doo-wop

US pop-music form of the 1950s, a style of harmony singing without instrumental accompaniment or nearly so, almost exclusively by male groups. The name derives from the practice of having the lead vocalist singing the lyrics against a backing of nonsense syllables from the other members of the group.

Doo-wop had roots in the 1930s with rhythm-and-blues groups like the Ink Spots and in gospel music. It was practised by street-corner groups in the inner cities, some of whom went on to make hit records; for example, ‘Earth Angel’ (1954) by the Penguins and ‘Why Do Fools Fall in Love’ (1956) by Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers. The first doo-wop record to be a number-one US pop hit was ‘The Great Pretender’ (1955) by the Platters.