The Untold Journey of Francine Lymon: Daughter of Music Icon Frankie Lymon

Francine Lymon is the sole daughter of Frankie Lymon, renowned as the primary singer of the iconic American rock and roll group, The Teenagers. He won the Walk of Fame award in 1994.

What Caused Francine Lymon's Death?  

Francine Lymon passed away naturally on January 4, 1964, only two days after her birth. Her parents, Frankie Lymon and Elizabeth Mickey Waters, were deeply affected by this loss.  

Losing a daughter shortly after birth was incredibly hard for Frankie and Elizabeth. There isn't much information available about her burial.

Francine Lymon's Father Passed Away at The Age of 25.  

Sadly, like Francine Lymon, her renowned father Frankie Lymon didn't have a long life. The American singer was only 25 years old when he died.  

Four years after Francine's passing, her father succumbed to a heroin overdose. He was discovered in his grandmother's bathroom with a syringe nearby.  

Frankie was laid to rest at Saint Raymond Cemetery in the Bronx, New York. His life was depicted in the 1998 movie Why Do Fools Fall in Love, starring Larenz Tate, with Vivica A. Fox portrays his parents. 

Francine Lymon's Parents' Marriage Wasn't Valid

Even though Frankie Lymon and Elizabeth Mickey Waters were married when Francine Lymon was born in January 1964, their marriage wasn't legally recognized. However, Elizabeth was still legally married to her first husband at that time. Their divorce was only settled in 1965, a year after Francine was born. 

After Frankie's brief marriage with Francine's mother ended, he married Zola Taylor, but their union only lasted a few months due to Frankie's struggle with drugs. 

Later, Frankie found love with a schoolteacher named Emira Eagle, who worked at Hornsby Elementary in Augusta. They got married in 1967, and in his last days, the American singer was Eagle's husband.

Who Inherited Frankie Lymon's Estate?  

At the time of his death, Francine Lymon's father, Frankie Lymon, was estimated to have a net worth of $1.5 million. After his passing, Frankie's three wives vied for control over his estate.  

Officially, Frankie hadn't legally divorced any of his wives. Zola Taylor, Elizabeth Waters, and Emira Eagle each contested Morris Levy, the music impresario overseeing Lymon's copyrights and earnings, claiming to be the authentic widows of Lymon.  

Numerous court battles unfolded to determine the rightful heir to Frankie's estates. Initially, the decision favored Elizabeth. However, after Emira appealed, she became the recognized inheritor of Francine's father's estate. 

Francine Lymon Father Career Highlights

Francine Lymon's father Frankie Lymon started working at a grocery store when he was only 10 years old. When Frankie was 12 in 1954, he heard a local singing group, the Coupe De Villes, at a school talent show.

Lymon became friends with their lead singer, Herman Santiago, and joined their group, which later changed names to The Ermines and The Premiers. One day in 1955, the Premiers got love letters from a neighbor to inspire them to write songs. 

This led to the creation of "Why Do Fools Fall in Love". The group impressed singer Richard Barrett, who helped them meet record producer George Goldner. During their audition, the original lead singer was late, so Frankie stepped in and claimed he helped write the song. This led to the group being called "Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers." 

The group signed with Gee Records, and their first single, "Why Do Fools Fall in Love," became a hit in January 1956. They had several other successful songs, including "I Want You to Be My Girl," "I Promise to Remember," "The ABC's of Love," and "I'm Not a Juvenile Delinquent."

In 1957, the group broke up while touring in Europe. Frankie started performing solo with backing tapes. His solo career wasn't as successful as with the Teenagers. He had a few hits but struggled, and his highest-charting song was "Little Bitty Pretty One." 

Unfortunately, Lymon had been addicted to heroin since he was 15, and his drug use affected his career. He got into trouble on live TV and had declining sales. In 1961, his record label ended his contract, and he entered a drug rehab program. The Teenagers tried replacing him but didn't find much success. 

In 1966, Frankie was arrested for heroin possession and was drafted into the Army. After leaving the Army, he struggled with drug use and returned to music but faced challenges due to his addiction. Despite efforts to revive his career, tragic circumstances led to his untimely death in 1968.

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