Hey, Mo:

Doo Wop is a term somebody dreamed up for what was called at the time rhythm and blues vocal groups like the Penguins, Orioles, Platters, Moonglows, Dion & The Belmonts and the rest. Rhythm and blues in the 50's included everything from Little Richard, Fats Domino and Ivory Joe Turner to a wide variety of mostly black popular music. The term doo wop was coined specifically for the vocal groups because they used a variety of nonsense syllables like doo wop, dip dip, sh-boom to imitate the sounds and rhythms of instruments in their harmonied.

Barbershop singing is very standardized four part harmony that goes back more to turn-of-the-century popular music.

Always good to ask. There's tons of stuff I'm ignorant about. Or, to put it more kindly, I am not yet conversant on. That's what Mudcat's here for..

Jerry the listener