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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 group formed in Los Angeles in 1953, 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.[1]

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.

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oldies, soul, 60s, rhythm and blues, doo wop
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Only You
The Platters
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High Profile
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A Classic Christmas
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20 Greatest Hits
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Top Tracks

1	Only You full track	848
2	The Great Pretender full track	743
3	Smoke Gets In Your Eyes full track	588
4	Twilight Time full track	310
5	Only You (And You Alone) full track	278
6	My Prayer full track	220
7	Sixteen Tons	149
8	Harbor Lights full track	94
9	I'm Sorry full track	91
10	(You've Got) The Magic Touch	73
11	You'll Never Never Know	64
12	Red Sails In the Sunset full track	53
13	Enchanted full track	48
14	The Magic Touch full track	43
15	Unchained Melody full track	42

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Hayzi22 wrote:
last month

The Platters is my favorite.

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danil1989 wrote:
December 2009

ай люблю их

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red_apple_falls wrote:
December 2009

I've been sort of obsessed with "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes" after hearing it in R. W. Fassbinder's movie "The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant".

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OllRud wrote:
November 2009

прекрасная группа!)

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vjsupersaint wrote:
November 2009

Come join us at Unsigned Christmas. A group designed for raising awareness of new artists taking Christmas & all music into a new decade. The Unsigned Christmas album has the top tunes to be heard this Christmas. http://www.last.fm/group/Unsigned+Christmas

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instazome wrote:
August 2009

i've got the magic touch

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ICESkolS wrote:
August 2009

Twilight Time - the greatest hit ever! no doubt!

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whoa360 wrote:
August 2009

Awesome [2]

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ChurchofCthulhu wrote:
August 2009

Awesome

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peplaa wrote:
August 2009

Gotta love The Platters!!!!!!

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instazome wrote:
July 2009

perfect

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Lowbacca wrote:
July 2009

*

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maizaornellas wrote:
July 2009

<3

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Kovanov wrote:
June 2009

not bad

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KittyBrokenDoll wrote:
June 2009

nice.

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Cajungrandma wrote:
May 2009

What wonderful Memories of this Group. Makes me Melt on "Only You " Guys play this for your Girl... She will love it as I do! Look for the Doo Wop show on PBS they are usually on there along with other many great entertainers.!

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Lowbacca wrote:
May 2009

smoke gets in your eyes...

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Desser2 wrote:
May 2009

Just listened "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes". Pretty good

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Cajungrandma wrote:
May 2009

This cut was made at a much later date, still good. they are much older in this version.

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Richex wrote:
April 2009

Memories of your love.

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Events

Feb 11 The Platters Lindsay Academy Theatre, Lindsay, Canada
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Feb 14 The Platters American Bank Center, Corpus Christi TX, United States
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May 13 Malt Shop Memories Cruise Carnival Inspiration, Tampa, FL, United States
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Recent Activity

bewitch53, JunoKnowsTheBiz, mfrench_ and 8 other people added The Platters to their libraries. 5 hours ago
A deleted user connected The Platters to the group Destroy Angst-Rock. Monday morning
bnnick, Joel_oldies, rriveraj and 6 other people added The Platters to their libraries. Monday morning
flower123garden tagged The Platters with california, the platters, 60s and 4 other tags. Sunday morning
lornadoone90, coldfor, Angie_90 and 15 other people added The Platters to their libraries. Sunday morning
lennson1 tagged The Platters with ‘rock and roll’. Wednesday afternoon
soyjuansolo, Leona427, scholarschwein and 19 other people added The Platters to their libraries. Wednesday afternoon
aowonubi tagged The Platters with ‘doo wop’. last month
aowonubi, BeccaColumbia, royse_mc_cool and 16 other people added The Platters to their libraries. last month
yookyook added The Platters to the lineup of The Platters at Lindsay Academy Theatre. last month