Frankie Lymon's Teenagers talk with Tom Meros
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- Опубліковано 18 жов 2013
- The Teenagers was a group of five boys in their early to mid teens. It included 3 African American boys: Frankie Lymon, Jimmy Merchant and Sherman Garnes, and 2 Puerto Rican boys: Herman Santiago and Joe Negroni. Jimmy and Herman, the only surviving members, took a break before a recent concert performance to talk about their history with Tom.
Contact Tom: rockroll-history@usa.net
www.TomMeros.com
Jimmy and Herman were laughing and having a great time till it got to the point in the interview where they explained how Frankie was going solo and you could see in the interview how even after all those years it hurt and angered them .It must of been a terrible blow to the 4 Teenagers after being on top .They all had such a great sound together as did Louis ! Thanks to Jimmy and Herman for their time and a fine job by Tom Meros .
I liked that the band members were mature and didn’t insult or put Frankie down. Even after everything that transpired.
Real ones!
His voice was literally one of a kind. Omg
A male soprano,is not heard of often!!!
@@denisefleming1389 he was 13. That's probably why
I was a student at Stitt JHS 1955 -1957.......right at the peak of their story......
Frankie actually came to a regular assembly at the school and was celebrated like a returning War Hero.
In those days, everyone, black or white wanted to form a singing group....and if you didn't know what group sang the latest hit songs, then you were not cool.
I'll never forget the unique experience of being a little white kid, growing up in that neighborhood and attending that school.....It formed the person I am today....without a doubt.....I still use the expressions and language of that time in my daily speech.
It will always be a part of me....and although at times it was daunting to be in a reverse minority situation, it was tame by today's standards..
I just had to make sure i had enough money to give up to the bad guys who threatened, but be cool enough to be part of and embrace the culture....which of course meant ...Doo Wop.
To this day, I still know the groups and the lyrics of most of those songs of 1956-and onward....especially those of The Teenagers.
Thanks for the great trip to the past with Herman and Jimmy......loved it
Mark Newton
marco714@verizon.net
Marco Newton that was so intelligently crafted and refreshing, thanx for sharing!😊
Marco Newton wow you actually saw these kids in person at school?? Do you remember of how Frankie was in person seemed like a happy kid.
That’s beautiful! Felt very genuine and like a nostalgic time for you ! Frankie was special - never met him born in 80’s but I feel I’m an old soul. Love great music with feeling 🎶
wonderful 🙏🏾
Went to St. Rose of Lima..164/St Nick..hail from 160. Great post.
The movie Why Do Fools Fall In Love Can Be remade they focus more on his wives in the end then frankie actual music career we need more of the teenagers in this movie and what happened with his career on the music aspect
The funny thing is that the movie script was done decades before the movie itself was released in the 1990s. Believe it or not, the script was floating around since the 1970s and the producers actually asked Michael Jackson if he would have been interested in portraying Frankie Lymon and he declined. I personally believed he might have regretted it after doing the movie adaptation of The Wiz.
Hollywood necesita una cosa loca qué contar. El impacto lo cuenta de pasada Little Richard y ni si quiera nos mostraron el sufrimiento real de Frankie. Una pena.
It was a pretty bad movie and Larenz Tate was terrible as Frankie. Looked nothing like him, too tall and too old. He was 23 playing a 14 year old. Always wanted a better version of Frankie's story.
Agree
A book about Frankie would be very interesting.
So would a better movie. The one they made was said to be very inaccurate. Also the actor playing Frankie was 23 years old playing Frankie aged 13-25, seemed much taller than Frankie and the lip syncing just looked bad too seeing Frankie's young voice come out of an adult. Would've liked a movie more along the lines of Ray or Walk the Line. Why Do Fools Fall in Love at times felt more like a comedy. I read it also took the movie 15 years to get made.
Jason Harshman actually Frankie was lip syncing by the age of 23. His voice changed and that was the only way he could perform those early hits
@@nuknuknuk111 but Frankie could still sing!
I'm 19 and Frankie is still one of my top favorite artist of all time
Hats so awesome that your 19 ha! I'm 42 and only love their music all the more
That's so awesome I meant
Legends. I revisit this interview every now & then. So glad they forgave Frankie for leaving the group. It really was not his fault; he didn’t know any better.
he didn’t have the right people in his ear :(
They should've convinced him to stay. Where were his folks??
i am a puerto rican teenager; I love rock and roll and Doo-wop . I'd really like to have these guy's autograph; I enjoy their music very much
Kevin, send me an e-mail at rockroll-history@usa.net -> Tom
Frankie was pressured to go solo way too early!! These guys were amazing. I’m 32 and wasn’t even alive during this era, but love doo wop era and FRANKIE LYMON. Shame how he went out. Rip shining star❤💫
i wish current teenagers would value this music genre. thankful for this video... if only i could find more physical items from the Teenagers
What a great interview, these gentlemen are at the HEART of the music we hear today. They came from nothing to become Legends in the music business, and they are still humble and talented to this day, what a life they have had. I listen to Frankie and his group at least once a week, and have done so for about 50 years, and they still sound great. Hope they continue to perform and" SHARE" the music with us..........
What a great interview with two class acts. It’s a genuine tragedy that this group couldn’t have stayed together longer - so much talent and charisma. There’s no telling what musical heights they could have reached.
They actually cleared a lot of stuff up thanks for this interview
Could you imagine seeing street footage of these groups singing before they were famous
I'm 72nd; there will never be singers like these old-school singers. The songs had substance being in love, no cursing, respect, and class. Oh, how I enjoyed those days remembering my siblings who has gone on to their resting place. Sometimes when I listen to these old school songs, my thoughts go back, wishing I could turn back the hands of time.
Oh how I wish we could go back too that era of great talented men and women who really had a true talent of singing ......
I love hearing these stories on how these truly amazing pioneer groups got started and changed the course of music. Should be in the RR Hall of Fame
Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers have been in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame a long time now.
Frankie Lymon, Herman Santiago, Sherman Santiago, Jimmy Merchant, Joe Nagro, Frankie Lymon and The Teenager, ❤❤❤❤❤
You can see the passion in the interviewer when he is talking to the Teenagers (hard to call them that now) and this is the way in interview should be done,
Sir this video has made me cry tears of joy I remember listening to Frankie back in 1958 in Harlem and the Brooklyn NY 😢😮😮😮
I was nine when Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers became famous. They were great from the start. Rock and roll was brand new, fabulous, and made life so great for young people everywhere.
Wow, it's so good to see that the Teenagers music is still alive!! I was a big fan of the Teenagers, and Frankie had an amazing voice and talent. I still miss him.
He was the very best kiddie tenor I ever heard in person which is saying a lot because there were so many other kiddie tenors in vocal groups of that era including the lead vocalist here with the Teenagers: Timothy Wilson, formerly of Tiny Tim & the Hits from the 1950's!
Ella Presley Frankie has been gone for a very very long time
Thanks for this fine interview. Can't tell you how many times I've listened to their tunes, since right back then. My very best wishes to Herman and Jimmy. I promise to remember.
As a countertenor, I study the work of Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers. The more I do, the more important it seems.
I’m a 18 and one of few that actually appreciate this music👌🏽🔥
Just a terrific interview ... one of the best. I lived on 165th Street & Amsterdam Avenue and remember how much neighbors spoke of those '5 young kids singing rock and roll on radio'! And while walking with my father up towards Audubon Avenue where we saw all the Teenagers driving by in a convertible ... man oh man, I looked at my father and he said, 'you see, Al, even you can sing in a group and become famous like them.' Hard to believe they were only together for about 17 mos. before Frankie went solo.
Al Heitzer Wow
Al Heitzer U were so lucky..
This is amazing! Big fan of Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers!! How I wish to experience this era!
Me to
Herman Santiago is my boy! We worked together at Choice Courier in '97
Wow..thanks for the interview guys. It's so sad things happened that way. If Frankie would have had the support of his friends he would likely still be here. Such a sad story.
Wow, their recall of what happened is amazing! I could listen to their stories all day!
It's a shame that jimmy, joe, Sherman & Herman was not able to patch things up with Frankie before he died i know to them it was like losing a brother. Now Frankie, Sherman & joe are smiling down on Jlmmy & Herman as they keep the group's legacy well known to all generations # Nothing but Respect 4 Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers.
Imagine walking down the street and hearing this beautiful music smh why'd I have to be 80s baby
I've watched them sing on the Frankie Lane show so many times, it is just incredible
I went to school Edward w stitt with Frankie's brother Timothy Lyman 7th and 8th grade. I lived on 146th street between Amsterdam and convent Avenue
They're so cute lol (: it saddens me to think that when they pass it'll be like that thread of history will vanish , I hope they live forever D;
thanks for keeping *ROOT OF ROCK ALIVE* MY GENERATIONS (BIG BAND R&R R&B❤
These guys are just fantastic they sound just as great as they did years ago .
This was fun to watch! A great bit of history. Thank you for posting!
I wish they had more interviews with these guys
This was so educational and great to watch. It's so hard to believe that someone turned Frankie Lymon on to Heroin at such a young age. I think he was 15 years old. It's always a different story in the movies. These guys are great. Happy to see them doing what they love.👍
There is a lessen to be learned by this
Nice to see this. The very first concert I was ever taken to was by our Prof. Orman from our little Negro School in Lampasas Texas. We were segregated and rarely was there a public concert Blacks could attend. Prof. Orman bought tickets and took our class to Austin to see a "Cavalcade of Stars" , as they were called in those days. The show included Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers, Fats Domino, LaVerne Baker, Chuck Berry, a young performer named James Brown and some others I don't remember. It was my intro to live music. I have been a musician since that show as I slipped under the ropes and went up the stairs and sat next to Chuck Berry after his performance. We watch the crowd cheer for Frankie and the Teenagers, and then by shocked by James Brown! It was my welcome to Rock N Roll.
I enjoyed every min of this interview 👍 good job
Love the concert at the end!!👍💞💞 RIP Frankie Lymon & Teenagers
A wonderful interview and so natural. Thoroughly enjoyed it. Thank you for sharing it with us all.
I loved this interview! Thank so much for showing the guys in action at the end! Wonderful!
Thank you Tom for your interview! Hi Jimmy & Herman.Its nice to see & hear your story! I'm 39 and grew up a lot with your music in Dublin,Republic Of Ireland. My friends were listening to rave & hip hop (not that I dislike hip-hop or anything!) in the late 1990's ,I was listening to you guys, still have a nice collection on 33rpm. Also Spaniels,The Turbans,The Monotones,The Cadillacs, The Valentines,The Cleftones, The Hearts.I love your song,I'm Not A Juvenile Delinquent. That is a really rocking song with piano in background and sax from Jimmy Wright, lovely melodic music. Thanks for your group with Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers! Was in New York for first time ever,March 2020,It was great to finally see the city for myself and get the feeling for it. This music got me through school and doo-wop in general in late teens, the harmonies are really nice. Vinny, Dublin,Ireland.
Hi Vinny. I loved Doo Wop and The Teenagers. I lived across the Irish sea in Wales UK and bought all the records at the time - I was 11/12 years old.
This is a great interview. Thanks.
Funny I'm from Washington Heights and went to the same JHS I never knew this type of history. Wild!!!!
This is so great .. What an awesome interview.....Good job Thanks!
awesome!! I cannot get enough.... lovely..... the full story is incredible.... I watch this everyday,,,, keep it coming...
Such amazing music history here. Appreciate this interview.
2 last members...God bless them
I am crying... so many memories of my father as well.. Thank you x the video
Was your father a singer too?
I'm crazy about the rock a and roll. That music was for dancing and having fun. I love it. Thank u for sharing it with us
Great insight. I really enjoyed it and to see them singing again has been wonderful.
Thank you for a legacy of beautiful music.
Great interview! Thanks.
They have a great memory!
What a fantastic interview. God bless Herman & Jimmy, what I wouldn't give to see them live some day
This was awesome to learn. Great interview.
Great interview! Awesome insight into the past!
This is great! It's so neat to hear stories like this. Thank you so much. I've often thought that "Why Do Fools Fall In Love" was the breakthrough record for black artists because, as you mentioned, it was covered by three other artists but still outsold them all and went higher on the charts.. Up until then, I can't think of another record that was covered by white artists that did that. Thank God for UA-cam that we can enjoy the past in this way.
Great interview and performance. I really enjoyed it!
Tom is a cool dude, one of the best interviews I've ever seen!
Great interview!
This man is an excellent interviewer
Oh man 😂❤❤❤🎉🎉😂🎉 I've just recently started listening to you guys bout a month ago and though i remembered WHY DO FOOLS FALL IN LOVE it was the rest of your guys music that hit me all the more I'm 42 years old but I absolutely loved the music of the mid to the late 50s when i was a kid my mother loved this music she was a teenager back in the 50s I was born when she was 40 she died on Frankie lymons birthday 9 30 1990 8 was just 10 but that music she loved I've carried in my heart all these years and now im in love with the 50s more than ever before my mom also loved Richie Valens and Buddy Holly as well. My music of choice was straight up the 60s but now I've included the 59s as well after all.... Without the golden 50s I wouldn't have my 60s !!!! I'm so glad to see these 2 of The Teenagers still performing that touches me very deeply 😢 I also loved Little Richard as well and yes Chuck Berry.
Franky had a very beautiful voice and impressive charisma
When Puerto Rican and Blacks were one
Myron Smith Pre-West Side Story.
Yes so true
We still are come to NYC
We still are ❤
Thank you for this very interesting and informative look at this group and the music business at this period in time. I had seen the movie about Frankie and his marital mess *Why do fools fall in love*, but it rather glossed over a lot about Frankie's career with the Teenagers. This interview fills in a lot of gaps about the group and their career. I'm glad the two surviving members now realize that it was the record company who made that choice, and that Frankie was as much a casualty of that choice as they were. I agree, it was a stupid choice to have Frankie go solo at that time and it declined both his and The Teenagers careers, as well as shortened their legacy. The lead singers you mentioned who went solo from their groups only did so after they and their groups were already well established artists. Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers hadn't been around long enough to have made enough of a foothold in the industry or with the public to sustain either careers. Being with the group might also have helped when Frankie's voice naturally changed and he lost his signature soprano. Without the group Frankie was forced to sing falsetto to keep his voice high and it didn't work. Had he been with the group they might have helped work out a more successful new musical style that allowed him to use his natural voice.
+cisio64123 No it was a good move because Frankie was the sound and the talent. His problem was being introduced to drugs at a early age and getting hooked. His voice was beautiful high and low he could of transformed to a new sound but the drugs did his thinking.
It was because of the drugs. A lot of the greats get/got caught up in the drugs, alcohol abuse and other corruption in the industry. Drugs and these other corruptions destroyed a lot of careers in the industry. Look at Whitney . It affects the vocals and their physical bodies in general
What a great interview !
Tom: You are unbelievable the way you chase down all this talent and develop their story in such an entertaining and informative way. It's like Doo Wop history!! Now, the Doo Wop finale' planned for next week (and Teenagers on the bill) on Long Island under the careful tutelage of LAR!! And aren't we all blessed to have grown up, matured, and aged with 5 part harmony as our background music..Thank You!!!
Such a wonderful trip down memory lane by the original Teanagers
The two surviving members were ripped off by the recording company and judges, who kept their money for themselves. That song made millions of dollars, however, because they were teenagers it was easy to take advantage of them, and they did. Royalties is still being paid out on that song, however, the thieving record producer put down his son's name as the writer of this song, at that time his son was a baby, however, he wrote that song. Shameful.
ingrid gibbs. It was not uncommon. Many musicians were ripped off by managers, producers, companies etc. I know of NONE that ever tried to make it right. The main spirit of these vile creatures is not music. It is greed.
They have no shame
My.dad was part of vocal group when he was 15 back in 1955 and they got taken as well the company and management .
Wow that pisses me tf off.
Wow Herman lived in my building I lived on the 5th floor and Herman on the fourth floor Amsterdam and 175th st, sometimes we sat on the stoop to chat , I was 17 yrs old I forgot how old Herman was, I'm 81 now and the first time I see this video, I do not know if Herman still with us, if he still with us I say hello to Herman, I never forgot you Man, God bless
Great interview ❤🏴🏴🏴🏴🦄
It's my opinion all these singing groups of the 1950s 60s 70s part of the 80s and 90s should have gotten them all in one place to induct them into the rock and roll hall of fame in one shot that includes the girl group's as well they all deserve lot's of respect. ..
Great story thanks Tom!!!
Great interview, and great questions, so happy to see these wonderful guys. When and where was this recorded?
Dearborn, Michigan, in 2012.
I love this group so much I have kids listen to The Teenagers they are the Best ever i love me some them
Nice interview!
I enjoyed this!
That was fasicinating interview! All this time though with Why Do Fools Fall In Love and others still to this day no one has been able to replace him or make up for that spot that missing place its like he's dead, everyone tries to sing it but still no Frankie Lymon. They fill his place in many ways, live on to keep what was alive in a new kind of vibe. However at the end of the day there is still that fire that keeps burning with that one word what if?It is a question that will never have an answer. It's kind of like a gap that will never be quite filled, still a place for wonder and never trully understanding why or what could have been if he was still here today.
So awesome!
Frankie had such a beautiful, angelic voice. Rip
This interview was 46 years after Frankie Lymon died in 1968... one has to wonder how many times these men have had to say his name in all those years.
Good interview
Good Interview!!!
One of the greatest.
Interesting interview, great to hear how it all went down, seemed like a magical time to be alive! Would have been interesting to see what happened if the record companies hadn't broke the group up. Love that these guys are still at it! Thanks for enriching all of our lives with your wonderful music Jimmy & Herman!
I wouldn't mind seeing them in concert. Seems like such a fun show. I believe Frankie is smiling down. If he had the right ppl around him and yes probably stayed in GA, he would still be with us. He would have been performing to this day im sure. RIP to a legend a pioneer.
Frankie and the Teenagers were such an incredible influence on me while growing up to try to put it into words would be impossible. All the Motown stuff, 60's, 70's, you name it, have all had an impression on my growing soul, but these guys, the Teenagers, were one of the strongest. I was around 8 or 9 when my mother had to tell me that Frankie had passed away many years earlier because I was damned determined to meet him. I cried for days afterward lol. Tom, I ask you with the most open heart possible, would there be any way at all to get a tangible piece of history to hold in my hands? Where would I go to get an original 45 or even an autograph? I don't want to bother them with my littleness, so I thought I'd go to you to ask. Thank you.
They sound amazing! I'm looking for concert dates!
Love you guys. I love hearing your stories! Keep it up! No splits no sweaters at the end?!?!? haha
Great interview
Im watching the Frankie lymon movie now love this movie classic
Que triste morreu muito jovem mas seu talento tanto de Frenkie e os teenagers serão eternos grandes clássicos.
I don't care what anybody says,but I believe Frankie Lymon was murdered.I don't believe that movie one bit.There's A LOT that wasn't told about those events,and Warner Bros Knows more than what was told in the movie "Why do fool's Fall in Love" .Morris Levy owed Frankie and the Teenagers back pay from all the money that the record company had made from their songs.Frankie,along with the Teenagers didn't get there fare share,and morris had this up his dirty crafty JEWISH sleeves since the day he signed them into the record company.
Morris Levy had frankie killed right before Frankie was due to pursue all the money which Levy had owed him.Morris Levy is a liar,a thief,and a murderer. And I also believe Little Richard himself is also a puppet and. May be the only person who knows exactly what really happened back than.Little Richard had made a statement in the film "Why do fools fall in love" during the Courtroom scene where he was called to the witness stand to testify and recall his friendship with Frankie Lymon to the judge.Little Richard said in the film "Morris Levy didn't even use the Vaseline".Little Richard has a sense of humor and could've made that statement to not only describe how black performers were swindled by record producers but also to describe the possible Gay sodomy ritual that Lymon and or the Teenagers might have been subjected to by Levy himself.This sick and evil practice is still in Hollywood til this day along with many other satanic rituals.All this is up for debate,but who knows (I'm just stating my opinion,not claiming to know as if I were there).
I know I’m late but when he said “Morris didn’t even use no Vaseline” I think he meant like he fucked him over financially with no remorse not in a literal way
ditch those white suits lets see the sweaters with the T!!!
That would have been amazing
manuelkong10 yeah
love frankie lymon and the teenagers
The group at a old age singing on stage still sound good.