He Died?
Was ‘Why Do Fools Fall in Love’ Written by Frankie Lymon?
“Why Do Fools Fall in Love” was The Teenagers’ first single, their signature song, and their most popular song. It was number one on the US R&B chart, number six on the pop chart, and, amazingly, number one on the UK singles chart as well.
It’s still popular today, and The Diamonds, the Beach Boys, and Diana Ross have all done versions of it. It’s not easy to figure out who wrote the famous song.
For the audition with producer and Gee Records boss George Goldner, Herman Santiago wrote the basic song “Why Do Birds Sing So Gay?” The words were based on some love letters that a tenant in bassist Sherman Garnes’ apartment building gave to the group.
Goldner suggested a few changes to the lyrics, and Frankie came up with and changed the melody on the spot. So, the song was credited to Frankie Lymon, Herman Santiago, and George Goldner on the first pressings.
After a while, for some reason, Santiago’s name was taken off the label. Then, when Morris Levy bought out Goldner, his name was changed to that of the producers.
Read More: How Old Was Lane Frost When He Died? Latest Info 2023!
Let’s Explore a Bit about Frankie Lymon’s Career!
Lymon and the Teenagers split up in early 1957 while on tour in Europe. During a London Palladium engagement, Goldner began promoting Lymon as a solo act, giving him solo places in the performance.
Lymon began performing using pre-recorded recordings as background. The group’s final song, “Goody Goody,” followed by “Creation of Love,” was first credited to “Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers,” although they were really solo recordings.
By September 1957, Lymon had formally left the group; an unfinished studio album titled Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers at the London Palladium was instead released as a Lymon solo release.
Lymon was not nearly as successful as a solo performer as he had been with the Teenagers. Lymon had signed with Roulette Records for his second solo effort, “My Girl,” in 2007.
Lymon began dancing with a white adolescent girl while appearing on a July 19, 1957, edition of Alan Freed’s live ABC TV show The Big Beat. His actions sparked outrage, particularly among Southern TV station owners, and The Big Beat was discontinued as a result.
Comments are closed.