Doo-wop is such a great expression. I had to look for more on the topic after all the shows TJ Lubinsky has done on Doo-wop for PBS. As usual, Wikipedia is a handy source of information:
"Doo-wop (also spelled doowop and doo wop) is a genre of rhythm and blues music that originated among African-American youth in the 1940s, mainly in the large cities of the United States, including New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, Baltimore, Newark, Detroit, Washington DC, and Los Angeles. It features vocal group harmony that carries an engaging melodic line to a simple beat with little or no instrumentation. Lyrics are simple, usually about love, sung by a lead vocal over background vocals, and often featuring, in the bridge, a melodramatically heartfelt recitative addressed to the beloved. Harmonic singing of nonsense syllables (such as “doo-wop”) is a common characteristic of these songs. Gaining popularity in the 1950s, doo-wop was "artistically and commercially viable" until the early 1960s, but continued to influence performers in other genres."
And the name itself? Though the name was attributed to radio disc jockey Gus Gossert, he did not accept credit, stating that "doo-wop" was already in use in California to categorize the music. The term "doo-wop" itself did not appear in print until 1961. It was just in the air and in the lyrics of the time. From nonsensical to a style and genre that influenced all American music to come. Here's the Doo-wop joke I found:
And our photos today? This was the display at Watering Can the last time I was there a few weeks ago. I looked at the ceiling and wondered if Photoshop could replace the sky for the airplane picture. And there it is!
