Email Great American Talent

Buck Ram led The Platters to their first recording contract with Mercury Records and in 1955  "Only You" became The Platters first gold hit record. Under Ram's careful direction, management, and coaching The Platters garnered 16 gold records and attained international fame and immortality through the romantic ballads that continue to be played all over the world today.

Even from its early beginnings, The Platters experienced several changes in members, but there has only been three lead singers in its history: Tony Williams (1953-1960), Sonny Turner (1960-1970), and Monroe Powell (1970 to present).  Monroe, the last lead singer hired by Buck Ram, has been lead singer for the group for the past 27 vears and has earned the public's goodwill.

Of the first group of Platters, the following are deceased: Tony Williams, David Lynch, Paul Robi, and Buck Ram. Zola Taylor lives in Los Angeles and no longer performs. Herb Reed lives in Massachusetts.  Today, The Platters, featuring Monroe Powell, with Wilson Williams, Kenn Johnson, Allen Holland and Verceal Whitaker, continue to perform all over the world, bringing back memories of romance and simpler times with their delicately balanced harmonies. Audiences of all ages react enthusiastically to their performances, whether they are performing for an intimate a group of 350 or tens of thousands, as they did during the closing ceremonies of the 1996 Olympics.

There are groups claiming to be the Platters and to clarily who we are and differentiate us from the pretenders, we reiterate the following points:

Point One: The Platters featuring the Legendary Monroe Powell traces its historical connection all the way to 1970, when Monroe was hired by Buck Ram to replace Sonny Turner as lead singer for the group. Monroe was the third and last lead singer hired by Buck Ram, the man who managed and molded The Platters to international fame and produced all of The Platters golden hits. Monroe has sang lead for the past twenty seven years, longer than any prior member or current members of any "Platters" group.

Point Two: There are no former Platters' children in the group,  nor have there ever been. No former Platters wives have ever been associated with the group in any capacity other than wife and surely no management position.

Point Three: The Platters have never been associated with anyone named Marshak, or Purdy or any Motown Revue.

Point Four:  The Platters are not now, nor have they ever been cattel to be passed down from plantation owner to his son or daughter, or his mistress for that matter.

Point Five: The Platters acknowledge Mr. herb Reed as the original bass singer, Zola Taylor as the first lady member, and Sonny Turner as the second lead singer hired by Buck Ram.  We would like to offer our respect and admiration for these former members, for what they started and helped to sustain.

Point Six: The Platters were not created by court order. There is no court order that can change history or decree talent. And no court appointed Platters have the public's goodwill or any association with Buck Ram or Monroe Powell.

In short fans and friends, The Platters do not exist because of any agreement signed in ignorance or any court order, but because of individuals who did not resign or walk out or get fired because of a drug conviction, but who stayed the course and nurtured the Platter spirit. Ladies and gentlemen. The Platters are: Monroe Powell, Wilson Williams, Verceal Whitaker, Kenn Johnson, and Allen Holland.