Doo Wop 50


Doo Wop 50 was a PBS pledge drive special created and produced for PBS member station WQED-TV by TJ Lubinsky, grandson of Herman Lubinsky. The special was inspired by a 1994 CD box-set of doo wop music produced and sold by Rhino Records, which was also a development and production partner in the special. It aired on December 5, 1999.
Doo Wop 50 was videotaped live at The Benedum Center For The Performing Arts, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on May 11 & 12, 1999. It showcased many doo-wop groups that had existed since the 1950s, and was hosted by former Impressions lead and soul soloist Jerry Butler. It was followed by Doo Wop 51 and the American Soundtrack series. Doo Wop 50 became the highest-producing pledge drive special in the history of PBS at that time, garnering more than $20 million for its member stations.
The American Soundtrack series has become a mainstay for PBS and WQED.

Groups on the program

Part One

Herb Reed's Platters
Norman Wright's Dell Vikings
The Skyliners
The Penguins
Gene Chandler with Pure Gold
Johnny Maestro & the Brooklyn Bridge
Lee Andrews & the Hearts
The Cleftones
The Capris
The Marcels
The Jive Five
The Legends of Doo Wop
Earl Lewis and The Channels
The Golden Group Memories
The Chantels
The Chantels featuring Arlene Smith
The Moonglows featuring Harvey Fuqua
Jerry Butler
The Harptones
The Flamingos
The Channels, The Legends of Doo Wop, The Golden Group Memories, The Cadillacs
The Spaniels