13. The doo-wop sound emerged from American cities in the 1950s
The sound of extensive vocal harmonies behind the voice of a lead singer, as presented by Smokey Robinson and the Miracles; the Platters; and the Coasters was itself rooted in the earlier works of groups such as the Mills Brothers and the Ink Spots. The style developed from the sounds of the streets of American cities, where groups would gather together for spontaneous singing sessions on street corners or alleyways. By the end of the decade the doo-wop style, which had exploded among black acts, merged with rock and roll in a style reflected by several bands in the United States, most notably Dion and the Belmonts.
Dion and the Belmonts were from New York (the Bronx) and their accents were a discernible part of their sound. They had several hits before splitting up in 1960, but their lead singer, Dion DiMucci, merged their doo-wop style with rock and roll in the record Runaround Sue in 1961, followed by The Wanderer later that year. Both songs sold well in Great Britain, Australia, and New Zealand. The idea of merging a rock and roll beat with complex layers of vocal harmonies was yet another influence on the growing musical scene in Britain, particularly in Liverpool, where several bands were by then following the lead from the United States.
