It emerged as a result of the blending of African-American rhythm and blues and pop music influences that were prevalent at the time. It is named after the distinctive style in which singers used the nonsense syllables "doo-wop" as a backing vocal to fill the musical spaces in their songs.
In Philadelphia, doo-wop emerged within an urban street corner and schoolyard singing culture led by African-American vocal groups. Notable examples of early doo-wop groups there include The Orioles, The Cadillacs, and The Marcels. Meanwhile, a New York variant developed, which emphasized a slick "city sound." This subgenre, known as East Coast doo-wop, or New York doo-wop, features prominent artists like The Valentines, Dion and the Belmonts, and Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers.
Throughout the late 1950s and early 1960s, doo-wop experienced both tremendous artistic achievement and commercial success. Numerous doo-wop hits made their way up the music charts across the United States, often breaking racial barriers that existed in the pop music sphere. Songs like "Sh-Boom" by The Crew-Cuts and "In the Still of the Night (I'll Remember)" by The Five Satins achieved notable fame due to their catchy melodies and poignant lyrics.