50s - The Platters

The Platters

The Platters were a popular vocal group formed in 1953 in Los Angeles, California during the early Rock 'n' Roll era.

After the signing with music entrepreneur and songwriter Buck Ram, the act went through several personnel changes before hitting the charts, with the most successful incarnation comprising lead tenor Tony Williams, David Lynch, Paul Robi, Herb Reed and Zola Taylor.

Buck Ram had The Platters recorded his composition "Only You" during their first session with Mercury Records and released it in the summer of 1955, the breakthrough year for the group. The song became the group's first Top Ten hit on the pop charts, and topped the R&B charts for seven weeks.

The follow-up hit, "The Great Pretender", with lyrics written by Buck Ram, exceeded the success of their debut. It became the Platters' first national #1 hit. "The Great Pretender" was also the act's biggest R&B hit, with an 11-week run at the top of the chart.

Other major hits for the Platters were "The Magic Touch", "My Prayer", "You'll Never Know" in 1956; "I'm Sorry" in 1957; "Twilight Time" & "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes" in 1958; and "Enchanted" in 1959. The Platters' last Top Ten single was 1960's "Harbour Lights".

In 1961, Tony Williams left the group and went solo. He was replaced by Sonny Turner as the lead singer. But Mercury records continued to release old William-led singles through 1964.

Off the charts from 1961 to 1966, the Platters changed line-up in 1962, with Sandra Dawn replacing the female lead singer Zola Tayler and Nate Nelson taking Robi's spot.

Williams and Ram battled in court during the 70s over the rights to the name Platters. Ram won the case. In 1989, however, the rights were returned to Robi, and in 1995 Robi's widow won back from Ram the written and publishing interests to much of the Platters' catalogue. There were more legal battles after this.

In the meantime, more personel changes were in progress. And ex-members of The Platters began to perform as splinter groups of the Platters.

The Platters were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990.