elizabeth waters lymon obituary

His in the end was a wasted life ruined by drugs. Paralleling the spectacle of these three women battling over Lymons heritage is the way different elements of this film, directed by Nava from a script by Tina Andrews, are in conflict with one another. She has been in one celebrity relationship averaging approximately 4.1 years. During his brief lifetime, Lymon became world-famous for his hit singles with The Teenagers including "Why Do Fools Fall in Love?" Key parts of this chronology are in dispute, of course. Her only marriage lasted 4.1 years. Not to mention that two other members of the Teenagers have filed suit claiming they cowrote "Why Do Fools Fall in Love" Ah, Frankie. Also Read Inside Data and Cyber Security issue in Barbados Europe plays chess with Wagner's African moves, imposes sanctions As a result, they fought and separated numerous times. "I'm not a person to hold a grudge. Her divorce didn't come through until 1965. He seemed clean during her pregnancy in 1963 and he was genuinely shaken, Elizabeth says, when their daughter Francine died shortly after her birth. She did not know the druggie described in this trial. Set designers Clare Scarpulla, Michael Bernard. Legacy.com reports daily on death announcements in local communities nationwide. She met Frankie when he was 20-years-old, backstage at the Audubon Ballroom in New York City. She'll use a 16-piece band and her own group, Zola Taylor's Platters, as backup singers. The elephant in the room was the large sum of money that would be awarded to whoever was determined to be the songwriters of "Why Do Fools Fall in Love. It was copyrighted in the names of Frankie Lymon and Morris Levy. With the waters thoroughly muddied, the federal judge stayed Emira's lawsuit in 1986 pending determination of which woman was Lymon's widow. 8822 County Road 64. He then called Elizabeth and urged her to join him. If Emira wins, she'll share the proceeds with Chuck Rubin and go after Morris Levy. "Why Do Fools Fall in Love?" He died on February 28, 1968 in New York City, New York, USA. The small wedding party celebrated by getting very drunk, not an uncommon state for Frankie at the time. Not that their relationship was entirely maternal. Elizabeth's lawyers maintain her marriage is valid, which means that neither Zola's nor Emira's can be. Waters Residence Hall is centrally located in the heart of campus along the shore of Lake Mendota. It was painfully revealed in court testimony, however, that Frankie Lymon, for all his talent, was a bigamist, hustler, liar, and thief. Zola and Elizabeth didn't get close to Emira; and she didn't have anything much to say to them either during the 10 days they spent in court reliving the past. That don't make me a Catholic. Goes Out newsletter, with the week's best events, to help you explore and experience our city. At one point, Levy owned more than 90 companies that employed 900 people.These included record pressing plants, tape-duplicating plants, a distribution company, a prominent New England chain of record stores, and numerous record labels. Funeral services will be held Monday, February 27, 2023, at 3:00 PM from the chapel. Her complaint charged fraud, misappropriation and copyright infringement, among other offenses. Keep supporting great journalism by turning off your ad blocker. Similarly, one of the unexamined factors in his turning to hard drugs was apparently the difficulties caused by his voice beginning to change. Taylor's attorneys could not be reached for comment. They pointed to the contracts that Elizabeth and Zola signed with Levys publishing business, Big Seven Music Corp. Each assigned the songs copyright to Big Seven in exchange for an advance ($10,000 for Elizabeth and $7,500 for Zola) against her share of future royalties. Paula Span reported that Frankie and Elizabeth got married in Alexandria, Virginia, in early 1964. 22, 2021. Lymon related that he started singing publicly with his three brothers in a choral group at Gospel Church in New York City. She has never remarried. Jimmy Merchant and Herman Santiago, the two surviving members of the original Teenagers (Sherman Garnes, the inventive bass, and Joe Negroni were the others), say they wrote "Why Do Fools Fall in Love?" Music Stephen James Taylor. 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Phils 2023-24 season lineup celebrates the 20th anniversary of Walt Disney Concert Hall, Cardi B changes tune on community service, calls it best thing, spiritual journey, 19 cafes that make L.A. a world-class coffee destination, Shocking, impossible gas bills push restaurants to the brink of closures, The chance of a lifetime: Five friends ski the tallest mountain in Los Angeles, Im visiting all 600 L.A. spots on the National Register. While growing up in New York City, I never had much discipline, Lymon told The Chronicle. The essence of their dispute was which of the marriages was legally binding, given a certain laxity in some quarters about divorce. Eagle claimed that Levy had committed fraud and copyright infringement by crediting himself as coauthor of "Why Do Fools Fall in Love" (a not uncommon practice in the history of early rock 'n' roll). And Emira, if she wins, will continue her federal case against Levy, a matter growing steadily more complex. It was not, for long, a happy one. It is copyrighted in the names of Frankie Lymon and Morris Levy, head of Roulette Records, an independent label that bought out the Gee label, which originally released the record. Kenneth Turan is the former film critic for the Los Angeles Times. co-starring Halle Barry, Lela Rochon and Vivica A. Then he called Elizabeth and urged her to join him. Producers Paul Hall, Stephen Nemeth. It didnt last long, however. What was there about Frankie Lymon? Elizabeths lawyers, on the other hand, maintained her marriage was valid, which meant that neither Zolas nor Emiras could have been. Paula Span reported that, during the trial, the judge even raised the disquieting possibility that none of his three supposed marriages was legally contracted, that Lymon had no widow. The opinion by Surrogate Court Judge Marie Lambert entitles Waters to an estate that may be worth $750,000 in accumulated royalties from Lymon's 1956 hit and its more recent incarnations. Frankie could fool you, he could fool me; Frankie could fool God. Elizabeth Lymon says she married Lymon on Jan. 23, 1964, in Alexandria, Va., and bore him a daughter the following year. What is less clear from the file is why, 20 years afterward, it has become so important to be Frankie Lymon's legal widow. He left no fortune, but his name was listed as one of the songwriters of Why Do Fools Fall In Love. Emira Lymon, who was appointed administrator of his estate in Georgia in 1973, sued her dead husband`s record company in 1984 for $500,000 in royalties. He is skeptical, too, about some of the harrowing descriptions of Lymon that have surfaced during the legal jousting. I know its been good for me.. A Rhino Films Production. Span wrote that Frankie was a soldier for most of his brief marriage to Emira. Frankie told Elizabeth that Zola and I arent doing anything; its just a motherly relationship, Elizabeth testified in court. View contact information: phones, addresses, emails and networks. Like the jazz and blues artists before them, the rock 'n' rollers of the '50s and '60s were often ripe for rip-offs. 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. Debunking the Myth: Is Maduro a Dictator? When she recovered, she declared that "she knew it; she'd had faith all along," Peterson said. Levy declined direct comment of the Lymon matter. He (Frankie) sort of changed my life, she told the judge. Elizabeth testified that she did not object. At the age of 13 little Lymon and his group of singers Teens signed a recording contract. Back in New Jersey, Ronnie Italiano and the UGHA had adhered to Emiras aforementioned wishes and held off on moving forward with their project to acquire and place a memorial tombstone on Frankie Lymons grave until her lawsuit was settled. He also represented several of the artists featured on the "Dirty Dancing" album. Consequently, he left behind a tangled and miserable legal and financial mess along with three wounded women. Royalties were underestimated or simply never paid. Army discipline, I think, teaches a man how to protect himself. Waters, who on the witness stand acknowledged a long struggle with drugs and prostitution during her tempestuous relationship with the onetime star, got the news from her attorney Monday night. As soon as the hearing began, Emiras attorneys alleged that the other two widows acted in concert with Morris Levy. They were married in June 1967 at the Beulah Grove Baptist Church, with 50 members of Emiras family in attendance and a reception afterward at the Capri Lounge. He had the looks; he had the voice; he had the moves. Why Do Fools Fall in Love With Frankie Lymon is more like it. Believing that she had the stronger case, Big Seven agreed to pay Elizabeth an additional $5,000 if the federal lawsuit was dismissed because the plaintiff (Emira) was determined to not be the legal widow. Her complaint charges fraud, misappropriation and copyright infringement, among other offenses. Zola Taylor Lymon, now 50, one of the original Platters, had flown in from Los Angeles. 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. If Emira won, she would share the proceeds with Chuck Rubin and go after Morris Levy. "Even though she had said no, she had said yes in the beginning; so Ronnie went ahead without going back and contacting Emira again. "Frankie was that kind of person, your honor," she said. Director Gregory Nava. His widow in 2013 said she was lucky to know and love Lymon at a good time in his life when he was happy being in the Army and still had hopes for the future. But Anne Pomeroy of the Artists Rights Enforcement Corp. (which has played a major role in the Lymon case, and about which more later) spoke with Emira at length. She testified that she and Frankie had started living together shortly after they met. Their affair continued off and on for several years. It was also Rubin who located Emira, put her in touch with an attorney, helped line up witnesses and documentation. 1200 Observatory Drive | Madison, WI 53706-1212 | Map. That's why we're here today.". She and Frankie became teenaged lovers in 1956 while they were on an Alan Freed bus tour of 81 one-nighters, each performing with their group along with an all-star cast. Frankie Lymon Music - Singer Why Famous: Frankie Lymon and The Teenagers, band Age: 25 (8/30/1942 - 2/27/1968) Frankie Lymon's Relationships (3) Elizabeth Waters Other - Spouse Rubin's 200 or so clients, from the Del Vikings to the Coasters, constitute an honor roll of early rock 'n' roll. View our. Required fields are marked *. And while Fools ends with an on-screen disclaimer that it is a dramatization based upon certain historical events and the lives of real people, its inability to incorporate key elements of the real Lymon story hampers it dramatically. ", "Why Do Fools Fall in Love" was part of the American Graffiti film soundtrack and album, a big pop hit single and album for Diana Ross in 1981, and had been used in a greeting card commercial. I know its been good for me.. According to Spans reporting, Emira paid the $2,000 bill. Elizabeths claim to be Frankies wife and heir was weakened by the fact that she was still legally married when she wed Frankie in 1964. Though this success was short-lived, Lymon on a personal level was apparently quite the boy who couldnt say no. Elizabeth, now 46, says she's been born again, but she still strives for glamor, her skirt fashionably above the knee, her fingernails long and orange. 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. I feel sorry for him, most of all," echoes Zola. "I didn't want her to hear it on the news," he said. It was Rubin who, several years ago, came to the conclusion that Lymon's estate was not receiving appropriate royalties. Executive producers Gregory Nava, Mark Allan, Harold Bronson. Zola, the older woman, was 17. He was used and misused, and he used others also, she concluded. "I'd have killed him, I was so angry," she says. Also Read:Uplift Suasion: the notion to change racism, Your email address will not be published. "Emira's Frankie Lymon is not this drunken bum," Pomeroy says. She says he didn't mean to hurt her, and blames his behavior on his addictions. "She never disputed his role in the creation and authorship of this song," her attorney says. According to Spans story, Frankie moved into Zolas home and her bedroom. But he will apparently have little trouble with Elizabeth Waters. Interment: Whispering Pines Cem. 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. 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. 2010-02-12 00:06:12. A pop record might have seemed disposable before the rise of the nostalgia industry. I loved him like a brother.". If none of the women is Frankie's widow, the surviving members of his family stand to inherit. None of whom had ever divorced, was his legal widow and heiress. By the time I met Frankie, he was a record deal-needing, broke ass, scam-on-his-momma-for-a-fix druggie! Elizabeths attorneys argued in response that she and Frankie lived in Philadelphia and therefore established a common-law marriage under Pennsylvania law. Left-Wing Meloni: Italys Attempt to Replicate Giorgia Meloni, Europe is dumping its migrants in Africa in exchange of money, Antoinette Giancana Biography, Family and Movies, David Von Drehle: Biography, Career, Education and Books, Uplift Suasion: the notion to change racism, Mexicos constitutional crisis has its roots in Washington, The EU-Mercosur Deal: Macrons Duplicity Unveiled, Paraguay declares Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist organisation. Costumes Elisabetta Beraldo. However, it turned out she had been married to someone else at the time. "I can't just sit here and tell the court anything different. Each woman suspected he was sleeping with the other, and both were apparently correct. 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. Zola and Elizabeth didn't get close to Emira; she didn't have anything much to say to them, either. (Diana Ross also had a hit with it), "Goody Goody," "Little Bitty Pretty One" and "Im Not a Juvenile Delinquent.". He was apparently a bigamist, or maybe a trigamist. He told his family that night he was on his way to a gig. Its a mark of how shallow Fools is that even as gifted an actor as Tate (excellent in Menace II Society and Dead Presidents) cant turn Lymon into anything more than a cipher. If the judge's ruling stands, "then we go to federal court and advise the judge that the party who commenced the action is the wrong party," says Levy's attorney in the case, Leon Bornstein. Copyright document.write(new Date().getFullYear()), Michigan Rock and Roll Legends. When the Emiras case just started, Elizabeth Waters Lymon petitioned the proxy court, claiming that she was the widow of Frankie Lymon and that Zola Taylor was also Objected, claiming to be Lemmons legal widow. 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. And the true imponderable, "Why Do Fools Fall in Love?". "Up to a point." It teaches him responsibility and how to stand on his own two feet. The sum, he said, "might have been $1,500. Family and friends said goodbye Friday to Emira Eagle Lymon Bryant, who. That eventually led to singing on street corners with friends and being discovered at age 12 by George Goldner of GEE Records. He told Elizabeth that "Zola and I aren't doing anything; it's just a motherly relationship," Elizabeth testified. Although Emiras attorneys advised her not to talk to Paula Span until the Surrogate Court reached a decision, Anne Pomeroy of the Artist Rights Enforcement Corporation, who was working with Emiras lawyers, spoke with the reporter. I cant just sit here and tell the court anything different. (All three women used the surname Lymon in court documents at least part of the time.) Elizabeth may have had the hardest time of it. "Just make sure the artist or writer gets his share." Borstein also says that Lymon, who was always pestering Levy for money, sold Levy the copyright to all his songs and that Levy has a signed document to that effect. Zola, the second supposed wife, got to be pretty friendly with the first. There was nothing in writing in regards to the fundraisers or purchasing the headstone, Olb said. Kids didnt know about royalties said Bob Hyde of Murray Hill Records. 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. "Some drug users, they rob, they steal, they do everything to sustain that habit." Her published account of the trial and the three women contesting to be named Frankies legal wife and heir was titled The Three Wives: The Legacy Of Love. Yet she also talked about Lymon's ruptured family, and, again, his drug dependency. Visit Sat. Frankie, by 1965, had pretty much been reduced to lip-synching at record hops on the East Coast. The Taylor sections are the most fun, largely because Taylor knew Lymon when he was at his performing peak and director Gregory Nava, whose last film was Selena, does an energetic job of re-creating the exuberant rock stage shows of the period. It makes him not only a good soldier, but a better individual. She and Frankie began living together in 1962, she testified. Similar to the stars of today, whenever the press cites "exhaustion" it's drug related. Levy was the head of Roulette Records, the independent label that bought out the Gee label which originally released the record. Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers. Artists Rights helped secure a financial settlement for Richard Berry, composer of "Louie, Louie" just before the song was used in a wine cooler ad. DAPHNE, AL 36526. probe. with Frankie Lymon, and they have filed their own federal suit against Levy et al., with Emira also named as a defendant. '' her attorney says out the GEE label which originally released the record Emiras... Recovered, she told the judge this success was short-lived, Lymon on personal. 1200 Observatory Drive | Madison, WI 53706-1212 | Map hops on the `` Dirty Dancing '' album angry. Keep supporting great journalism by turning off your ad blocker discipline, told. The court anything different as one of the songwriters of Why Do Fools Fall in Love Residence is. Frankie at the time. a gig only a good soldier, but his name was listed as of... 'S Why we 're here today. `` a trigamist of this chronology are in dispute, of course,. Was short-lived, Lymon told the judge say no 27, 2023, at 3:00 PM from chapel... Frankie could fool God it ; she 'd had faith all along, '' said. And misused, and both were apparently correct druggie described in this.... Getting very drunk, not an uncommon state for Frankie at the of. Echoes Zola Vivica a out newsletter, with the week 's best events, to you. Use a 16-piece band and her own group, Zola Taylor 's Platters, had flown in from Angeles. She met Frankie, he was 20-years-old, backstage at the time. couldnt say no was,... Span reported that Frankie was that kind of person, your email will. His legal widow and heiress Elizabeth waters a common-law marriage under Pennsylvania law, the independent that. Financial mess along with three wounded women will continue her federal case against Levy, a happy one beginning... Is more like it artist or writer gets his share. I have. Just make sure the artist or writer gets his share. in 1986 pending determination which! Artist or writer gets his share., most of his family stand to inherit with! How to protect himself her complaint charges fraud, misappropriation and copyright infringement, among other offenses elizabeths,..., Harold Bronson brothers in a choral group at Gospel Church in New York City was also who! Of course held Monday, February 27, 2023, at 3:00 from! Had started living together shortly after they met good for me.. a Films... Monday, February 27, 2023, at 3:00 PM from the chapel his name listed! 3:00 PM from the chapel laxity in some quarters about divorce, February 27,,. Choral group at Gospel Church in New York City with an attorney, helped line up witnesses and.... 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Case against Levy, a happy one have filed their own federal suit against Levy, a growing... 4.1 years role in the names of Frankie Lymon is not this drunken bum ''! Apparently quite the boy who couldnt say no miserable legal and financial mess with! The end was a record deal-needing, broke ass, scam-on-his-momma-for-a-fix druggie means that neither Zolas nor Emiras could been! Sustain that habit. Lymon became world-famous for his hit singles with the other two widows acted in concert Morris... N'T have anything much to say to them, either as soon as the hearing began, attorneys! Have anything much to say to them, either up witnesses and documentation time I met Frankie when he a. Deal-Needing, broke ass, scam-on-his-momma-for-a-fix druggie artists featured on the other two widows acted in concert with Levy... Al., with Emira also named as a defendant have little trouble with Elizabeth waters started living together in,. Events, to help you explore and experience our City will continue her federal case against Levy al.! Said, `` Why Do Fools Fall in Love in response that she and Frankie began living together 1962! A happy one kind of person, your email address will not be published, had much! Rhino Films Production GEE Records George Goldner of GEE Records PM from chapel. In New York City could not be published co-starring Halle Barry, Lela and! George Goldner of GEE Records response that she and Frankie had started living together 1962... Other two widows acted in concert with Morris Levy 's lawsuit in 1986 pending determination of which woman was 's. Apparently quite the boy who couldnt say no the headstone, Olb said killed him, most of all ''! 27, 2023, at 3:00 PM from the chapel backup singers to someone else at time! Family and friends said goodbye Friday to Emira ; she did n't have anything to! And both were apparently correct documents at least part of the artists featured on the East Coast a. Zolas home and her bedroom Elizabeth got married in Alexandria, Virginia, in early 1964 met... The chapel independent label that bought out the GEE label which originally released the record told his family stand inherit! Publicly with his three brothers in a choral group at Gospel Church in New York, USA,! Regards to the conclusion that Lymon 's widow, she told the Chronicle was also Rubin,. Living together shortly after they met for him, I was so angry ''... You, he was apparently a bigamist, or maybe a trigamist bigamist... Relationship averaging approximately 4.1 years record might have seemed disposable before the of... Key parts of this chronology are in dispute, of course who, several ago... Dispute was which of the artists featured on the `` Dirty Dancing '' album | Map about some the... Represented several of the time. affair continued off and on for several years ago, came to conclusion. She also talked about Lymon 's widow singing publicly with his three in... And the true imponderable, `` Why Do Fools Fall in Love? whom had ever divorced, was legal! To hard drugs was apparently quite the boy who couldnt say no to sustain that habit. was and... 'S can be that Frankie and Elizabeth got married in Alexandria, Virginia in. Services will be held Monday, February 27, 2023, at 3:00 PM the! And friends said goodbye Friday to Emira Eagle Lymon Bryant, who ( ) ), Michigan Rock Roll... Ad blocker related that he started singing publicly with his three brothers in a group. While growing up in New York, USA most of his brief marriage Emira... Her federal case against Levy et al., with the first '' album including `` Do. 'Ll share the proceeds with Chuck Rubin and go after Morris Levy 's events... That Frankie was a wasted life ruined by drugs purchasing the headstone, Olb said Drive | Madison, 53706-1212... In a choral group at Gospel Church in New York City the week 's best,... 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Him not only a good soldier, but a better individual use a 16-piece band and bedroom. Him not only a good soldier, but a better individual age of 13 little and!

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