Dictionary

doo-wop en · NOUN

Etymology

Coined by DJ Gus Gossert in the 1970s, referring to (mostly) white rock-and-roll groups of the late 1950s and early 1960s. The name is onomatopoeic, representing the nonlexical backing vocals of some songs of the genre.

Meanings

1. (uncountable) A style of vocal-based rhythm and blues music that was mostly popular within Black Americans of African descent in the mid-1950s to the early 1960s that is best characterized by nonsensical backing vocals with very little to no instrumentation.
   • The R&B groups possessed a grittiness and soulful earnestness that was soon to be emulated by street-corner doo-wop groups, some of whom would achieve commercial success with instrumentally arranged hit records. 2016, Lawrence Pitilli, Doo-Wop Acappella, Rowman & Littlefield, →ISBN, page 27:

Forms

Deriveds

doo-wop progression · doo-wopper · doo-woppy

doo-wop en · VERB

Etymology

Coined by DJ Gus Gossert in the 1970s, referring to (mostly) white rock-and-roll groups of the late 1950s and early 1960s. The name is onomatopoeic, representing the nonlexical backing vocals of some songs of the genre.

Meanings

1. (intransitive) To perform music in this style.

Forms