Frankie Lymon: What Happened To The Singer-Songwriter

The name Frankie Lymon might ring a bell in your mind. Frankie Lymon was considered one of the first African-American teenage pop stars and the favorite of several people. He is also known as Franklin Joseph Lymon or Frankie Lyman. He was an American rock and roll/rhythm and blues singer and songwriter. He was best known as the boy soprano lead singer of the New York City-based early rock and roll doo-wop group The Teenagers.

Frankie Lymon: Bio Summary

Early Life

Frankie Lymon was born on September 30, 1942, in Harlem, New York City, New York, USA. He is the son of Jeanette Lymon, a maid, and Howard Lymon, a truck driver. Both also sang in the gospel group The Harlemaires. At age 10 he was employed at a grocery store.

Frankie Lymon heard of a local doo-wop group known as the Coupe De Villes at a school talent show. He befriended the lead singer, Herman Santiago, and he became a member of the group, which was later named The Ermines and The Premiers.

Career

In 1955, The Premiers received several love letters from a neighbor written by his girlfriend to inspire them to write their own songs. They later came up with a song titled ‘Why Do Fools Fall in Love’, from one of the letters. The group later called themselves The Teenagers.

Richard Barrett, a singer with The Valentines got the group an audition with record producer George Goldner. On the day of the group’s audition, Santiago, the original lead singer didn’t arrive on time and Frankie Lymon who knew his part because he assisted in writing the song stepped up instead and sang on his behalf.

George Goldner signed the group to Gee Records in 1956 and their first single titled ‘Why Do Fools Fall in Love’ was released. This was followed by the singles ‘I Want You to Be My Girl’, ‘I Promise to Remember’, ‘The ABC’s of Love’, and ‘I’m Not a Juvenile Delinquent.’

The Teenagers became Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers. The album The Teenagers Featuring Frankie Lymon was released in 1956. They also released the singles ‘Teenage Love’, ‘Out in the Cold Again’, and ‘Everything to Me’ was released. Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers broke up while touring in Europe in 1957.

Frankie Lymon started performing as a solo artist and began performing with backing from pre-recorded tapes. He released his singles with Roulette Record. His singles titled ‘My Girl’ and ‘Little Girl’ came out in 1957. Soon after these singles, the rock and roll vocalist released his solo album ‘Rock & Roll with Frankie Lymon’.

In 1959, released the single ‘Up Jumped a Rabbit.’ He released his singles ‘Little Bitty Pretty One’ and ‘Buzz Buzz Buzz’ and in the early 1960s, his career started declining. He was addicted to heroin use and his voice changed to a deeper baritone. He released a few more singles before Roulette ended their contract with him.

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Frankie Lymon entered a drug rehabilitation program. He struggled through short-lived deals with Columbia Records and 20th Century Fox Records. Under these records, he managed to release the singles ‘To Each His Own’ and ‘Somewhere.’ He appeared at the Apollo as part of a revue.

Frankie Lymon also recorded several live performances but none were successful. Then in 1968, he was signed to the Big Apple label and released his single ‘I’m Sorry’ under the label. According to sources, he is known for American Graffiti (1973), October Sky (1999), and The Big Fix (1978).

Did Frankie Lymon Get Married?

Frankie Lymon was married to Emira Lymon and previously married to Zola Taylor, and Elizabeth Waters. His first wife was Elizabeth Mickey Waters. Frankie and Elizabeth gave birth to Francine Lymon, who died two days after birth at Lenox Hill Hospital.

Frankie and Elizabeth’s union was not legal because Elizabeth was still married to her first husband at the time. Frankie later started dating Zola Taylor, a member of the Platters. According to Zola, she got married to Frankie in Mexico in 1965.

Their relationship ended several months later, purportedly because of Frankie’s drug habits. Frankie then met Emira Eagle who was a schoolteacher at Hornsby Elementary in Augusta. They got married in June 1967.

What Happened To Frankie Lymon?

Frankie Lymon passed away on February 27, 1968, in Harlem, New York, U.S. He was only 25 years old when he died. He was found dead of a heroin overdose on the floor of his grandmother’s bathroom with a syringe by his side.

Frankie Lymon was buried at Saint Raymond’s Cemetery in the Throggs Neck section of The Bronx, New York City, New York. “I’m Sorry” and “Seabreeze”, the two songs Lymon had recorded for Big Apple before his death, were released later in 1969.