The Platters

Brittany Cicchese, Vitor Milagres, Cassie Carlson, George Rodriguez,

and Jacob Hayes

Introduction

• The Platters were one of the most influential pop groups of the 1950s. In this presentation we will cover their rise to fame, the successes they had, and their unfortunate downfall. We will also discuss their style of music and the legacy they have left.

• The reason for our group choosing this artist is that their music bridged the gap between R&B and Rock and Roll and opened the doors for many other artists.

• Please sit back and let us educate you on the musical stylings of The Platters

Biographical Information

• The band was created in Los Angeles, 1953

• They were one of the top vocal groups of the 1950's

• They were the most popular black group of their time

• Made four #1 hits

Biographical Information (Cont...)

• The Platters number one hits were a crossover from R&B charts as well as POP chartso "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes" (R&B #3, POP #1)o "The Great Pretender" (R&B and POP #1)o "My Prayer" (R&B and POP #1)o "Twilight Time" (R&B and POP #1)o "Only You" (R&B #1, POP #5)

Here is a link for the song "Only You"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QT-JUj-0bg8

How they started

• The group started in Los Angeles in 1953

• Composed of: o Tony Williams (vocal)o David Lynch (tenor)o Herb Reed (bass) o Alex Hodge (baritone)

• Their early careers proved to be unsuccessful until they met Buck Ram

Buck Ram

• Buck Ram signed the band to Federal Records

• Buck Ram to the band was:o Mentoro Managero Producero Songwritero Vocal Coach

• After a few unsuccessful records, Ram replaced Hodge with Paul Robi and to soften the group's sound added Zola Taylo

Pop success

• With Ram's Pop songwriting classics as their musical palette, the group quickly became a Pop and R&B success;

• They earned the distinction of being the first black act of the era to top the Pop charts and enjoy massive popularity with white audiences.

• Top 10 Pop albums:o The Platters (1956)o Encore of Golden Hits (1960)

Popular Culture

• The Platters were a global sensation, touring the world as “international ambassadors of musical goodwill”;

• They appeared in a number of rock and roll-themed movies, including:o Rock Around the Clock (1956)o The Girl Can’t Help It (1956)o Carnival Rock (1957)

Their Musical Style

• Their soundo Mellowo Smootho Polished adult ballads.

• Combination ofo Gospelo Doo Wopo R&B

• Factors defining their styleo Crooningo Middle-of-the-road style

Put a soulful coat of uptown polish on pop-oriented, harmony-rich material

Their Musical Style (Cont...)

• The secret of the Platters’ success had to do with their choice of material: o Adult ballads o Standards that predated the rock and roll era

• Key elements to their songso Crisp, impeccable harmonieso String-laden arrangements to frame songs

Musical Influences

• The Ink Spots, a group that was more prominent in the previous decade that Ram had written songs for as well, had a great impact on the Platters;

• Their influence was so profound that The Platters considered the Ink Spots to be their roots;

• They paid tribute to them by producing a cover of the Ink Spots' "My Prayer", which eventually reached #1 hit in R&B and POP.

Controversy and Downfall

• The four male group members were arrested on drug and prostitution charges

• They were not convicted but their public image still suffered

Their Legacy

• They influenced most of the Doo Wop groups to comeo Motown groups in the 60'so Early Doo Wop groups

• Their influence stemmed from a sound that waso Mellowo Smootho Polished with adult ballads

Their Legacy (Cont...)

• The Platters' sound was a combination ofo Gospelo Doo Wopo R&B

• The Platters had created a successful sound that was believed to inspired other genreso Countryo Pop

• 60 years later, people still order songs to be arranged in Platter style

Their Legacy (Cont...)

Awards/Honors:

• Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (1990)

• Vocal Group Hall of Fame (1998)

• Grammy Hall of Fame (1999, 2002)

Conclusion

Representation of the music of the timeso their music was a mix between two of the more prominent styles of the

time, R&B and Pop

• It should be noted that it was particularly interesting to see how successful they were considering they were popular during a time where racial tension was clearly visible (Civil Rights Movement)

Conclusion (Cont...)

• Place in the Evolution of rocko One step in the evolution of rock and roll was the rise of R&B. R&B

was the musical style that influenced rock and roll music the most.

o The Platters helped in the rise of R&B by bringing R&B music into the mainstream.

o They did this with their music which crossed over into the pop charts. Their songs were not only top ten hits on the R&B charts but the pop charts as well.

ReferencesFiorentino, D. D. (n.d.). The platters biography. Retrieved from http://www.hotshotdigital.com/OldRock/PlattersBio.htm

Fontenot, R. (n.d.). Profile: the platters. Retrieved from http://oldies.about.com/od/50srockers/p/platters.htm

Koda, C. (n.d.). The platters. Retrieved from http://www.allmusic.com/artist/the-platters-mn0000894335

The platters. Retrieved from http://rockhall.com/inductees/the-platters/bio/

The platters. Retrieved from http://www.history-of-rock.com/platters.htm

Eder, B. (n.d.) Buck ram: biography. Retrieved from http://www.allmusic.com/artist/ram-mn0000533331

History of the platters. Retrieved from http://www.celebritydirect.org/platters/history.htm