The Penguins

• Genre: Doo-Wop

About

Though you'd never know it from their legendary status, the Penguins were a one-hit wonder. However, a song like "Earth Angel" is more than most groups could ever hope for. The Penguins were a Los Angeles-area Doo-Wop group under the tutelage of producer/songwriter Buck Ram, who also had success nurturing the career of the Platters. Upon its release, radio stations were bombarded with requests for "Earth Angel," and the song subsequently rose up the charts. In 1955, "Earth Angel" reached No. 1on the R&B charts, and hit No. 8 on the usually all-white pop charts. The Penguins' success helped clear the way for the Platters, the first black group to top the pop charts. The Penguins never had another chart-topping song, but most of their material stands as some of the finest Doo-Wop ever recorded.

- Mark Murrmann