Get set for a deluge of memories. The World Famous Platters of Branson, Missouri will be performing at the Aliw Theater on March 28. The show is part of an Asian tour that also includes two nights, March 30 and 31 at the Marina Bay Sands Theater in Singapore. The group is composed of Dee Dee Hamilton, Eddie Stoval, Willie Nash and Lawrence “The Rooster” Randall. They were honored in 1999 as Branson’s Vocal Group of the Year and have been described as “the show to see in the live entertainment capitals of the world.”
Of course, because they are The Platters, all those who will watch the show can expect to hear live all those songs that endeared the group to music lovers everywhere, many of them Filipinos. Parents and grandparents doubtless recall a time when the radio and jukeboxes resounded with Platters songs and all those jam sessions where they danced the slow drag and fell in love to the tune of the romantic ballad Smoke Gets In Your Eyes.
They also liked Only You, The Great Pretender, (You’ve Got The) Magic Touch, My Prayer, Heaven On Earth, You’ll Never Know, On My Word Of Honor, One In A Million, I’m Sorry, Twilight Time, Enchanted, Remember When, Harbor Lights, Sleepy Lagoon, Ebb Tide, (I’ll Be With You) In Apple Blossom Time, Red Sails In The Sunset, To Each His Own, If I Didn’t Care, I’ll Never Smile Again, It’s Magic, and others.
These songs came about at the beginning of the rock ’n roll era during the early ’50s. Only You, the first Top 10 seller happened in 1955. It was part of the Platters LP that became the first Gold Record in the annals of popular music. A unique combination of gospel, do-wop and R ’n B, the Platters sound was so successful that it is believed to have influenced music trends that came in its wake like country and pop. To this day, 57 years later, music arrangers still get orders for songs to be arranged Platters style.
The incredible Platters group that made music history was composed of David Lynch, Paul Robi, Herb Reed, Zola Taylor and the lead male singer responsible for the distinctive sound, Tony Williams. They have all either ceased performing or moved on to the great beyond. But their music remains very much alive, not only in the many R ’n B groups thriving in Platters influence but also thanks to several off-shoot groups who sound as good as the original just like The Branson Platters.
The Platters tour is presented by Circle Entertainment and sponsored by official residence Midas Hotel, with Business Mirror, Manila Bulletin, Hard Rock Café, MS Male Tablet, Diva, Talk and 2nd Avenue.
More on the Platters. I checked out the group’s chart history and found something very interesting. They made it big in the year 1956 thanks to this sales strategy. The first hit Only You made the Top 10 in 1955. Then came the follow-ups a few months later. The Platters released The Great Pretender in January 1956, The Magic Touch In March, the double threat single My Prayer backed by Heaven On Earth in June, You’ll Never Know with flipside It Isn’t Right in September and On My Word Of Honor in December. The long-play album The Platters was one of the biggest sellers of the year.
Now take a look at the other artists and the songs they were singing in 1956 as per Rock On Almanac. It was a decisive year that was torn between rock ’n roll, the pop tunes of the time and soundtracks.
The Top 10 singles were Don’t Be Cruel/ Hound Dog by Elvis Presley; Heartbreak Hotel by Elvis Presley; I Want You, I Need You, I Love You by Elvis Presley; Lisbon Antigua by Nelson Riddle and his Orchestra; Love Me Tender by Elvis Presley; Memories Are Made Of These by Dean Martin; My Prayer by The Platters; and The Poor People Of Paris by Lex Baxter and his Orchestra.
The Top 10 albums all in 12-inch vinyl were Ballads Of The Day by Nat King Cole; Belafonte by Harry Belafonte; Calypso by Harry Belafonte; The Eddie Duchin Story motion picture soundtrack featuring Carmen Cavellaro; Elvis Presley by Elvis Presley; The King And I motion picture soundtrack featuring Deborah Kerr and Yul Brynner; My Fair Lady by the original Broadway cast headed by Julie Andrews and Rex Harrison; Oklahoma, another movie soundtrack starring Gordon McCrae and Shirley Jones; The Platters by The Platters; and Songs For Swinging Lovers by Frank Sinatra.