The Medallions were a rhythm and blues band led by Vernon Green (1937-2000). They were the first doo-wop group to record for Dootone Records. Their first release, "Buick 59," (based on Todd Rhodes's double-entendre R&B hit "Rocket 69")[1] was backed with a ballad called "The Letter." "The Letter" contained the nonsense lyric, "the 'puppetutes' of love," which was later picked up by the Steve Miller Band as "the pompatus of love" and used in their song "The Joker".[2] Frank Zappa (interviewed on the Pop Chronicles documentary)[3] expressed respect for their song, "Edna".[4] Since the death of Vernon Green, in 2000, the group has been "reconstituted" by several musicians and singers who backed up, and/or recorded with Green prior to his death.