Dee Dee Phelps

DAY TWO AT THE DOO WOP CONFERENCE

After a great buffet breakfast (cheese blintzes with German cherries on top and a huge bowl of fruit) everyone reconvened in the Conference center. We joined another “meet and greet” session and again signed autographs and photos. I met many wonderful music lovers and had a great time talking to fans and hearing what music meant to them. As Lou Christi told me recently, our music was the sound track for people’s lives.

Cool Bobby B acted as M.C. and introduced acts entered in a talent show. I expected something like the American Idol try outs, featuring a number of people with questionable talent. To my surprise, the performers were terrific. Four women from Texas won the amateur Doo Wop contest. Wearing identical black dresses (with full skirts) and pink cinch belts, they belted out “girl group” songs and won the “applause meter” (shades of American Bandstand).

Saturday night featured the concert. As guests of Cool Bobby B (also known as Bobby Backman), Kane and I had great seats. We loved feeling the living pulse of the crowd reaction to the various doo wop groups. We were told that each group had at least one original member.

Like many Doo Wop shows, not all the groups are recognizable, but most have had at least one hit record. In some cases, the hit was local, only known in one part of the country. Still, the songs rolled forth. Nineteen groups performed that night. Often groups performed their single hit and then one or two of their favorite songs. Many memories flashed through my mind as I recalled performing with the original artists of the songs I was hearing.

A few of the highlights for me were the Edsels featuring the Reynolds Brothers (Rama Lama Ding Dong),” led by their father, age 72. The five brothers created tight, high energy harmony. Several of them served our country in the military and one recently returned from Iraq.

The lead singer of the Capris (There’s a Moon Out Tonight) told a heartrending story about working in New York City during 9/11. He had asbestos in one lung and had it removed. But he was back on stage with full vigor and gave a spirited performance.

The Doo Wop Daddies, from Milwaukee, all wearing red sports coats, gave their rendition of a number of Doo Wop songs. At the “meet and greet” I talked to several people from the Mid-West who told me to watch for this group. They have fans that followed them all over the state when they perform (sort of like the fans of the Grateful Dead).

By this time, it was difficult to stay seated. Most of the acts received standing ovations. In addition to the acts previously mentioned, other acts performing that evening were: Harvey Fuqua and The Moonglows, The Pentagons, Philly Cuzz, Jimmy Castor, The Elegants, The Olympics, Little Caesar and the Romans, The Murmaids (yes, they spell their name that way), Stevie Dunham and the Emerald Dreams, The Moonlites, The GoodFellas, and The Fleetwoods, starring Gretchen Christopher. I see now why Don Everly is quoted as saying, “You’re never too old to rock and roll.”

We left Vegas early Sunday morning, as we had a meeting a noon back in the L.A. area. But the wonderful songs echoed in my mind for days. No wonder Doo Wop is growing more and more popular. And the great news is Cool Bobby B plans to return to Las Vegas next year with another Doo Wop Convention.