From vocal groups in the 1940s like The Mills Bros. and The Ink Spots, rhythm & blues, as well as gospel music, developed into a new style of music called doo wop. The use of non-sense syllables sung by background singers (such as shoo bee doo wop bah dah), the use of a falsetto voice above the melody, and a pronounced bass voice became the basis of this genre. This two-part lecture traces the development of doo wop throughout the 1950s and 1960s with The Ravens and The Spaniels, Frankie Lymon and The Teenagers, The Cadillacs, Dion and the Belmonts, The Penguins, and The Skyliners. We will also look at influential disc jockeys and record promoters who made the sounds mainstream - sounds which now bring back memories of a time when life was not so complex and the emphasis was on good times, simplicity and romance.

Bio:
Marv Rosenberg is one of the original members of the group The Safaris and the writer of their million selling top hit record from 1960 called “Image of a Girl." After 50 years of performing doo wop oldies with various doo wop groups all over the country (including locally at the Fred Kavil Theatre in Thousand Oaks, the Greek Theatre, and the Hollywood Bowl), Marv was once on the Board of Directors of Cash Magazine and The California Chairman of the National Music Foundation whose goal was to build a retirement home for hit artists. Dick Clark gave Marv an office in his suite of offices to run the Foundation. Over the last 5 years, Marv has had several online doo wop and oldies shows for “RememberthenRadio.com" called “Goodies About Oldies” and currently, “The Anatomy of a Hit.” Marv has a PhD. In psychology from St. John’s College in London and has worked for Kaiser Permanente Hospitals for 24 years.

The Fifty and Better (FAB) program was designed for people 50+ years of age, seeking intellectual stimulation through university level courses (without the pressure of grades) for the sake of learning and social engagement.