In 1956, a 13-year-old singer named Frankie Lymon helped turn a early rock and roll song into an international hit. “Why Do Fools Fall in Love” became the breakout record for Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers, launching the young singer’s career and eventually becoming a hit for several other artists.
The story behind the song began in a Washington Heights apartment building in New York City, where Teenagers bassist Sherman Garnes lived. The group, then known as the Premiers, would rehearse in the building’s hallways.
In late 1955, a resident of the building gave the group some love letters he had received from his girlfriend. One of the letters included the line “Why do birds sing so gay?” The phrase stuck with Herman Santiago, who worked it into a song he was already developing.
Santiago had been writing songs around a 1-6-2-5 chord progression and adjusted the melody and harmony to suit Lymon’s high voice. The record was originally called “Why Do Birds Sing So Gay?”
The Teenagers auditioned the song for producer George Goldner, the owner of Gee Records, in late 1955. Goldner took notice of Lymon’s voice during the audition and suggested that he handle the lead vocals.
“Why Do Fools Fall in Love” was released on January 10, 1956, as Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers’ debut single. It quickly established Lymon as one of the era’s most recognizable young singers.
The early rock and roll song reached No. 1 on Billboard’s R&B chart and No. 6 on the pop singles chart. It also topped the U.K. Singles Chart in July 1956, giving the 13-year-old singer a remarkable start to his career.
The song’s songwriting credits also got a little messy over the years. Early releases credited Lymon, Santiago and Goldner, but later releases listed only Lymon and Goldner. After Morris Levy acquired Goldner’s interest in Gee Records, Goldner’s name was eventually replaced by Levy’s.
The dispute dragged on for years before credits were awarded to Jimmy Merchant and Santiago in 1992. That decision didn’t stick, though. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit later overturned it, and the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear another appeal.
“Why Do Fools Fall in Love” continued to find new audiences through cover versions. The Diamonds released their version in 1956, the Beach Boys recorded it in 1964 and Diana Ross released a cover in 1981.
Ross’ version became another major hit, reaching No. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100, No. 2 on the Adult Contemporary chart and No. 6 on the Hot Soul Singles chart. It also reached No. 4 in the U.K.
The Beach Boys’ recording was released as the B-side to “Fun, Fun, Fun” and later appeared on their 1964 album Shut Down Volume 2. Their version reached No. 120 on the Billboard chart.
Related: 1967 ‘King of Folk’ Song, Written in a New York Basement, Is Still a Powerful Hit 59 Years Later
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