Herman Santiago

Herman Santiago born (February 18, 1944 in San Juan, Puerto Rico and raised in Manhattan, New York), is a songwriter who wrote the rock and roll hit "Why Do Fools Fall In Love".

Related Topics:
February 18 - 1944 - San Juan, Puerto Rico - Manhattan, New York - Rock and roll

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In the early 1950s Santiago and his friends, which included Jimmy Merchant, Shermon Garnes and fellow Puerto Rican Joe Negroni would meet in front of Santiago's stoop (building stairs) and would sing songs to the tune of Doo-Wops and called themselves the "Ermines" and Santiago was thier lead singer. One day the Ermines did a talent show at PS 143 (Public School 143). A group called the Cadillacs were guests on the show. It was memorable because it was the first time that the Ermines were asked to sign autographs. After the show, in honor of the Cadillacs, they decided to change their name to the "Coupe de Villes." This only name lasted a short time however, because they soon changed it to a more eloquent name: the "Premiers."

Related Topics:
1950s - Jimmy Merchant - Shermon Garnes - Puerto Rican - Joe Negroni

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Meanwhile, 12 year old Frankie Lymon was working in a grocery store. He also played bongos in his brother Howie's Latin band, which rehearsed at Stitt Junior High School. One night The Premiers and Lymon's brother performed in a talent show held at Stitt. At a rehearsal, Frankie approached the Premiers, telling them how good they sounded. They started jamming together and the guys were impressed with the sound of Frankie's high tenor/soprano voice. Lymon sang a few numbers with them, like "You Painted Pictures" and "Lily Maebelle," and by early 1955 they had invited him to join, singing first tenor behind Santiago's lead.

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In 1955, Richard Barrett, a scout for "Gee Records", heard them singing and introduced them to George Goldner, the owner of "Gee". Upon hearing them sing, Mr. Goldner signed them to a contract and changed the groups name to "The Teenagers".

Related Topics:
1955 - Gee Records - George Goldner

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The following day the group was supposed to meet with Mr. Goldner in the studio for a recording session. Santiago, who was the lead singer, was ill and could not accompany the other members, so he gave Negroni the music sheet with the words to the song that he had written. The song was "Why Do Fools Fall In Love" (which was originally reworked from a poem called "Why Do Birds Sing So Gay") and since Santiago was not present, Mr. Goldner asked Frankie if he could sing the song. Frankie accepted and the song was recorded. Mr. Goldner then changed the group's name to "Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers" and released the record. The song became an instant hit in the United States and in the United Kingdom it also became the first top British hit of an American vocal group. In London, they played at the Palladium. Alan Freed signed them for two movies. Upon hearing them sing, young girls acted wild, a matter that bothered the establishment more than somewhat.

Related Topics:
Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers - United States - United Kingdom - London - Palladium - Alan Freed

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In 1957, Frankie Lymon, upon the urging of Mr. Goldner, left "the Teenagers" and went solo. Eventually the group broke-up. Santiago tried to reunite "the Teenagers" in the 1970s and 1980s, in ill fated come back attempts. By the 1980s, Garnes had died from a heart attack and Negroni from a cerebral hemmrage. Santiago's economic situation was so bad that he ended up homeless and penniless. Frankie Lymon passed away in New York in 1968.

Related Topics:
1957 - 1970s - 1980s - 1968

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In 1981, Diana Ross recorded a new version of "Why Do Fools Fall In Love", which again became a hit. Royalties on the song passed over a million dollars.

Related Topics:
1981 - Diana Ross - Dollars

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In 1986, three women claiming to be Lymon's widow filed a law suit in New York's Superior Court claiming the rights to the song. When Mr. Goldner was called to testify, he admitted that he had conned "the Teenagers" into signing a contract which was not valid by law and that the song was written by Herman Santiago. He also admitted that he had received all of the royalties and that Santiago never received a cent as author of the song. The court ruled that none of the widows were entitled to the rights of the song.

Related Topics:
1986 - New York's Superior Court

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In December of 1992, the U.S. Federal Court ruled that the rights to the song belonged to Herman Santiago and that Jimmy Merchant and Emira Lymon (the true widow) were also entitled to receive royalties dating back to 1969.

Related Topics:
December - 1992 - U.S. Federal Court - Emira Lymon - 1969

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Herman Santiago was homeless and living in a car when he received the good news. Santiago went from being homeless to becoming a millionaire overnight.

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In 1993, Herman Santiago, Frankie Lymon and the original members of "the Teenagers", were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Related Topics:
1993 - Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

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