Editing Frankie Lymon (section)

==Legacy==
Although their period of success was brief, Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers' string of hits were highly influential on the rock and R&B performers who followed them. Lymon's high-voiced sound is said to be a direct predecessor of the [[girl group]] sound, and the list of performers who name him as an influence include [[Michael Jackson]], [[Ronnie Spector]], [[Diana Ross]], [[the Chantels]], [[the Temptations]], [[George Clinton (funk musician)|George Clinton]], [[Smokey Robinson]], [[Len Barry]], [[the Beach Boys]] and [[Billy Joel]], among others.<ref>Williams, Otis and Romanowski, Patricia (1988, 2002). ''Temptations'' [2nd edition]. New York: Cooper Square Press. Pg. 120-21.</ref><ref name=koda>{{cite web|first=Cub |last=Koda |author-link=Cub Koda |title=Frankie Lymon |url={{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p4806|pure_url=yes}} |website=[[AllMusic]] |access-date=August 21, 2007}}</ref> The performers most inspired by and derivative of Lymon and the Teenagers' style are [[the Jackson 5]] and their lead singer and future superstar [[Michael Jackson]]. [[Motown]] founder [[Berry Gordy]] based much of the Jackson 5's sound on Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers' recordings,<ref name=koda/> and the Teenagers are believed to be the original model for many of the other Motown groups he cultivated.<ref name="ReferenceA">Fotenot, Robert. "Profile: Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers."</ref> 

In 1973, Lymon became known to a slightly younger generation than before with the release of ''[[American Graffiti]]'', which included "Why Do Fools Fall in Love" on its soundtrack. In September 1979 at the Santa Barbara Bowl, [[Joni Mitchell]] performed a version of "Why Do Fools Fall In Love" which subsequently appeared on the release of her album of the concert entitled [[Shadows and Light (Joni Mitchell album)|"Shadows and Light"]] the following September. During the opening mix of the album, Mitchell also spliced sections of "I'm Not A Juvenile Delinquent" into the title track refrains.{{cn|date=April 2024}}

[[The Fall (band)|The Fall]] referenced Lymon in "No X-mas for John Quays" on their March 1979 album ''[[Live at the Witch Trials]]''. The English band [[Everything but the Girl]], on their 1991 album ''[[Worldwide (Everything but the Girl album)|Worldwide]]'', include the song "Boxing and Pop Music" which references Lymon throughout the song. Lymon was mentioned in the 1992 [[Stephen King]] short story "[[You Know They Got a Hell of a Band]]". Lymon is named as the one who cut off the waitress Sissy's finger for trying to help the protagonists, Mary and Clark Willingham, escape from the town of Rock & Roll Heaven, Oregon, which is inhabited by [[Janis Joplin]], [[Otis Redding]], [[Roy Orbison]], and other musicians who died young.{{cn|date=April 2024}}

In 1993, Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers were inducted into the [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.rockhall.com/hof/inductee.asp?id=146 |title=Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers |publisher=rockhall.com |access-date=January 16, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061123065257/http://www.rockhall.com/hof/inductee.asp?id=146 |archive-date=November 23, 2006 }}</ref> and into the [[Vocal Group Hall of Fame]] in 2000.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.vocalgroup.org/inductees/frankie_teenagers.html|title=Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers (Inducted 2000)|publisher=vocalgroup.org|access-date=January 16, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101130013305/http://vocalgroup.org/inductees/frankie_teenagers.html|archive-date=November 30, 2010}}</ref>

Lymon's music and story were eventually re-introduced to modern audiences with ''[[Why Do Fools Fall in Love (film)|Why Do Fools Fall in Love]]'', a 1998 biographical film directed by [[Gregory Nava]], also the director of the ''[[Selena (film)|Selena]]'' biopic. ''Why Do Fools Fall in Love'' tells a comedic, fictionalized version of Lymon's story from the points of view of his three wives as they battle in court for the rights to his estate. The film stars [[Larenz Tate]] as Frankie Lymon, [[Halle Berry]] as Zola Taylor, [[Vivica A. Fox]] as Elizabeth Waters and [[Lela Rochon]] as Emira Eagle. ''Why Do Fools Fall in Love'' was not a commercial success and met with mixed reviews;<ref>"[https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/why_do_fools_fall_in_love/ Reviews for ''Why Do Fools Fall in Love'']". ''Rotten Tomatoes.com.'' Reviews weighed on ''Rottentomatoes.com'' give ''Why Do Fools Fall in Love'' a rating of 55%.</ref> the film grossed a total of $12,461,773 during its original theatrical run.<ref>[https://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?page=weekend&id=whydofoolsfallinlove.htm Entry for ''Why Do Fools Fall in Love''] at ''Box Office Mojo''. Retrieved November 19, 2006.</ref>

The song "Harlem Roulette" by [[the Mountain Goats]], off its 2012 album ''[[Transcendental Youth]]'', contains references to Frankie Lymon, to the song "Seabreeze", and to Roulette Records. Frontman John Darnielle has stated that the song is about the last night of Lymon's life.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/47887-watch-the-mountain-goats-john-darnielle-play-harlem-roulette-on-the-waterfront-in-new-york/|title=Watch the Mountain Goats' John Darnielle Play "Harlem Roulette" on the Waterfront in New York|date=September 18, 2012 |work=pitchfork.com|access-date=September 18, 2012}}</ref>

Much of Lymon's [[kinescope]]d footage from shows such as ''The Ed Sullivan Show'', ''American Bandstand'', ''Saturday Night Beechnut Show'' and the ''Mike Douglas Show'' remains unavailable due to copyright claims.{{cn|date=April 2024}}