A group of men harmonizing on Myrtle Avenue, underneath the elevated train, in 1960. Photo taken from the Myrtle Avenue Brooklyn Partnership’s photo collection.

This 1960’s photo throws us back to the era when doo-wop music was all the rage.  It was alive and well right here in Fort Greene as well, where famous doo-wop singer Little Anthony was born and raised.  Born Jerome Gourdine, Little Anthony was the lead singer of The Imperials, who recorded mega-hits such as “Tears on My Pillow” in 1958 and “Shimy Shimy Ko Ko Pop” in 1960.  Little Anthony was born here in Brooklyn in 1941 and lived on North Portland Place between Myrtle and Park Avenues in what was then Fort Greene Houses, but now known today as Walt Whitman Houses.

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Little Anthony & The Imperials album cover. Photo credit: thewowjonesreport.wordpress.com.