The Wonders (12)

"I Wonder" was originally recorded in 1958 by a local Philadelphia doo-wop group known as The Fantasys and released on the label Chesapeake. They grew up together and lived in a neighborhood that was less than a mile from the American Bandstand studio at 46th and Market Streets in West Philadelphia. The original recording by The Fantasys was never released, however, in 1961, three members (shown above) of The Fantasays recorded and released the song under a different record label and called themselves The Wonders. Although doo-wop music originally excluded musical instruments, this recording was sweetened up with a string instrumental backup by recruiting two Lebanese immigrants, one of whom was staying with one of the the group's relatives while attending the Curtis School of Music in Philadelphia. Both of these violinists went on to distinguished careers at nationally known orchestras in the United States. "I Wonder", doubling with "Summer Love", was a one time cut under the brief group name as The Wonders.