SOCK HOP chapter I

At the Hop

"At the Hop" is a hit rock 'n' roll song written by Artie Singer, John Medora, and David White and originally released by Danny & the Juniors. The song was released in the fall of 1957, and reached number one on the US charts on January 6, 1958, thus becoming one of the top-selling singles of 1958. "At the Hop" also hit number one on the R&B Best Sellers list.

The song became more prominent after it was performed by rock and roll revival act Sha Na Na at the 1969 Woodstock Festival and featured in the 1973 coming-of-age teen drama American Graffiti. Musically, it's notable for combining two of the most popular formulas in 1950s rock'n'roll, the twelve-bar blues and the 50s progression.

Background

The song was written by White, Medora and Singer in 1957, when Danny & the Juniors were still called The Juvenairs. Initially called "Do the Bop", the song was heard by Dick Clark, who suggested they change its name. After performing the song on Clark's show American Bandstand, it gained popularity and went to the top of the US charts, remaining at number one for five weeks.

The song describes the scene at a record hop, particularly the dances being performed and the interaction with the disc jockey host.

A sample of the song's lyrics (contemporary popular dances in italics):

 You can rock it you can roll it

 Do the stomp and even stroll it

 At the hop.

 When the record starts spinnin'

 You chalypso and you chicken at the hop

 Do the dance sensation that is sweepin' the nation

 At the hop.

Danny & The Juniors, individually Frank Maffei, Danny Rapp, Joe Terranova and Dave White, began singing together in the early 1950's at ages 13 and 14 in Philadelphia where they were fans of the local rhythm and blues radio stations. It was there they heard the first stirrings of a new music soon to become known as Rock 'n Roll. The Juvenaires, as they were called then, quickly decided to become part of the new movement and began to perform the new songs as well as their own original material at school dances, local clubs and restaurants.

At that time, record companies were engaged in a frenzied search for young people who could perform the new music. It wasn't very long before they discovered the youths, re-named them Danny & The Juniors and recorded them singing one of their own original songs called At The Hop.

What happened next?

Danny & The Juniors went on to have much success.  The group travelled around the U.S., and had additional chart records including PONY EXPRESS and TWISTIN' USA. Dave White eventually left the group to write and produce hit records with John Madara, including Leslie Gore's YOU DON'T OWN ME, Len Barry's 1-2-3 and Chubby Checker's THE FLY, to name a few.

In 1983, Danny Rapp committed suicide, but the Juniors continued working as "Danny & The Juniors, featuring Joe Terry."

In 1992, Danny & The Juniors was inducted into the Hall of Fame and the Walk of Fame in their hometown by the Philadelphia Music Alliance.

In March of 2001, AT THE HOP was voted by the Recording Industry Association of America as one of the top 100 songs of the century. The soundtrack album, “Grease,” was voted one of the top albums of the century.  ROCK AND ROLL IS HERE TO STAY is featured on that album.

In 2003, the group was inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame. 

Along with their numerous television appearances and live performances, Danny & The Juniors had the pleasure of performing at the New York Paramount with Alan Freed and The Apollo in Harlem with Jocko Henderson.

Joe Terry, Frank Maffei and Frank's brother Bobby, continue to perform around the country at conventions, theatres, clubs, casinos, fairs and festivals. Dave White continues to write and produce for various artists.

DANNY AND THE JUNIORS

 "At The Hop"

Bah-bah-bah-bah, bah-bah-bah-bah

Bah-bah-bah-bah, bah-bah-bah-bah, at the hop!

Well, you can rock it you can roll it

You can slop and you can stroll it at the hop

When the record starts spinnin'

You chalypso when you chicken at the hop

Do the dance sensation that is sweepin' the nation at the hop

Ah, let's go to the hop

Let's go to the hop (oh baby)

Let's go to the hop (oh baby)

Let's go to the hop

Come on, let's go to the hop

Well, you can swing it you can groove it

You can really start to move it at the hop

Where the jockey is the smoothest

And the music is the coolest at the hop

All the cats and chicks can get their kicks at the hop

Let's go!

Ah, let's go to the hop

Let's go to the hop (oh baby)

Let's go to the hop (oh baby)

Let's go to the hop

Come on, let's go to the hop

Let's go!

[Instrumental Interlude]

Well, you can rock it you can roll it

You can slop and you can stroll it at the hop

When the record starts spinnin'

You chalypso* when you chicken at the hop

Do the dance sensation that is sweepin' the nation at the hop

Well, you can swing it you can groove it

You can really start to move it at the hop

Where the jockey is the smoothest

And the music is the coolest at the hop

All the cats and chicks can get their kicks at the hop

Let's go!

Ah, let's go to the hop

Let's go to the hop (oh baby)

Let's go to the hop (oh baby)

Let's go to the hop

Come on, let's go to the hop

Let's go!

Bah-bah-bah-bah, bah-bah-bah-bah

Bah-bah-bah-bah, bah-bah-bah-bah, at the hop!