Danny White From Danny and the Juniors ‘at the Hop’ Dies at 79 [Video]

David White famous for his 1950s doo-wop group Danny and the Juniors, and co-wrote “At The Hop” and “Rock and Roll Is Here to Stay” which both hit number 1 died in Los Vegas at 79 years old.

White’s daughter Wendy Adamczyk said he died from throat and lung cancer.

White and his friends Frank Maffei, Danny Rapp, and Joe Terranova who went by the name Joe Terry), formed a band called the Juvenaires. They used to harmonize in school bathrooms and cars.

In 1957, a 19-year-old singer John Madara heard them while they were singing in Philadelphia on a street corner.

White learned of Madara’s interest in his doo-wop group, and they became friends and agreed that they would work together.

Madara suggested they write a song aimed at teenagers who liked “American Bandstand.” With help from Artie Singer, a producer, and vocal coach, they recorded “Do the Bop.” Madara sang lead and the Juvenairs back up. The record was brought to Prep Records, and they rejected it.

The song was taken to Dick Clark, the host of “American Bandstand,” and a very powerful and popular DJ in Philadelphia. He suggested they change the song title to “At the Hop.” The group recorded the version with the lyrics changed, and Rapp sang lead vocals. The group also changed their name to Danny and the Juniors.

Clark agreed to play the song on “American Bandstand” in late 1957. The song hit Number 1 on Billboard and stayed at that position for seven weeks.

Hoping to have another hit follow up song, in 1958 White wrote: “Rock and Roll Is Here to stay.” The song hit Number 19.

In 1961, White left the group and teamed up with Madara to write songs for other people. In 1961 he wrote “The Fly” for Chubby Checker; In 1963 for Lesley Gore “You Don’t Own Me”; and in 1965 for Len Barry “1-2-3.”

Rapp formed a new version of Danny and the Juniors in 1960. White would join them as a guest vocalist in 1982 when they played a Lake Tahoe lounge.

Written by Barbara Sobel

Sources:

New York Times: David White, Hitmaker With Danny and the Juniors, Dies at 79

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