The Platters – Christmas Show

In 1952-53, bass singer Herb Reed founded and named The Platters, later becoming a Rock n’ Roll, Vocal, and GRAMMY® Halls of Fame artist. It is the first black group to be overwhelmingly accepted on the world stage and the first to reach international superstardom (www.theplatters.com). He was the only performing vocalist who performed with the group from its inception until his death in June 2012 and who appeared on all 400+ recordings making him the only group member who performed with The Platters continuously until he died in 2012.

Seventy years after the group’s founding, The Platters live on through Reed’s legacy under the auspices of Frederick J. Balboni Jr. Reed’s hand-picked successor despite a tumultuous history spanning decades of racism and unscrupulous identity thieves in the United States and abroad that have attempted to steal its distinctiveness and make it there own.

To understand The Platters is to appreciate its rich history.

At 15, Herb Reed ran away from a physically and emotionally abusive home in Kansas City, Missouri, to Los Angeles, California. After meeting friends, “couch surfing,” and eventually settling into a stable foster home, he enlisted for a brief stint with the United States Army. Once discharged, he quickly reconnected with old friends, made new ones, and found himself “singing under the lamplight” on street corners with talented vocalists, including Alex Hodge, Joe Jefferson, and Cornell Gunter, the first members he recruited to sing in his vocal group.

Ralph Bass of Federal Records wanted to record the group but still needed an official name. Sitting around a kitchen table, Reed thought about the “platter” commonly known as a record player’s turntable that spins vinyl discs. Hence, The Platters’ name was born!

Bass decided to use a tune penned by his friend Buck Ram called Only You (and You Alone), but the label would later deem it “unreleasable,” so he asked Ram to take the group under his wing and coach them to success. The vocal lineup continued to change. Before starting The Coasters, Gunter left The Platters to join The Flairs. Tony Williams replaced Hodge, and David Lynch joined the group, followed by Paul Robi. The Platters never achieved commercial success under Bass’ management.

Ram eventually became The Platters’ manager and producer. However, shortly before going into the studio to re-record Ram’s Only You for Mercury Records, 15-year-old Zola Taylor was added to the all-male vocal group breaking the gender divide, a rarity back in the 50s.

In 1955, Only You, recorded by the then third generation of The Platter’s vocalists, was played on the radio by legendary DJ Alan Freed, launching them to the top of the U.S. music charts! Considered the classiest, most romantic, groundbreaking group of the early rock n’ roll era, the ultimate in “make-out music,” The Platters produced a string of hits. In addition to Only You, the quintet effortlessly achieved domestic and international chart success with multiple tracks, including the timeless hits, The Great Pretender, My Prayer, Twilight Time, Smoke Gets In Your Eyes, Harbor Lights, and many more.

In 1959, Tony Williams stopped making appearances and performing on-stage with The Platters after being arrested with Lynch, Robi, and Reed for violating Ohio’s “Jim Crow race laws” during an appearance in the Buckeye state. Then, it was illegal for black men to have white girls in hotel rooms.

They were eventually acquitted, but not before Ram and Mercury Records moved The Platters to Europe because of the ensuing scandal. Williams took advantage of the situation, quit The Platters to pursue a solo career, and was replaced by vocalist Sonny Turner. In what appears to be an act of poetic justice, The Platters’ relocation enabled them to become the first African American vocal group to become global superstars.

When the group eventually returned to the U.S., Turner would record lead vocals on several tracks on the Musicor Label as The Platters’ made a measured resurgence with moderate hits such as Love You 1000 Times and With This Ring during the “Beach Music” years. Soon after, Sandra Dawn replaced Taylor, and Nate Nelson replaced Robi.

In 1970, Turner left the group. Reed fired manager Ram and continued performing as The Platters or “Herb Reed and The Platters.” Unfortunately, many music identity thieves, including former members of the group, falsely referred to themselves as The Platters both in the U.S. and abroad, causing great confusion among music consumers.

In 2005 Mr. Balboni, president of Balboni Communications Group LLC (BCG), as his manager. Reed formed Herb Reed Enterprises LLC (HRE) to consolidate his business at Balboni’s suggestion. Balboni and Reed assembled a formidable legal team to stop The Platter’s “imposters.” After years of litigation that reached the United States Supreme Court, it was validated that Reed had superior rights to the name and was the only original member and thus entitled to solely use The Platter’s name. In addition, he is the only member of the vocal group to record more than 400+ music tracks on The Platters’ official recordings.

Today BCG and HRE (www.bcg-hre.com) under Balboni’s stewardship manages and produces The Platters®, and in this role restarts the once frozen evolution of the official, domestic, and international Trademark of The Platters.

The music that provides the foundation for this vocal powerhouse is as relevant and unwavering today as it was at its inception. In December 2019, Twilight Time was prominent in the worldwide Sony PlayStation Now® radio, TV, and on-line advertising campaign. The classic hit also plays a significant role in the Marvel Studios – Disney+ critically acclaimed series
“Wanda Vision,” effectively welcoming The Platters into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. This 2020 placement led the group to record a new video and re-release their classic single. The trailer was nominated for a “2021 Golden Trailer Award.” These placements introduced the harmonic style of The Platters to a new wave of young music consumers.

The Platters’ timeless music continues to appear on many classic-contemporary major motion pictures and television soundtracks. For example, the powerhouse ballad, My Prayer, was used in “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” leading to its nomination for a coveted Oscar® as part of the motion pictures soundtrack. In addition, The Great Pretender prominently appears in a pivotal scene on Disney® Television’s Golden Globe®, Emmy® Award-winning hit drama “Empire.” Only You (and You Alone) and The Great Pretender are part of the GRAMMY® Museum songs of the century.

In The Platters’ uplifting performance, there is something for everyone to take the audience back in time and into the future.