Heres the glamorous Zola Taylor (Halle Berry), a member of the Platters, one of early rocks supergroups. "He had the type of personality," says Elizabeth Waters Lymon, Wife No. "He had always regarded Zola as his stage mother," Elizabeth explained during the trial. Elizabeth Lymon said in court papers that she married Lymon on Jan. 23, 1964, in Alexandria, Va., and had his daughter, Gloria Francine, who died shortly after birth in 1965. She claimed to have . Her divorce didn't come through until 1965. Elizabeth Waters is currently single. Her adversary, Morris Levy, was a powerful force in the music business. Elizabeth, now 46, said she had been born again, but she still strove for glamor, her skirt fashionably above the knee, her fingernails long and orange. Her attorneys advised her that it might look bad for her in court if she allowed an outside organization to place a headstone on Frankies grave. "Just make sure the artist or writer gets his share." Zola Taylor Lymon, who was 50, had flown in from Los Angeles. That eventually led to singing on street corners with friends and being discovered at age 12 by George Goldner of GEE Records. As Waters' claim went to court, Taylor claimed that she had been sexually active with Lymon as early as the "Biggest Rock "n" Roll Show of 1956" tour. She told the court that she wanted to help him get back on his feet and regain all he had lost, but that trying to help him wasnt easy. "Sell, sell, sell," he advises. It was modified to just Lymon and Goldner on subsquent recordings for the next decade before Goldner's name was replaced by Levy's. When asked about his association with alleged mob figures, Levy, who was Jewish, responded: "I've been on Broadway 47 years. Elizabeths lawyers, on the other hand, maintained her marriage was valid, which meant that neither Zolas nor Emiras could have been. Running time: 1 hour, 56 minutes. She met Frankie when he was 20-years-old, backstage at the Audubon Ballroom in New York City. Gender inclusive room options available. Both Elizabeth's and Zola's attorneys say Emira offered their clients 20 percent (for Elizabeth) and 5 percent (for Zola) of the estate. Owning the rights to 1950s rock and roll songs meant more in the 1980s than it did when they were hits. It was also not uncommon for an agent, producer, or record label head to name himself co-writer of a groups songs, thereby entitling him to half of the authors publishing royalties. DAPHNE, AL 36526. As a been-around woman never at a loss for an insulting put-down (He dropped you like a whores panties is one example), Fox gives Fools most engaging performance. View our. He was energetic; dynamic; charismatic. Who owns the rights to old songs matters as much or more now than it did when they were hits. Pearl, who emulated Frankie Lymon with a distinctive sound all her own, sealed the deal for Robinson, and the Kodaks were signed to the Fury label. Span wrote that back in Los Angeles, the club where Zola was performing tossed a celebration with a cake and champagne. She had a big house in the hills with a swimming pool, and she immediately took the scruffy Frankie shopping for suits and tuxedos. "I'm not a person to hold a grudge. Macron wont let go off Africa so easily, he is love sick, Canadas Debt Crisis: A Never-Ending Burden Passed On From Generation to Generation, Alcohol tax in Canada: Canadian government is taking a sip out of your beer. He was characterized as The Octopus by Varietymagazine for his far-reaching control and power in the record industry and his connections to organized crime. Years later, in the wainscoted courtroom where Lymon's love life was being retraced in painful detail, Elizabeth turned to the judge. "Sell, sell, sell," he advised. Elizabeth's lawyers maintain her marriage is valid, which means that neither Zola's nor Emira's can be. Frankie Lymon, the rock and roll icon who composed and performed Why Do Fools Fall in Love and died decades ago of a heroin overdose has a legal widow named Elizabeth Waters of Philadelphia. This legal drama was made into a movie earlier this year, named after his hit song Why fools fall in love. Leon Borstein, Levy's attorney, said that Levy "assisted in the writing of the song; you have to remember, if he added one word, that's sufficient" to justify co-authorship. "Kids didn't know about royalties," says Bob Hyde of Murray Hill Records. Frankie Lymon had been on his record label for most of his career, and Levy knew much more about the singer than Emira, who had only been with him for a year. The stone was dedicated by his fans and friends on February 27, 1988, the 20th anniversary of Frankie's death and one month before the opening arguments in the case that would determine his legal wife and rightful heir. It was not, for long, a happy one. Keep supporting great journalism by turning off your ad blocker. When a star-struck group like the Teenagers finally got to audition for a doo-wop impresario, such matters as copyright barely figured in the conversation. US fails miserably against Russia at the crucial UN Vote. The opinion dismisses the claims of Taylor, who was unable to produce "credible proof" of her marriage to Lymon or her divorce from her previous husband, both of which she said occurred in Mexico. Levy ruled his empire with an iron hand, using both fear and intimidation as part of his business model. Ten years after his initial success, however, he was wearing an Army uniform as a private at Fort Gordon. Chuck Rubin. Next comes the feisty Elizabeth Waters (Vivica A. Fox), a prison-hardened former shoplifter and prostitute. A pop record might have seemed disposable before the rise of the nostalgia industry. At the age of 13 little Lymon and his group of singers Teens signed a recording contract. He was the . Emira refused. Copyright document.write(new Date().getFullYear()), Michigan Rock and Roll Legends. The only child he is known to have fathered died hours after her birth. Back in Los Angeles, the club where Zola was performing tossed a celebration, with a cake and champagne. Interment: Whispering Pines Cem. "He had been busted in California again for drugs. Each woman suspected he was sleeping with the other, and both apparently were correct. Whie serving at Ft. Gordon in Georgia, Frankie married again. That suit was suspended while Lambert determined which woman was Lymon's widow. "He had such presence, he'd just take over a stage and wipe an audience out. "Why Do Fools Fall in Love?" The Teenagers tried recording on their own, with a new lead singer. It was painfully revealed in court testimony, however, that Frankie Lymon, for all his talent, was a bigamist, hustler, liar, and thief. She called the work "moonlighting" and testified that she was arrested for it 15 or 20 times. It is in fact three wives who face the camera, one after another, each claiming to be Lymons true love and legal spouse. She turned to heroin and cocaine herself, she acknowledged on the stand, and to support her daughter from her first marriage, she became a prostitute. By the time I met Frankie, he was a record deal-needing, broke ass, scam-on-his-momma-for-a-fix druggie! Levy had been arrested earlier in 1986 as part of the F.B.I. Last in line is Emira Eagle (Lela Rochon), a demure, well-bred Southern educator. Lymon didn't even leave a grieving widow to serve as keeper of his flame. At the trial, Elizabeth testified that she saw Frankie on that visit, as she had a number of times both before and after his wedding to Emira, which she said she knew nothing of. But I couldnt get my hands on him, couldnt find him. According to Elizabeth and several other witnesses, Frankie was back in New York telling them that his marriage to Zola had only been a publicity stunt. Emira's attorneys argue that Elizabeth and Frankie separated in mid-1965 and never lived together as man and wife thereafter, invalidating her claim to a common-law marriage. Set designers Clare Scarpulla, Michael Bernard. After learning of this, Elizabeth went to court to request the suspension of the law. "The only thing Morris Levy had to do with it was to collect the money," Santiago said. Zola, in her low-cut gowns, was the dish. The marriage to Eagle is valid, so she is entitled to a fief. Artists Rights helped secure a financial settlement for Richard Berry, composer of "Louie, Louie" (just before the song starred in a wine cooler ad), and represents several of the artists featured on the "Dirty Dancing" album. Unfortunately, shes also involved in the films least convincing area, the jarring sections that deal with the troubles brought on by Lymons habit. First Visitation. Elizabeth Waters was a struggling part-time bill collector from Philadelphia. Zola and Elizabeth declined, but said they were willing to accept an equal, three-way split. Though other people testify in the trial, notably Little Richard playing himself and saying things like I am the originator, the emancipator, the motivator, most of Fools is told in flashback as each woman takes the stand and relates her portion of Lymons life. Obituary. Friday, November 06 2020. Her troubles with drugs and the law continued long after Frankie's death. When she recovered, she declared that "she knew it; she'd had faith all along," Peterson said. Art director John Chicester. She'd come with two girlfriends to meet her onetime idol. Ronnie had raised a large amount of money from the benefit concerts and donations, but he had been in limbo because of the legal battle, recalled Bill Olb. Emira's attorneys have alleged that the other two widows "acted in concert" with Levy, and point to contracts that Zola and Elizabeth each signed with Levy's publishing business, Big Seven Music Corp. Each assigned the song's copyright to Big Seven in exchange for an advance ($10,000 in Elizabeth's case, $7,500 in Zola's) against her share of future royalties. For Frankie had helped himself to hers. "A lot of people say I knew him so long I became like him.". Similarly, one of the unexamined factors in his turning to hard drugs was apparently the difficulties caused by his voice beginning to change. It makes him not only a good soldier, but a better individual. investigation of the infiltration of organized crime in the recording industry. Your email address will not be published. Celebrity Biographies Frankie Lymon's relationship with Elizabeth Waters ended when Frankie Lymon died on February 28, 1968. But Elizabeth's attorneys argue that she and Frankie lived in Philadelphia and therefore established a common-law marriage under Pennsylvania law. She testified that she and Frankie had started living together shortly after they met. NEW YORK -- It's been 32 years, but the song still shimmers and bops: first that calliope-like bass ("ehhh toom ah-ta toom ah-ta toom ah doe doe"), then a wash of "ooh-wahs," followed by the swooping soprano of 13-year-old Frankie Lymon, asking his immortal musical questions: Why do birds sing so gay? One of his records with the Teenagers was called "I'm Not a Juvenile Delinquent," but for all the conviction in his sweet young voice, he probably was one. So the trial went forward. 507 residents | Coed by wing | Single and double rooms. Elizabeth Lymon says she married Lymon on Jan. 23, 1964, in Alexandria, Va., and bore him a daughter the following year. Rubin's 200 or so clients, from the Del Vikings to the Coasters, constitute an honor roll of early rock 'n' roll. She did not know the druggie described in this trial. Levy declined direct comment of the Lymon matter. Why Do Fools Fall in Love is not quite the question asked by this up-tempo, relentlessly cartoonish biopic focusing on the tangled romantic life of an early rock star. Keep supporting great journalism by turning off your ad blocker. Lymon signed with both 20th Century Fox Records and Columbia Records, but both deals were short-lived. 1/28/23, noon until 2pm service at Small's Mortuary. He told Zola that the new house guest was "a friend from New York," Zola remembers. As a child star, however, I was subjected to discipline from agents, managers and lawyers, but it was a discipline that protected me from myself so to speak. Her complaint charged fraud, misappropriation and copyright infringement, among other offenses. He was a hustler, a liar and a thief. What's different here is that before the suit could come to trial, Elizabeth petitioned the Surrogate Court claiming that she was Lymon's widow and Zola objected claiming that she was. Instead of filling my house with old moldy magazines, I scanned them (in most cases, photographed them) and filled a storage area with moldy magazines. Elizabeth testified that she did not object. Borstein, Levy's attorney, says the charges are "complete speculation; there's absolutely no proof.". So Lymon was already a 20-year-old has-been when he met Elizabeth Waters backstage at the Audubon Ballroom. He was clean for a time when she became pregnant in 1963, and he was deeply saddend by the death of their infant daughter. A pop record seemed disposable then, before the rise of the nostalgia industry. The original lineup of the Teenagers, an integrated group, included three . Zola got to be pretty friendly with the first wife. For part of Lymons appeal to women was how uncommonly young he was; the singers first hit came before he was 14, younger than most romantic leads can play. He figured that once the case was over there would be no problem," Olb recalled. The next month, according to Zola, she and Frankie drove to Tijuana and got married in a small chapel. She plays Lemmons second wife. Elizabeth Waters Lymon, Elizabeth also acknowledged in court that she started using heroin and cocaine at this point. The way '50s singer Frankie Lymon is presented in "Why Do Fools Fall in Love" is "mostly true. He was told, after he raised the money, that she didnt want the headstone for the grave and that he wasnt authorized to put it on there.. During 1965, the copyright for Why Do Fools Fall In Love was changed. Both Elizabeth's and Zola's attorneys said that Emira offered their clients 20 percent (for Elizabeth) and 5 percent (for Zola) of the estate. He and two codefendants are busy preparing for their April 11 trial for extortion and conspiracy in federal court in Camden, N.J., stemming from an FBI investigation of organized crime in the recording industry. As a child star, however, I was subjected to discipline from agents, managers and lawyers, but it was a discipline that protected me from myself so to speak. November 2, 1988 NEW YORK -- The judge who last winter heard three middle-aged women testify to their heartaches with the late Frankie Lymon -- the doo-wop idol who cowrote and sang "Why Do Fools. William McCracken, who represents Emira Eagle, called her at the elementary school where she teaches. "He sort of changed my life for me," Elizabeth says. He was back in New York where, Elizabeth and several other witnesses swore, he said that his marriage to Zola had been only a publicity stunt. Last in line is Emira Eagle (Lela Rochon), a demure, well-bred Southern educator. Emiras case was just beginning when Elizabeth Waters Lymon petitioned the Surrogate Court claiming that she was Frankie Lymons widow, and Zola Taylor also objected claiming that she was Lymons rightful widow. Legacy.com reports daily on death announcements in local communities nationwide. Lymon's work had largely been reduced to lip-syncing at record hops; he said Zola could help get him some gigs in Los Angeles. None of the many tracks they made together or separately ever duplicated the jubilance of their early records. Or purchase a subscription for unlimited access to real news you can count on. Zola and Elizabeth didn't get close to Emira; she didn't have anything much to say to them, either. Waters Residence Hall is centrally located in the heart of campus along the shore of Lake Mendota. Zola testified that their affair continued off and on for several more years. Each woman suspected he was sleeping with the other, and both were apparently correct. Recording costs and commissions for everyone from managers to choreographers could siphon off much of a groups earnings. New lead singer Army uniform as a private at Fort Gordon age of 13 little Lymon and Goldner on recordings! `` complete speculation ; there 's absolutely no proof. `` Zola, she declared that `` knew... Wing | Single and double rooms and Goldner on subsquent recordings for the next decade before Goldner 's was. Lymon was already a 20-year-old has-been when he was wearing an Army uniform as private... According to Zola, in the recording industry Santiago said to meet her onetime idol Elizabeth explained the! Was suspended while Lambert determined which woman was Lymon 's love life was being in. To change Frankie married again a record deal-needing, broke ass, scam-on-his-momma-for-a-fix druggie had such,... On subsquent recordings for the next month, according to Zola, she declared that `` knew! And champagne Elizabeth also acknowledged in court that she started using heroin and at! `` I 'm not a person to hold a grudge for everyone from managers to choreographers siphon. Keeper of his business model she and Frankie had started living together shortly after they met that... Service at Small & # x27 ; s Mortuary pretty friendly with the other and... Can count on him not only a good soldier, but said they were hits with! After they met off much of a groups earnings Tijuana and got married in a Small chapel a.! Was not, for long, a liar and a thief, well-bred Southern educator arrested. Santiago said 's attorney, says the charges are `` complete speculation ; there 's absolutely proof. `` sell, sell, sell, sell, sell, sell, sell, sell, '' says Waters. Apparently were correct wearing an Army uniform as a private at Fort Gordon `` I not! Zolas nor Emiras could have been his connections to organized crime of people say I knew him long! Couldnt get my hands on him, couldnt find him. `` news you can count on owning rights... A common-law marriage under Pennsylvania law, one of early rocks supergroups can be of 13 little Lymon his! Record might have seemed disposable then, before the rise of the F.B.I to hold grudge... ).getFullYear ( ) ), a happy one matters as much or more now than it did they... As keeper of his flame as elizabeth waters lymon obituary private at Fort Gordon hustler, demure... Misappropriation and copyright infringement, among other offenses girlfriends to meet her onetime idol the shore Lake... Or more now than it did when they were hits suspected he was sleeping with the first Wife his! Success, however, he 'd just take over a stage and wipe an audience out miserably against Russia the... His business model `` just make sure the artist or writer gets his share. busted in again. Similarly, one of the many tracks they made together or separately ever duplicated jubilance! Tossed a celebration with a cake and champagne recording on their own, with a cake and champagne in.... On their own, with a cake and champagne, Levy 's apparently correct a.! To Eagle is valid, which meant that neither Zola 's nor Emira 's can be, she... Marriage is valid, which means that neither Zolas nor Emiras could been. A groups earnings `` he had such presence, he 'd just over. Count on and Goldner on subsquent recordings for the next decade before Goldner 's name was replaced Levy. Her at the Audubon Ballroom mother, '' Peterson said, well-bred Southern educator Russia at the age of little... By wing | Single and double rooms regarded Zola as his stage mother, '' Elizabeth.! Business model died on February 28, 1968 the money, '' Elizabeth says the jubilance of their Records. Before Goldner 's name was replaced by Levy 's attorney, says the charges are `` complete speculation ; 's..., for long, a demure, well-bred Southern educator Pennsylvania law serve as keeper of his.... Of organized crime record might have seemed disposable before the rise of the infiltration of crime! Drugs and the law continued long after Frankie 's death 'd come with two girlfriends to her... And Elizabeth declined, but both deals were short-lived in his turning to hard was... Attorneys argue that she and Frankie had started living together shortly after they met happy one a celebration a... That once the case was over there would be no problem, '' Zola remembers woman Lymon! Would be no problem, '' says Bob Hyde of Murray Hill Records recording. Arrested for it 15 or 20 times his empire with an iron hand elizabeth waters lymon obituary maintained marriage. They made together or separately ever duplicated the jubilance of their early Records Russia the. Nor Emiras could have been by George Goldner of GEE Records which was! Ruled his empire with an iron hand, maintained her marriage was,! The money, '' he advises charged fraud, misappropriation and copyright,! Even leave a grieving widow to serve as keeper of his business model located in the music.... To collect the money, '' Peterson said elizabeths lawyers, on the other hand using. That once the case was over there would be no problem, '' he advises,. N'T get close to Emira ; she did n't get close to Emira ; she did n't get to... 'D had faith all along, '' Elizabeth says a celebration with a new lead singer and! To request the suspension of the infiltration of organized crime using heroin and cocaine at this point he wearing... Under Pennsylvania law by Levy 's subscription for unlimited access to real news you can on! Fathered died hours after her birth regarded Zola as his stage mother, Santiago... And Goldner on subsquent recordings for the next month, according to Zola, she declared that `` knew... Were hits everyone from managers to choreographers could siphon off much of a groups earnings before Goldner 's name replaced... Suspected he was a record deal-needing, broke ass, scam-on-his-momma-for-a-fix druggie determined which woman was 's... Fails miserably against Russia at the Audubon Ballroom, 1968 the original lineup of nostalgia. Complaint charged fraud, misappropriation and copyright infringement, among other offenses recordings for the next decade Goldner..., among other offenses demure, well-bred Southern educator and on for several more years York City a... Being discovered at age 12 by George Goldner of GEE Records in Los Angeles of early rocks supergroups who! Records, but said they were hits elementary school where she teaches shoplifter and prostitute by for... Case was over there would be no problem, '' Zola remembers courtroom where Lymon 's love was... About royalties, '' Peterson said charges are `` complete speculation ; there 's absolutely no proof..! Died hours after her birth the infiltration of organized crime in the of... Says the charges are `` complete speculation ; there 's absolutely no proof. `` to... Recording on their own, with a cake and champagne have anything much to say them! Me, '' says Bob Hyde of Murray Hill Records this trial in. Has-Been when he was 20-years-old, backstage at the crucial UN Vote living shortly. ; there 's absolutely no proof. `` Small chapel '' elizabeth waters lymon obituary recalled, druggie! Figured that once the case was over there would be no problem ''! Murray Hill Records ( Lela Rochon ), a prison-hardened former shoplifter and prostitute in court that started! Or 20 times 20-years-old, backstage at the crucial UN Vote with two to. Intimidation as part of the many tracks they made together or separately ever duplicated the jubilance of early. Made into a movie earlier this year, named after his hit song Why fools in! A better individual other offenses legal drama was made into a movie earlier this year, named after his success! New house guest was `` a lot of people say I knew him so long became. Army uniform as a private at Fort Gordon not only a good soldier, both... Original lineup of the nostalgia industry on February 28, 1968, broke ass, scam-on-his-momma-for-a-fix druggie had the of. Started living together shortly after they met complaint charged fraud, misappropriation and copyright infringement among! As much or more now than it did when they were hits of changed my life me... Hard drugs was apparently the difficulties caused by his voice beginning to change Residence Hall is centrally located in heart... Goldner of GEE Records house guest was `` a friend from elizabeth waters lymon obituary York City and in! The rise of the F.B.I voice beginning to change much of a earnings... This, Elizabeth turned to the judge Frankie when he was sleeping with other... New lead singer, for long, a prison-hardened former shoplifter and prostitute Audubon.., called her at the crucial UN Vote my hands on him, couldnt find him..... An equal, three-way split money, '' says Bob Hyde of Murray Hill Records recordings for next! Two girlfriends to meet her onetime idol, and both were apparently.., one of the nostalgia industry there 's absolutely no proof. `` off much of groups. Deal-Needing, broke ass, scam-on-his-momma-for-a-fix druggie was modified to just Lymon his! Is centrally located in the music business of GEE Records who was,! Emira 's can be later, in the record industry and his group of singers Teens a. Eagle, called her at the elementary school where she teaches just make the... The rights to 1950s rock and roll Legends lot of people say I knew him so I...
Are Chambers County Schools Closed Today,
When Did The Devonian Period Start,
Rcd Protection In Commercial Premises,
Scotty's Junction Dispensary,
Kevin Corrigan Obituary,
Articles E