Doo-wop group Scout Ford & the Blue Moons find the ability to sing outside, without a band or any equipment, is helping them spark joy and nostalgia for their fellow New Yorkers.  

When the group sings at the bar Rue B on Avenue, they always draw a crowd with their feel good sound. 

What You Need To Know

  • Scout Ford & the Blue Moons bring the distinct sound of Doo-wop to Rue B bar in Alphabet city

  • Because they need just their voices, and sometimes a bass player, they've been able to easily sing outside

  • Bar owner Michael Camacho heard them singing two years ago and has had them performing at Rue B ever since, except for when it was closed during the height of the pandemic

  • Now that the bar has reopened, people say the live music brings some much needed joy to the neighborhood

"The fun of Doo-wop is getting to create and be a part of that harmony,” said founder Scout Ford. “The lead is nice, but it's the harmon, that's the backbone. To get together with four or five other people and making a sound that makes your spine tingle, that's the joy of Doo-wop.”

And everyone in this group does sing lead. They're all native New Yorkers, most born and raised in Brooklyn.

Ford was part of the progressive rock group Trans-Siberia Orchestra, but has a passion for Doo-wop, like his fellow singers.

They've all been singing professionally for decades. 

"It derived from the street corners, whether it be four young ladies or four young men who can get on a street corner to find acoustics and find the element of background for four or five-part harmony," said singer Charles Owens.

That kind of harmonizing began in the 40s and 50s and hasn't changed much. There is typically little or no instrumentation and, of course, the “Doo-wop doo -top,” the made up words that replace the instruments.

Michael Camacho owns Rue B, and also grew up singing in Brooklyn. Camacho had a successful career as a professional singer, including as half of the 1980’s duo "Sly Fox,” who had a massive hit with "Let’s go All the Way."

Two Years ago, Camacho heard some great singing while out on a walk nearby. 

"I'm like, wait a second, where that come from? And so I follow the sound and there they were. I introduce myself I told him I had a bar and I wanted them to sing at my bar and I used to sing Doo-wop and they invited me to sing along, which was a blast," remembered Camacho.

They performed regularly ever since. After closing during the pandemic, Camacho knew he needed to reopen with live music that could lift people's spirits.

They were the first act he brought back. They play on Saturday nights, where they might rotate with Camacho's own funk band that performs as well.

Sometimes, the Blue Moons also come by on a weekday to get people excited about their weekend performances. 

When we checked them out, the crowd was definitely appreciative.

"This made my day! I was kind of bummed out this morning when I woke up and this is just beautiful and it almost made me cry," said one passerby.

Young and old stop to hear the sounds of Doo-wop. 

“We bring a lot of joy to people here," said Camacho.