5 Things You Didn't Know About The Song "Why Do Fools Fall In Love?"

You're probably familiar with the popular and catchy song from 1956 "Why Do Fools Fall In Love?", but did you know the song's complicated history?

1. The front runner of the group the Teenagers, Frankie Lymon, was only 13 years old when the song was released.

Via smithsonianmag.com

"Why Do Fools Fall in Love?" was released in February of 1956. Lymon turned 14 in September of that year.

2. The Teenagers was a mixed race group, made up of three African-Americans and two Puerto Ricans.

Via liveabout.com

The Teenagers was made up of (from left to right) Jimmy Merchant, Herman Santiago, Frankie Lymon, Sherman Garnes, and Joe Negroni.

3. In 1957, Lymon left the Teenagers to pursue a solo career, which was not nearly as successful as his career with the group.

Via smithsonianmag.com

By the time he turned 15, his career was declining due to the loss of the youthful soprano voice that pulled people in with "Why Do Fools Fall In Love?".

4. Lymon had been experiencing with drugs, specifically heroin, since 1958. In 1961, he was released from his contract and began a rehab program.

Via lakishadams.com

Lymon struggled through the next few years with some brief record deals that didn't last. He married Elizabeth Waters in 1964, though the marriage wasn't legal due to her still being married to her first husband. After this first marriage ended, Lymon began a relationship with a member of the girl group the Platters, Zora Taylor. Taylor later claimed to have married Lymon in 1965, but it didn't last because of Lymon's drug addiction. In June of 1966, he was arrested due to heroin and drafted into the US Army, around Augusta, Georgia, rather than going to jail. While in that area, he met Emira Eagle and married her in 1967. Then, he traveled to New York (after being dishonorably discharged) to try to return to recording in 1968. His old label, Roulette Records, considered releasing his records and scheduled a recording session for Feb. 28. On Feb. 27, 1968, Lymon was found dead at the age of 25 of a heroin overdose in the home he had grown up in.

5. In 1981, there was a huge controversy concerning Lymon's royalties and rights to his song "Why Do Fools Fall In Love?". Each of Lymon's three former wives claimed to be his rightful widow and therefore deserving possession of his copyrights.

Because Lymon hadn't divorced any of them, Waters, Taylor, and Eagle all claimed to be rightful possessors of Lymon's estate. In 1984, Emira Lymon sued to get the rights back from the current owner, but things were complicated when Waters and Taylor got involved. The first hearing was won by Waters since she was Lymon's first wife; however, the marriage was never legal because she was married to someone else. Taylor then claimed to be the true widow, but she couldn't produce proof of the marriage. Emira Lymon won the appeal based on the fact she was Lymon's last wife.