R&B
The Platters were pioneers in this first era of rock and roll, combining R&B, doo wop, pop, and rock. What great talent, as you can hear in “The Great Pretender.” It’s some of the best of 1950s music.
We’ve all had someone we love leave us and we have to pretender to others that we’re okay– and the song captures that feeling very well. In 1955, “The Great Pretender” went to #1 on both the R&B and the Pop Singles charts very soon after The Platters had their first big hit with “Only You (And You Alone).” “The Great Pretender” also went to #5 in the U.K. and #1 in Australia. This song features Tony Williams on lead vocals and was written by Buck Ram, who was their manager and producer at the time. Other group members for the single include Herbert Reed, David Lynch, Paul Robi, and Zola Taylor. Notable covers of the song are by Freddie Mercury, the lead singer of Queen, Gene Pitney, Dolly Parton, Roy Orbison, Sam Cooke, Pat Boone, The Righteous Brothers, Gene Summers, The Band, George Faith, and The Statler Brothers. The Platters originally formed in Los Angeles in 1954. There have been numerous personnel changes over the years and they still perform.
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[…] to listen to “Twilight Time.” If you would like to read more about The Platters, please click here for “The Great Pretender” or click here for “Smoke Gets In Your […]
[…] to listen to “Twilight Time.” If you would like to read more about The Platters, please click here for “The Great Pretender” or click here for “Smoke Gets In Your […]
[…] Eyes” as sung by The Platters. If you want to read more about songs by The Platters, please click here for “The Great Pretender” or click here for “Twilight […]
[…] Eyes” as sung by The Platters. If you want to read more about songs by The Platters, please click here for “The Great Pretender” or click here for “Twilight […]
[…] songs by The Platters: “Smoke Gets In Your Eyes,” “Twilight Time,” “The Great Pretender,” “Harbor Lights,” “Only You (And You […]