The Day Why Do Fools Fall in Love Went To The Top

07/15/2011
. (Gibson) On this day in 1956, Frankie Lymon became the youngest artist to score a no. 1 hit in Britain. Frankie Lymon and The Teenagers topped the charts with "Why Do Fools Fall in Love" � although that wasn't the original name of the song. In fact, less than a year earlier, the vocal group wasn't called The Teenagers and Frankie wasn't even the lead singer.

Lymon grew up in a poor family in Harlem, New York. He began singing at an early age � likely inspired by his truck driver father, who spent his free time singing with the gospel group the Harlemaires. Frankie and his brothers were members of the Harlemaire Juniors. In order to help support his family, he began working as a grocery boy at age 10, although he soon got into less legitimate forms of work � including hustling prostitutes. Reportedly, by age 12, he was having relationships with women twice his age.

Around that same time, Frankie saw a doo-wop group named the Coupe De Villes at a talent show. He became friends with the lead singer, Herman Santiago, and quickly worked his way into the group � which was then going by both The Ermines and The Premieres. more on this story

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