Doo Wop 50

Doo Wop 50 was a PBS pledge drive special created and produced for PBS member station WQED-TV by TJ Lubinsky, grandson of Herman Lubinsky (founder of Savoy Records). The special was inspired by a 1994 CD box-set of doo wop music produced and sold by Rhino Records,[1] which was also a development and production partner in the special. It aired on December 5, 1999.

Doo Wop 50 was videotaped live at The Benedum Center For The Performing Arts, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on May 11 & 12, 1999. It showcased many doo-wop groups that had existed since the 1950s, and was hosted by former Impressions lead and soul soloist Jerry Butler. It was followed by Doo Wop 51 and the American Soundtrack series.[2] Doo Wop 50 became the highest-producing pledge drive special in the history of PBS at that time, garnering more than $20 million for its member stations.

The American Soundtrack series has become a mainstay for PBS and WQED.

Groups on the program

Part One

Herb Reed's Platters

Norman Wright's Dell Vikings

The Skyliners

The Penguins

Gene Chandler with Pure Gold

Johnny Maestro & the Brooklyn Bridge

Lee Andrews & the Hearts

The Cleftones

  • "Little Girl of Mine"
  • "Heart and Soul"

The Capris

The Marcels

  • "Blue Moon"

The Jive Five

The Legends of Doo Wop

  • "Just to Be with You"
  • "Oh Rosemarie"
  • "Guardian Angel"

Earl Lewis and The Channels

  • "That's My Desire"
  • "The Closer You Are"

Part Two

The Cadillacs

The Golden Group Memories

The Chantels

  • "Look at My Eyes"

The Chantels featuring Arlene Smith

  • "Maybe"

The Moonglows featuring Harvey Fuqua

Jerry Butler

The Harptones

  • "Sunday Kind of Love"
  • "Life Is but a Dream"

The Flamingos

The Channels, The Legends of Doo Wop, The Golden Group Memories, The Cadillacs

  • "Gloria Medley"

The Spaniels

  • "Stormy Weather"
  • "Goodnight, Sweetheart, Goodnight"

References

  1. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2007-06-24. Retrieved 2009-01-02.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  2. http://www.post-gazette.com/tv/20020811wqed0811fnp3.asp

See also

  • Official WQED website for the American Soundtrack series
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