Black History Daily: Who Was the First Black American Teen Heartthrob?

Vocalist Frankie Lymon (1942-1968) became the first black American teen heartthrob. He also inspired a number of younger musicians, including Michael Jackson. Born in Harlem, he became a singer of doo-wop, performing with his friends for donations on the streets of New York. They later created the quartet that would be known as the Teenagers. In January 1956 they released “Why Do Fools Fall in Love?” and it reached the number one position on the Rhythm and Blues charts and number six on the pop charts. Lymon left the Teenagers and recorded the moderately successful “Goody, Goody.” His life was the subject of a movie titled after his famous song, “Why Do Fools Fall in Love?”
Sources: Jessie Carney Smith, “Black firsts”, pp. 46

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