presents
Premiering March 31st
Directed by Brent Wilson
Running Time: 83 minutes 
Official Selection:
DOC NYC, Santa Barbara International Film Festival
It’s the unmistakable falsetto leads, lilting harmonies and deep backing vocals set to a bluesy street corner rhythm that created those unmistakable sounds “Up On The Roof” (The Drifters), Tears On My Pillow (Little Anthony & The Imperials), Smoke Gets In Your Eyes (The Platters), and “Why Do Fools Fall in Love” (The Teenagers) all an endless jukebox of melodies and memories. No other genre of music can conjure up the innocence of a nation, or the pangs of love quite like the timeless sounds of Doo-Wop. An entertaining journey through bands, songs and harmonies that evoke both days gone by as well as current hits, Streetlight Harmonies uncovers a definitive period of music and the artists that defined it. Millions know the music but few know the artists and their history that laid the foundation for rock and roll, rhythm and blues, and built a bridge to the civil rights movement.
Long Synopsis
The film features the unmistakable falsetto leads, lilting harmonies and deep backing vocals set to a bluesy street corner rhythm that created those unmistakable sounds — “Stand by Me” covered by Straight No Chaser, La La Brooks, Charlie Thomas and Vito Picone, “Tears On My Pillow (Little Anthony & The Imperials), “Why Do Fools Fall in Love” (The Teenagers), and more — all an endless jukebox of melodies and memories. No other genre of music can conjure up the innocence of a nation, or the pangs of love quite like the timeless sounds of Doo-Wop. An entertaining journey through bands, songs and harmonies that evoke both days gone by as well as current hits, Streetlight Harmonies uncovers a definitive period of music and the artists that defined it. Millions know the music but few know the artists and their history that laid the foundation for rock and roll, rhythm and blues, and built a bridge to The Civil Rights movement.
Iconic musicians featured in the documentary include Jimmy Merchant (The Teenagers), Anthony Gourdine (Little Anthony and the Imperials), Al Jardine (The Beach Boys), Brian Wilson (The Beach Boys and Brian Wilson Band), Charlie Thomas (The Drifters), Sammy Strain (The Imperials, The O’Jays), Terry Johnson (The Flamingos), Diz Russell (The Orioles),Fred Parris (The Five Satins), Billy Brown (Ray Goodman and Brown, The Moments), Ron Coleman (The Broadways), Lois Powell (The Chantels), Fanita James (The Blossoms), La La Brooks (The Crystals), Janis Siegel (Manhattan Transfer), Vito Picone (The Elegants), Eddie Rich (The Swallows), Leon Hughes (The Coasters), Jeff Barry, Brooks Arthur, Wally Roker (The Heartbeats), Freda Payne, Scherrie Payne (The Supremes), Florence La Rue (Fifth Dimension), Claude McKnight (Take 6), Brian McKnight, Lance Bass (NSYNC), Barbara Jean English (The Clickettes), Ron Dante (The Archies), Jon Bauman, Lenny Welch, Lamont Dozier, and many more.
Interviewees
Brooks Arthur – Producer and Engineer
Engineered 7 #1 singles
“Chapel of Love”, “My Boyfriend’s Back”, “Leader of the Pack”
Jeff Barry – Songwriter and producer
“Do Wah Diddy Diddy”, “Da Doo Ron Ron”, “Then He Kissed Me”, “Be My Baby”, “Chapel of Love”
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame’s Ahmet Ertegun award
Lance Bass – NSYNC
Also a New York Times Best Selling author
Jon “Bowzer” Bauman – Sha Na Na
Also a Founder of the “Truth In Music” campaign
Jerry “the Geater” Blavat – Famed Disc Jockey
1998 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Inductee
La La Brooks – The Crystals
Biggest Hit, “Then He Kissed Me”
Grammy Hall of Fame
Billy Brown – The Broadways, Ray, Goodman, and Brown – The Moments
Biggest hit “Going, Going, Gone”
Tony Butala – The Letterman
Biggest Hit, “Goin’ Out of My Head”, “Put Your Head on My Shoulder”
Ron Coleman – The Broadways
Biggest Hit “Going, Going, Gone”
Ron Dante – The Archie’s, Producer
Biggest Hit ,“Sugar Sugar”
Lamont Dozier – Famed Motown Producer/Writer
1990 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Inductee
Terry Ellis – En Vogue
Breakout hit, “Hold On”
Barbara Jean English – The Clickettes
“Lover’s Prayer”
Anthony Gourdine – Little Anthony and the Imperials
2009 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Inductee
Biggest hit, “Tears on My Pillow”
Cindy Herron – En Vogue
Breakout hit, “Hold On”
Dr. Charlie Horner – Historian
Music Historian
Urban Classic Harmony
Leon Hughes – The Coasters
Biggest Hit, “Seachin”,“Yakety Yak”, “Charlie Brown”, “Along Came, “Poison Ivy”
1987 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee
Fanita James – The Blossoms
Biggest Hit, “He’s a Rebel”
Jay & The Americans (Howie Kane, Marty Kupersmith, Sandy Deanne)
Biggest Hit, “Come a Little Bit Closer”, “This Magic Moment”
Vocal Group Hall of Fame Inductees
Al Jardine – The Beach Boys, Brian Wilson Band
1988 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee
Terry Johnson – The Flamingos
2001 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Inductee
Biggest Hit, “I Only Have Eyes for You”
Florence LaRue – The 5th Dimension
Biggest Hit, “Aquarius/Let the Sun Shine In
Brian McKnight – Singer, Songwriter, Producer
Singer/Songwriter/Producer
16-time Grammy nominee
Claude McKnight – Take 6
10-time Grammy Winner
Jimmy Merchant – Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers
Biggest hit “Why Do Fools Fall In Love”
1993 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Inductee
Fred Parris – The 5 Satins
1994 Vocal Group Hall of Fame Inductee
Biggest Hit, “In The Still of The Night”
Freda Payne – Performer
Biggest hit, “Band of Gold”
Scherrie Payne – The Supremes
Vito Picone – The Elegants
Biggest Hit, “Little Star”
Lois Powell – The Chantels
Biggest Hit, “Maybe”
2010 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee
Eddie Rich – The Swallows
Biggest Hit, “Will You Be Mine”
Wally Roker – The Heartbeats
Biggest hit, “A Thousand Miles Away”
Has passed away since production of the film
Albert “Diz” Russell – The Orioles, The Regals
Has passed away since production of the film
Janis Siegel – Manhattan Transfer
10-time Grammy Award winner
Val Shively – Val Shively’s R& B Records
Owner World’s Largest Vinyl Store
Straight No Chaser
A contemporary American a cappella group that originated in 1996 at Indiana University. They signed with Atlantic Records after their video of “The 12 Days of Christmas” went viral.
Sammy Strain – The Chips, Little Anthony and the Imperials, The O’Jays
2005 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Inductee (The O’Jays)
2009 (Little Anthony and the Imperials)
Biggest hit, “Tears on My Pillow”
Charlie Thomas – The Drifters
1988 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Inductee
Biggest Hit, “Under The Boardwalk”
Brian Wilson – The Beach Boys, Brian Wilson Band
1988 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee
Lenny Welch – Performer
Biggest Hit, “Since I Fell for You”
Willie Winfield – The Harptones
Biggest Hit, “Sunday Kind of Love”, “Life is but a Dream”
Featured Songs
- Come Go With Me – The Del Vikings
- Peace in The Valley – Sam Cooke & The Soul Stirrers
- If I Didn’t Care – The Ink Spots
- It’s Too Soon to Know – The Orioles
- Why Do Fools Fall in Love? – Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers
- Baby, Baby – Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers
- Teenage Love – Frankie Lymon & The teenagers
- Speedo – The Cadillacs
- My True Story – The Jive Five
- In The Still of The Night – The Five Satins
- Maybe – The Chantels
- Little Star – The Elegants
- Yakety Yak – The Coasters
- Stay – Maurice Williams & The Zodiacs
- That’s What You’re Doing to Me – Billy Ward & The Dominoes
- I Wonder Why – Dion & The Belmonts
- The Angels Listened In – Johnny Maestro & The Crests
- A Thousand Miles Away – The Heartbeats
- Will the Circle Be Unbroken – The Staple Singers
- My Troubles Are Not at an End – The Penguins
- Sh-Boom – The Chords
- I Only Have Eyes for You – The Flamingos
- Lover’s Prayer – The Clickettes
- Then He Kissed Me – The Crystals
- Tears on My Pillow – Little Anthony & The Imperials
- Surfin’ – The Beach Boys
- It’s the Same Old Song – The Four Tops
- Goodnight Sweetheart – Sha Na Na
- Baby Please Don’t Go – The Orioles (Diz Russell)
- I Thought She Knew – *NSYNC
- Stand By Me – cover by Straight No Chaser, Charlie Thomas, La La Brooks, and Vito Picone
End Credits
Directed By
Brent Wilson
Produced By
Timothy Headington
Produced By
Theresa Steele
Brent Wilson
Executive Producer
Dan Braun
Executive Producer
Christopher Martin
Written By
Brent Wilson
George Bellias
Historical Consultant
Dr. Charles Horner
Edited By
George Bellias
Co-Producer
Nate Kamiya
Post Production Audio
Mark Linett
Your Place Or Mine Recording
Director of Photography
Adam Williams
Supervising Story Editor
Steve Prevesk
Music Supervisor
Trina-Marie Hill
Archive Supervisor
Kate Coe
Motion Graphics
Scott Gordon
Additional Editor
Marlon “MJ” Jones
Original Music
Trevor Page
Gabe Lopez
Additional Directors of Photography
Hossam Aboul-Magd – Washington, DC
Uri Shwartz – New York, NY & Philadelphia, PA
Camera Operators
Axel Eberman – New York, NY
Mark Guyot – Los Angeles, CA
Jay William – Asbury Park, NJ
Frank LaSpina – Los Angeles, CA
Assistant Camera
Frenel Morris – New York, NY
Location Sound
Heather Petrone – Los Angeles, CA and Brooklyn, NY
Greg Breazeale – Washington DC
Pasquale A. Leonardo – New York, NY
Grip
Sean Burris – Los Angeles, CA
Hair & Makeup
Dahlia Warner – Brooklyn, NY
Production Assistants
Holly Burns – Washington DC
Jenn Durrett – Los Angeles, CA
Stephanie Faucher – Brooklyn, NY
Greg Hernandez – Brooklyn, NY
Stephen Pell – Los Angeles, CA
Elisa Victoria – Los Angeles, CA
Still Photographer
Sami Drasin
Online Editor & Color
George Bellias
Photo Archivists
Pam and Charlie Horner
Classic Urban Harmony
Assistant Archivist
Virginia Anzengruber
Transcriptions
Shelia Martin
Dylan Borger
Virginia Anzengruber
Poster Design
Mark London
Publicity
Jean Sievers – CO5 Media
Lauren Mele – CO5 Media
Jo-Ann Geffen, JAG PR Services
Insurance
Laird Criner
Film Emporium
Accounting
David Pierfy
IFMS Accounting Services
Gina Dorvilier – Headington Companies
Production Legal
Dean Cheley – Donaldson & Califf
Marisa Kapust – Donaldson & Califf
Kim Szarzynski – Headington Companies
Interview Cast
(In Alphabetical Order)
Brooks Arthur – Producer and Engineer
Jeff Barry – Songwriter and producer
Lance Bass – NSYNC
Jon Bauman – Sha Na Na
Jerry “the Geater” Blavat – Famed Disc Jockey
La La Brooks – The Crystals
Billy Brown – The Broadways, Ray, Goodman, and Brown – The Moments
Tony Butala – The Letterman
Ron Coleman – The Broadways
Ron Dante – The Archie’s, Producer
Lamont Dozier – Producer and Writer
Terry Ellis – En Vogue
Barbara Jean English – The Clickettes
Anthony Gourdine – Little Anthony and the Imperials
Cindy Herron – En Vogue
Dr. Charlie Horner – Historian
Leon Hughes – The Coasters
Fanita James – The Blossoms
Al Jardine – The Beach Boys, Brian Wilson Band
Terry Johnson – The Flamingos
Chris Jordan – Asbury Park Press
Howie Kirschenbaum – Jay and the Americans
Marty Kupersmith – Jay and the Americans
Florence LaRue – The Fifth Dimension
Brian McKnight – Performer
Claude McKnight – Take 6
Jimmy Merchant – Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers
Fred Parris – The 5 Satins
Freda Payne – Performer
Scherrie Payne – The Supremes
Vito Picone – The Elegants
Lois Powell – The Chantels
Eddie Rich – The Swallows
Wally Roker – The Heartbeats
Albert “Diz” Russell – The Orioles
Janis Siegel – Manhattan Transfer
Val Shively – Val Shively’s R& B Records
Straight No Chaser
Sammy Strain – The Chips, Little Anthony and the Imperials, The O’Jays
Charlie Thomas – The Drifters
Brian Wilson – The Beach Boys, Brian Wilson Band
Lenny Welch – Performer
Willie Winfield – The Harptones
Sandy Yaguda – Jay and the Americans
Locations
#1 Gold Radio Studios – Philadelphia, PA
Asbury Park Music Foundation – Asbury Park, NJ
Downtown Music Studios – New York, NY
East West Studios – Los Angeles, CA
Gibson Showroom – Beverly Hills, CA
Intercontinental Hotel – San Francisco, CA
Monmouth University – Monmouth, NJ
SIR – Los Angeles, CA
Wythe Hotel – Brooklyn, NY
Mr. Henry’s Supper Club – Washington, DC
Val Shively R & B Records Philadephia, PA
Archival Footage & Photos Provided By Or Courtesy Of
Brooks Arthur personal collection
Barbara Jean English personal collection
F.I.L.M. Archives
Footnote Films
Getty Images
Global ImageWorks
Historic Films
Kinolibrary
Charlie & Pam Horner personal collection
Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division
Jimmy Merchant personal collection
MyFootage.com
National Archives & Records Administration
NBCUniversal Archives
Oddball Films
Vito Picone personal collection
Pond 5
Lois Powell personal collection
Producers’ Library
Reelin’ in the Years
Retro Video
Theresa Steele personal collection
Sammy Strain personal collection
Songs
“A Thousand Miles Away”
Written By: William Henry Miller (BMI) James Sheppard (BMI)
Embassy Music Corp. C/O Music Sales Corp. BMI
EMI Longitude Music (BMI)
Courtesy Of: Rhino Records
Performed By: The Heartbeats
“Baby Baby”
Written By: Glen T Moore (BMI)
Milton Subotsky (BMI)
EMI Longitude Music (BMI); Glenfoe Music Company (BMI)
Performed By: Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers
“Baby Please Don’t Go”
Written By: William Joseph Lee (ASCAP)
EMI Full Keep Music (ASCAP)
Performed By: Albert “Diz” Russell
“Come Go With Me”
Written By: Clarence E. Quick (BMI)
Round Hill Music LP Michael Lou dba Round Hill Works
Courtesy Of: Kel Tel
Performed By: The Del Vikings
“Goodnite, Sweetheart, Goodnight It’s Time to Go”
Written By: Calvin Carter (BMI) James Hudson (BMI)
BMG Platinum Songs US A/C Arc/Conrad Music LLC DBA Arc Music
Performed By: Sha Na Na
“How Much For That Doggie In The Window”
Written By: Bob Merrill (ASCAP)
Golden Bell Songs (ASCAP)
Performed By: Patti Page
“I Only Have Eyes for You”
Written By: Al Dubin (ASCAP) Harry Warren (ASCAP)
Warner Bros Inc. (Warner Music Divison) (ASCAP)
Courtesy Of: Rhino Records
Performed By: The Flamingos
“I Thought She Knew”
Written By: Robin Lee Wiley (ASCAP)
Chick Singer Music c/o Universal Music Z-Tunes LLC (ASCAP)
Performed By: ‘NSYNC
“I Want You To be My Girl”
Written By: Written By: Richard Barrett (BMI), Levy Morris (BMI)
San Do Music (BMI), Tunecore Digital Music (BMI)
Courtesy Of: Rhino Records
Performed By: Frankie Lymon and The Teenagers
“I Wonder Why”
Written By: Ade Olayinka (ASCAP) Ricardo D. Weeks (ASCAP)
3 Seas Music Corp. c/o Spirit Two Music (ASCAP)
Toni R. Music Company (ASCAP)
Courtesy Of: Columbia/Universal
Performed By: Dion & The Belmonts
“If I Didn’t Care”
Written By: Jack Lawrence (ASCAP)
Range Road Music C/O Carlin America (ASCAP) Warner Chappell
Courtesy Of: K-Tel
Performed By: The Ink Spots
“In the Still of the Night”
Written By: Fredericke Parris (BMI)
Llee Corporation C/O Cherio Corp. (BMI)
Courtesy Of: Rossiter Road UK Ltd/Bacci Bros Records/Deal With Music
Performed By: The Five Satins
“It’s the Same Old Song”
Written By: Brian Holland (BMI) Lamont Dozier (BMI) Edward Holland Jr. (BMI)
Stone Agate Music C/O Sony/ATV BMI
Courtesy Of: Universal
Performed By: The Four Tops
“It’s Too Soon to Know”
Written By: Deborah Chessler (ASCAP)
Morris Edwin H & Co. C/O MPL Communications Inc.
Courtesy Of: Rhino Records
Performed By: The Orioles
“Little Star”
Written By: Vito J Picone (BMI)
Arthur R Venosa (BMI) EMI Longitude Music (BMI)
Courtesy Of: Rhino Records K-Tel
Performed By: The Elegants
“Lover’s Prayer”
Written By: Johnnie Louise Richardson (BMI) Idea Music
Courtesy Of: Resnik Music Group
Performed By: The Clickettes
“Maybe”
Written By: Richard Barrett (BMI)
EMI Longitude Music (BMI)
Courtesy Of: Rhino Records
Performed By: The Chantels
“My Troubles Are Not At An End”
Written By: Curtis Edward Williams (BMI)
APRS c/o Peer Music
Courtesy Of: Universal Music Enterprises
Performed By: The Penguins
“My True Story”
Written By: Phil Belmonte (BMI) Eugene Pitt (BMI) Oscar Waltzer (BMI)
EMI Grove Park Music Inc. (BMI)
Warner Tamerlane Publishing (BMI)
Courtesy Of: Essential Media Group, LLC
Performed By: The Jive Five
“Peace In The Valley”
Written By: Thomas Dorsey
Warner Chappell
Courtesy Of: Specialty Records c/o Concord Music Group
Performed By: Sam Cooke & The Soul Stirrers
“Sh-Boom Life Could Be A Dream”
Written By: William R Edwards (BMI) Carl Feaster (BMI) Claude Feaster (BMI) James C Keyes (BMI) Floys Franklin McRae (BMI)
Unichappell Music Inc (BMI)
Courtesy Of: Rhino Records
Performed By: The Chords
“Sh-Boom Life Could Be A Dream”
Written By: William R Edwards (BMI) Carl Feaster (BMI) Claude Feaster (BMI) James C Keyes (BMI) Floys Franklin McRae (BMI)
Unichappell Music Inc (BMI)
Courtesy Of: K-Tel
Performed By: The Crew Cuts
“Speedo”
Written By: Esther Navarro (BMI)
EMI Longitude Music (BMI)
Courtesy Of: Rhino Records
Performed By: The Cadillacs
“Stand By Me”
Written By: Ben E King (BMI) Jerry Leiber (BMI) Mike Stoller (BMI)
Sony/ATV Songs LLC (BMI)
Performed By: Charlie Thomas, La La Brooks, Vito Picone,
& Straight No Chaser
Straight No Chaser
Appearing Courtesy Of Atlantic Records
“Surfin”
Written By: Mike E. Love Brian Wilson (BMI )
BMG Rights Management US LLC DBA BMG Bumblebee
Courtesy Of: Universal Music Group
Performed By: The Beach Boys
“Tears On My Pillow”
Written By: Sylverster Bradford (NS) Al Lewis (ASCAP)
ABG EPE Gladys Music (ASCAP) Gladys Music
Elvis Presley Enterprises (ASCAP)
Sovereign Music Company (ASCAP)
Courtesy of: Rhino Records
Performed By: Little Anthony & The Imperials
“Teenage Love”
Performed by Frankie Lymon and The Teenagers
Composed By: Morris Levy (BMI); Al J Cooper (BMI)
Published By: EMI Longitude Music (BMI)
Courtesy of Rhino Entertainment Company
By arrangement with Warner Music Group Film & TV Licensing
“That’s What You’re Doing To Me”
Written By: William E Ward (BMI); Rose Marks (N/A)
Bro N Sis Music Inc. c/o Carlin America Inc. (BMI)
Courtesy Of: Gusto Records
Performed By: The Dominoes featuring Clyde McPhatter
“The Angels Listened In”
Written By: Cathy Lynn (BMI)
Billy Dawn Smith (BMI)
Bro N Sis Music Inc. c/o Carlin America Inc. (BMI)
New Breed Music (BMI)
Courtesy Of: Sundazed Records
Performed By: The Crests
“Then He Kissed Me”
Written By: Jeff Barry (BMI) Ellie Greenwich (BMI) Phillip Spector (BMI)
Malt Shoppe Music c/o Universal Songs of Polygram (BMI)
Mother Bertha Music Inc. c/o Sony/ATV (BMI)
Steeple Chase Music
Trio Music Company c/o BMG Bumblebee (BMI)
Courtesy Of: Sony/ATV
Performed By: The Crystals
“Why Do Fools Fall In Love”
Written By: Morris Levy (BMI)
Emira E Lymon (BMI)
Frank Joseph Lymon (ASCAP)
EMI Longitude Music (BMI) EMI Full Keel Music (ASCAP)
Courtesy Of: Rhino Records
Performed By: Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers
“Will The Circle Be Unbroken”
Written By: Roebuck Staples (BMI)
Sony/ATV Songs LLC
Courtesy Of Concord Records
Performed By: The Staples Singers
“Yakety Yak”
Written By: Jerry Leiber (BMI) Mike Stoller (BMI)
Sony/ATV Songs LLC
Courtesy Of: Rhino Records K-Tel
Performed By: The Coasters
Thank you very much…
Bob Crosby – Vocal Hall of Fame
Charlie Di Como – Doo Wop Music Hall of Fame
Allie L. Dobson – Crosley Record Players
Eileen Champman – Monmouth University
Karen Morrow – Monmouth University
Caroline Galloway – Gibson Guitars
Jennifer Feeney – Gibson Showroom
Zach Hancock – Downtown Music Studio – New York
Ellis Sorkin – Studio Referral (AWESOME!)
David Britz – Manager Straight No Chaser
Andrea Sinclair – Valley Florida Bank
Erin Webb – Wythe Hotel
Lia Buman
Darryl Davy
Tom Galloway
Graciela Acuna
Shazy Kassim
Diane McNamara
Melinda Wilson
Kamilya Copney
Jamaal Turpin
August Pereyra
Will Jordan
Joe Mulvihill
Julie Ciesielski
Angela and Bella Bellias
…Mayerling Diaz Wilson
Thank you for letting us borrow your husband for 3 years!
…My kiddies Travis, Trevor, Elisa, Amanda and Jackson
Thanks for the last three years of non-stop listening!
Copyright © 2018 Ley Line Entertainment
All Rights Reserved
Unauthorized Duplication
Is A Violation of Applicable Law
