The Platters vocal harmony group

The Platters were one of the top vocal groups of the Fifties, delivering smooth, stylized renditions of pop standards. Like the Ink Spots a decade earlier, they were the most popular black group of their time, achieving success in a crooning, middle-of-the-road style that put a soulful coat of uptown polish on pop-oriented, harmony-rich material. Their lengthy string of hits began in 1955 with "Only You" and continued till the end of the decade, including four singles that reached #1: "The Great Pretender," "My Prayer," "Twilight Time" and "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes." The secret of the Platters' success had to do with their choice of material: adult ballads and standards that predated the rock and roll era, which were delivered with crisp, impeccable harmonies framed by string-laden arrangements. Much of the credit is due to Buck Ram, the group's producer, manager and guiding light, who had worked with acts like the Ink Spots in the Forties.

The group got its start in Los Angeles in 1952 and made its first recordings a year later for the Federal label before moving to Mercury, where they remained until the mid-Sixties. An initially shifting lineup stabilized around five members: Tony Williams, David Lynch, Herb Reed, Paul Robi and Zola Taylor. During the latter half of the Fifties, the Platters were a global sensation, touring the world as "international ambassadors of musical goodwill" (per their record label) and appearing in a number of rock and roll-themed movies, including Rock Around the Clock and The Girl Can't Help It. Though the Platters thereafter experienced several personnel changes, beginning with the 1960 departure of lead vocalist Williams for a solo career, they continued to enjoy sporadic chart success in the Sixties with such songs as "With This Ring." Even after their high profile waned on the national scene, the Platters remained popular along the Southeast coast, where they rank among the foremost exemplars of the "beach music" sound. Elsewhere, they're fondly remembered as a throwback to a golden era when pop, rhythm & blues and rock and roll flowed together in perfect harmony.

Discography

All-Time Greatest Hits

The Platters, 4-man, 1-woman followed of black vocal harmony groups like the Ink Spots and the Mills Brothers, ushering in a new age of contemporary pop and R&B. The group grew up in the thriving music scene of Los Angeles in the early 1950s, first signing with Federal records, and then joining fellow Federal artists the Penguins (who had a national hit with "Earth Angel"), signed by Chicago-based Mercury Records. Their first recording, "Only You," didn't get a lot of attention until a Seattle DJ played it, eventually turning it into a national hit. "The Great Pretender" was a #1 smash, "The Magic Touch" was a top five it, but their next recording, of British songwriter Jimmy Kennedy's "My Prayer" became the group's biggest hit. Rock 'n' Roll-styled "Out of My Mind" and one other song were scheduled for the Platters to perform on Dick Clark's Saturday night TV show, who heard "Twilight Time" over the phone and said, "That's the hit!" It was the first record of the rock 'n' roll era to feature strings. "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes," "Harbor Lights," "With This Ring"–18 all-accompanied winners by one of the most exciting and popular vocal groups of all time! Beautiful liner notes with history and pictures of the group.

Best of - 20th Century Masters

The Platters' rise into R&B/Rock 'n' Roll stardom began in Los Angeles, and two of its members had a lot to do with their meteoric rise, angel-voiced Tony Williams and manager Buck Ram. Tony's emotion-drenched voice made prayers and the longings of lovers so believable, and the precision and clarity of his delivery was pure pop gold. Ram agreed to let Mercury Records sign his hit group the Penguins if they'd also sign the Platters. Although the label first marketed the group on its purple "race" label, Ram convinced them to release it on their black "pop" label. The kids, just having discovered Elvis and Bill Haley, who heard the big hits "Only You" and "The Great Pretender" wanted to see who was singing them, and were surprised to see the suave, smooth black quintet. Thus the first number one pop record for a black group made its way up the charts. 11 classic winners, all accompanied, "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes," "The Magic Touch," "Harbor Lights," "You'll Never, Never Know," "Red Sails in the Sunset" and "Enchanted"—this is all incredible stuff from the legendary Platters!

For More of The Primarily A Cappella On-Line Catalog

RSS - New Releases

Site Map | A Cappella News | RSS a cappella feeds

To find a specific song on any recording (or to find recordings by group name or CD title),
pick the search method and type the item you are searching for here: