The Platters were a successful black vocal group of the early rock n roll e… Read Full Bio ↴The Platters were a successful black vocal group of the early rock n roll era. Their distinctive sound was a bridge between the pre-rock n roll Tin Pan Alley tradition of the Ink Spots and the Mills Brothers and the explosion of teenage music in the mid 1950s. The most successful incarnation of the group comprised lead tenor Tony Williams, David Lynch, Paul Robi, Herb Reed, and Zola Taylor.

The Platters formed in Los Angeles, CA, USA in 1953 and were initially managed by Ralph Bass. They had a contract with Federal Records but experienced little record success until they met music entrepreneur and songwriter Buck Ram. He added lead vocalist Tony Williams (who gave the Platters their distinctive sound) and female vocalist Zola Taylor. Under Ram's guidance, the Platters recorded seven singles for Federal in an R&B/gospel style, scoring minor regional hits on the West Coast. One song recorded at Federal, "Only You (And You Alone)", originally written by Ram for the Ink Spots was deemed unreleasable by the label.

Despite lack of chart success, the Platters were a profitable touring group--so successful that The Penguins, fresh from their No. 2 single Earth Angel, asked Ram to manage them too. With the Penguins as a bargaining chip, Ram persuaded Mercury Records into a 2-for-1 deal. In order to sign the Penguins, he insisted, the label also take the Platters. Ironically, the Penguins never had a hit for the label.

Convinced by Tony Williams that "Only You" had potential, Ram had the group re-record it during their first Mercury session. Released in the summer of 1955, it became the group's first Top Ten hit on the pop charts, and topped the R&B charts for seven weeks. It has since become one of the most played records in any genre and the song has been covered by innumerable artists. Ironically, the follow-up, The Great Pretender, with lyrics written by Ram in the washroom of the Flamingo Hotel in Las Vegas, exceeded the chart success of their début and became the Platters' first national No.1 hit. The Great Pretender was also the act's biggest R&B hit, with an 11-week run at the top of that chart. In 1956. The Platters appeared in the first major rock n roll movie, Rock Around the Clock, and performed both "Only You" and "The Great Pretender"[2] and they sang "You'll Never Never Know" in The Girl Can't Help It, produced the same year.

The Platters' unique vocal style touched a nerve in the music-buying public, and a string of hit singles followed, including two more Top 100 No. 1 hits, one Hot 100 No. 1 hit, and more modest hits such as "I'm Sorry" (No. 11) and "He's Mine" (No. 23) in 1957, "Enchanted" (No.12) in 1959, and "The Magic Touch" (No.4) in 1956. The Platters hit on a successful formula of updating older standards, such as "My Prayer", "Twilight Time", "Harbor Lights", "To Each His Own", "If I Didn't Care" and Jerome Kern's "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes". This latter release caused a small controversy after Kern's widow expressed concern that her late husband's composition would be turned into a "rock n roll record". It topped both American and British charts in a tasteful Platters-style arrangement.

The group was inducted into the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame in 1990 and into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in its inaugural year of 1998. The Platters were the first rock n roll group to have a Top Ten album in America. They were also the only act to have three songs included on the American Graffiti soundtrack that sparked an oldies revival in the early to mid-1970s: "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes", "The Great Pretender" and "Only You (and You Alone)".

Many groups have toured bearing the name The Platters but only one member of the original line-up, Herb Reed, was still touring and performing with Herb Reed's Platters in 2008.

Zola Taylor died on April 30th 2007 of pneumonia whilst recovering from surgery.

Hard To Get A Thing Called Love
The Platters Lyrics

We have lyrics for these tracks by The Platters:

'Twas The Night Before Christmas 'Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house N…
(You've Got) The Magic Touch You-oo-'ve got the magic touch (woo-oo) It makes me glow so…
A Little White Gardenia For I bring a little white gardenia As refreshing as a…
A Tisket a Tasket A-Tisket A-Tasket A green and yellow basket I bought a bas…
All I want For Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth Every body stops And stares at me These two teeth are Gone a…
All My Love Belongs to You You know I love you so, I'll never let you go, And…
All the Things You Are You are the promised kiss of springtime, That makes the lone…
Alone in the Night My mama done tol' me, When I was in knee pants, My…
Amor Amor, amor, amor This word so sweet, that I repeat, means…

Are You Sincere Are you sincere when you say I love you Are you…
Are You Sincere? Are you sincere when you say I love you Are you…
As Time Goes By Moonlight and love songs, never out of date Hearts full of…
At Your Beck and Call You better watch out, you better not cry You better not…
Auld Lang Syne Should auld acquaintance be forgot And never brought to mind…
Away In A Manager Away in a manger, no crib for his bed, the little…
Away In A Manger Away in a manger, no crib for his bed, the little…
Away in aManger Away in a manger, no crib for his bed, the little…
Baby Baby Baby, baby I'm taken with the notion To love you with the…
Baby It's You Hide your heart from sight, Lock your dreams at night, It co…
Beer Barrel Boogie There's a garden, what a garden Only happy faces bloom ther…
Beer Barrel Polka There's a garden, what a garden Only happy faces bloom there…
Bewitched Bothered and Bewildered After one whole quart of brandy, Like a daisy I'm awake. Wit…
Bewitched, Bothered And Bewildered I'm wild again, beguiled again A simpering, whimpering child…
Blue Christmas I'll have a blue Christmas without you; I'll be so blue…
Blues in the Night My mama done tol' me, When I was in knee pants, My…
But Beautiful Love is funny or it's sad, Or it's quiet or…
But Not for Me They're writing songs of love, but not for me A lucky…
Christmas Song Chestnuts roasting on an open fire Jack Frost nipping at yo…
Christmas Time Gather 'round old friends and neighbors And share a cup of…
Come Home For Christmas Won't you please come home for Christmas Everyone will be th…
Come Prima For the first time, for the first time, Iu0027m in…
Cross My Heart While tearing off a game of golf I may make a…
Cryin' in the Chapel You saw me crying in the chapel The tears I shed…
Darktown Strutter's Ball DARKWORN STRUTTERS BALL - The Platters I'll be down to get…
Deck The Halls Deck the halls with boughs of holly Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-l…
Delilah Delilah I saw the light On the night That I passed by her…
Do You Love Me I love you, yes I do, I want you, yes I…
Don Ever since the lucky night I found you I've hung around…
Don't Be Cruel You know I can be found, Sitting home all alone, If you…
Don't Blame Me Ever since the lucky night I found you I've hung around…
Don't Let Go Hear that whistle, it's ten o'clock. Don't let go, Don't let…
Don't Let Me Fall in Love Let's fall in love Why shouldn't we fall in love? Our hearts…
Duke of Earl Duke, Duke, Duke, Duke of Earl Duke, Duke, Duke of Earl Duke…
Earth Angel Earth Angel, Earth Angel Will you be mine My darling dear …
Ebb Tide First the tide rushes in, plants a kiss on the…
El Gran Simulador The Great Pretender Oh yes, I'm the great pretender Pretending I'm doing well …
El Humo Ciega Tus Ojos Yo, te entregué mi amor Fuiste mi ilusión. Oh oh oooh Y una…
El Humo Ciega Tus Ojos Smoke Gets In Your Eyes They asked me how I knew My true love was true I…
Ellie My Love There were times I left your heart in pain Time again…
Embraceable You Dozens of guys would storm up; I had to lock my…
Enchanted Living is a dream when you make it seem enchanted Lovers…
Exodus This land is mine, God gave this land to me This…
Foolish Little Girl Every time my baby and I have a quarrel I swear…
For Auld Lang Syne Should auld acquaintance be forgot And never brought to mind…
For the First Time For the first time, for the first time, I'm in…
For The First Time (Come Prima) For the first time, for the first time, I'm in love For…
Full Moon and Empty Arms Full moon and empty arms The moon is there for us…
Glory of Love You've got to give a little, take a little And…
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen God rest ye merry gentlemen God rest ye merry gentlemen …
GOOD-BYE MY LOVE Forever my darling our love will be true Always and forever…
Goodnight Goodnight, sweetheart, well, it's time to go, Goodnight, swe…
Great Pretender Oh-oh, yes I'm the great pretender Pretending that I'm doing…
Harbor Lights I saw the harbor lights They only told me we were…
Hard Hearted Hannah In old Savannah, I said Savannah, The weather there is nice…
Have Mercy Moonlight on the river Colorado How I wish that I were…
He He's mine (yes he's really mine) He's mine (yes he's…
He's Mine He's mine (yes he's really mine) He's mine (yes he's…
Heaven On Earth Heaven on earth, that's what you've made for me since…
Helpless I'm so helpless without you I'm helpless alone I need you da…
Here Comes Santa Claus Here comes Santa Claus! Here comes Santa Claus! Right down S…
He`s Mine He might be doing you But he's thinkin about me, So baby…
Honeysuckle Rose Honey, honey, Oh, honey, listen to my plea: Every honeybe…
House Of The Rising Sun There is a house in New Orleans They call the Rising…
How Great Thou Art O Lord my God, When I in awesome wonder, Consider…
I I love you, baby, 1000 times Remember love notes The teache…
I Believe I believe for every drop of rain that falls a…
I Can I've flown around the world in a plane I've settled…
I Don I don't ever care to rise to power I would rather…
I Don't Know Why I don't know why I love ya like I do I…
I Give You My Word I give you my word I'll never love again I give you…
I KNOW PARADISE I don't know why I love ya like I do I…
I Love You 1000 Times I love you, baby, 1000 times Remember love notes The teache…
I Love You Because I love you because you understand, dear Every single thing I…
I Love You Truly I love you, baby, 1000 times Remember love notes The teache…
I Love You Yes I Do I love you, yes I do, I want you, yes I…
I Only Have Eyes for You My love must be a kind of blind love I can't…
I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus I saw Mommy kissing Santa Claus Underneath the mistletoe las…
I Wish I wish, I wish, I wish, I wish for you I…
I'll Be Home I'll be home, my darling Please wait for me (wait…
I'll Be Home For Christmas I'll be home for Christmas; You can count on me. Please…
I'll Be With You in Apple Blossom Time I'm writing you, my dear, Just to tell you, In September, yo…
I'll Get By I'll get by As long as I have you Though there be…
I'll Never Smile Again Ill never smile again Until I smile at you Ill never laugh…
I'll See You in My Dreams I'll see you in my dreams And I'll hold you in…
I'll Take You Home Again Katheleen I'll Take You Home Again, Kathleen Across the ocean wild and…
I'm Gonna Sit Right Down I'm gonna sit right down and write myself a letter And…
I'm Gonna Sit Right Down (And Write Myself A Letter) And make believe it came from you I'm gonna write words,…
I'm Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter I'm gonna sit right down and write myself a letter And…
I'm Just A Dancing Partner Am I just another dancing partner Do you smile at every…
I'm Sorry I'm sorry for the things I've done I know that I'm…
iÂ´ll be home I'll be home, my darling Please wait for me (wait…
If I Didn If I didn't care more than words can say If…
If I Didn T Care If I didn't care more than words can say If…
If I Had a Love I could show the world how to smile I could be…
Ill Never Smile Again Ill never smile again Until I smile at you Ill never laugh…
In a Little Spanish Town Evenings are crowded with memories Thrilling me again Like t…
In the Middle of Nowhere Where does our love lie? In the middle of nowhere…
in the still of the nigh In the still of the night As I gaze from my…
It It isn't right for you to hurt me It isn't right…
It Could Happen To You Hide your heart from sight, Lock your dreams at night, It co…
it Isn It isn't right for you to hurt me It isn't right…
It Isn’t Right It isn't right for you to hurt me It isn't right…
It Might As Well Be Spring I'm as restless as a willow in a windstorm I'm as…
It Was the Night Before Christmas 'Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house N…
It's Love Love Love Imagine you imagining that you love me And starting on a…
It's Magic You sigh and the song begins You speak and I hear…
It's Raining Outside Inside, outside Inside, outside Oh, darling let me in It's …
It's Twilight Time Heavenly shades of night are falling, it's twilight time Out…
I’ll Be Home for Christmas I'll be home for Christmas; You can count on me. Please…
I’m Sorry I'm sorry for the things I've done I know that I'm…
Java Jive I love coffee, I love tea I love the java jive…
Jeannine Jeannine, I dream of lilac time Your eyes, they beam in…
Jingle Bell Rock Oh! jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way; Oh, what…
Joy To The World Jeremiah was a bullfrog Was a good friend of mine…
Let's Fall in Love Let's fall in love Why shouldn't we fall in love? Our hear…
Life Is a Just a Bowl of Cherries People are queer, they're always crowing, scrambling and rus…
Little Things Mean A Lot Blow me a kiss from across the room Say I look…
Love All Night You know I love you so, I'll never let you go, And…
Love and Let Love Let's fall in love Why shouldn't we fall in love? Our hearts…
Love Is Love is the sweetest thing What else on earth could ever…
Love Is a Many Splendored Thing Love is a many splendored thing It's the April rose that…
Love Is Just Around the Corner Beautiful miracle, pardon my lyrical rhapsody, Can't you see…
Love Is The Light Love is the sweetest thing What else on earth could ever…
Love Me or Leave Me Love me or leave me and let me be lonely You…
Love Me Tender Love me tender, love me sweet Never let me go You have…
Lullaby of the Leaves Rustling of the leaves used to be my lullaby In the…
Mack The Knife Oh the shark has, pretty teeth, baby And it shows them…
Magic Moments This magic moment, so different and so new Was like any…
Magic Touch You've got the magic touch It makes me glow so much It…
Magnificent Sanctuary Band Looking for Jesus, looking for the man Looking for Jesus, lo…
Mean to Me You're mean to me Why must you be mean to me? Gee,…
Memories Round me at twilight come stealing Shadows of days that are…
Mississippi Mud When the sun goes down, the tide goes out, The…
Moon Over Miami Moon over Miami Shine on my love and me So we can…
Moonlight and Roses Moonlight and roses Bring wonderful memories of you; My hear…
Moonlight and Roses [1962 Moonlight and roses Bring wonderful memories of you; My he…
Moonlight and Shadows Moonlight and shadows, and you in my arms, And the melody…
Moonlight On The Colorado Moonlight on the river Colorado How I wish that I were…
More I See You Each time I look at you Is like the first…
More Than You Know Whether you are here or yonder Whether you are false or…
Moulin Rouge When ever we kiss, I worry and wonder. Your lips may be…
My Baby Loves Me You know I love you so, I'll never let you go, And…
My Blue Heaven Whippoorwills call, evenin' is nigh Hurry to my Blue Heaven …
My Dream My dream Is a wondrous dream It's the answer too Wanting onl…

and many more tracks by The Platters.

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TRACKS