THE PLATTERS
Buck Ram was the man whose master plan was to place The Platters in the stratosphere. He wasn't around at the beginning, though, so success would have to wait. Ralph Bass was the first Platters manager. Kansas City-born singer Herb Reed was there in 1953, responsible for coming up with the Los Angeles-based group's name; he liked they way radio announcers called the latest records "platters." Cornell Gunter (later enjoying a successful run with hitmakers The Coasters), David Lynch, Gaynel Hodge and Joe Jefferson were with the outfit in its earliest days, but the lineup changed quickly as most of the guys departed for apparent greener pastures with other vocal acts. Within months Reed, Lynch and Hodge were joined by New Jersey native Tony Williams ... MORE ››
