The Platters

The Platters is a vocal group of Doo-wop and incidentally of Rock “roll, of a very great fame in the United States in the Années 1950, and universally recognized for the slow fox trots Only You (And You Alone) and The Great Pretender .

Biography

Formed to Los Angeles in 1952, the group leaves for Chicago to join the stable of Samuel " Buck" RAM, business manager which will write a great number of songs for Platters. In 1953, the line-up of the group is fixed on Tony Williams, singer soloist, David Lynch, Herb Reed, and Alex Hodge. They enregitrent a first version of Only You which will not be born. The first discs which they publish meet only little echo. Buck RAM engages then the singer Zola Taylor and Hodge, imprisoned, is replaced by Paul Robi. RAM succeeds in making them sign a contract at Mercury Records at the same time as the Penguins of which it is also occupied. At their first meeting of recording, nobody wants song Only You . It is Buck RAM which replaces the pianist who returned at his place. It however becomes a very large tube of the year 1955, being classified during seven weeks at the head charts Rhythm and blues, and n°5 of the public classifications all. The following disc, The Great Pretender , however exceeds it, by reaching the first place of these two classifications. The years 1956 to 1959 will be rocked by their successes: (You' ve Got) The Magic Touch , My Prayer , Twilight Time , Smoke Gets In Your Eyes (recorded in Paris) or Harbor Lights " squattent" first places of the hit-parades. They occur in stages, turn in the whole world, and appear frequently on television.

In parallel, Platters appear with the cinema in Rock Around The Clock , the Blonde and me , Carnival Rock , Girls Town and Europpa di Notte .

From 1960, the formula starts to weary, and they do not meet as much any more of success. Tony Williams leaves the group in 1961, replaced by Charles " Sonny" Turner, then Zola Taylor and Paul Robi from go away in their turn. Having left Mercury for Musicor, it take down a last tube thanks to Luther Dixon in 1967 with With This Ring .

The end of Platters sinks in the pathetic one. In the Years 1970, the divided former members turn each one with their version of the group. Buck RAM re-records their old successes in 1993 with a new formation. Lastly, Tony Williams, Paul Robi and Buck RAM are attacked in justice for the royalties.

Side rewards, they Off receive in 1962 the Award better sales for the album Encore Golden delicious Hits , and integrate the Rock-and-roll Hall off Famed in 1990.

The songs Only You and The Great Pretender became today of the traditional ones, which continues to pass regularly to the radio, and which was the subject of many recoveries, including one very famous for Freddie Mercury.

Members of the group

Discography

Principal individual

Albums

1956 : The Flying Platters , EP
1957: The Platters
1958 : Twlilight Time , EP
1958: The Flying Platters Around The World
1959 : Remember When
1960 : Reflection
1961: Still Off Broadway Golden delicious Hits

1964: Still Off Golden delicious Hits Off The Groups

1965: Tenth Anniversary Album

External bonds

Herb Reed & The Platters

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