RARE THE PLATTERS TRADING CARD SIGNED BY 4 MEMBERS! 2000

Description

We're clearing out some inventory from around the offices and have an outside company doing inventory and listing items for sale on consignment for us. We have thousands of items related to sports, music and entertainment, as well as promo photos, autographs, computers and electronics. Might be a great chance to get some rare or hard to find items at a great price!  This might be a great chance to find some unique finds straight from our 20+ years directly involved in entertainment management and professional sports!
ITEM TITLE:
RARE THE PLATTERS TRADING CARD SIGNED BY 4 MEMBERS! 2000
ITEM SIZE (approx.):
REGULAR TRADING CARD SIZE: 2.5"X3.5"
ITEM CONDITION:
good condition - may be slight yellowing, nicked corners, discoloration, or other blemishes. Please refer to the actual photograph(s)
ADDITIONAL ITEM DESCRIPTION/SPECS:
The Platters at this time (2000) were Monroe Powell, Wilson Williams, Al Holland, Verceal Whitaker, and Kenn Johnson. Monroe replaced Sonny Turner in 1970. Wilson Williams passed away in 2019, and Al Holland passed away in 2020. This is a rare promotional trading card, designed by Big League Cards, that contains concert booking information, biography, etc., and is numbered 22-B967. Mr. Powell has not signed this card, though all of the other 4 members have. All members are historical recording artists in their own right, and toured for many years with the internationally known Platters. THE PHOTO OF THIS ITEM SHOWS THE FRONT OF THE CARD ON THE LEFT, AND THE BACK OF THE CARD ON THE RIGHT. THE 4 PERFORMERS HAVE SIGNED THE BACK OF THE CARD AS PICTURED.
*BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION MAY FOLLOW BELOW *
SHIPPING:
items normally are shipped only to United States addresses, via USPS. Regular 1st class mail, or Priority. Depends on item. Most items include shipping costs, unless noted, so we try to save as much on shipping and packaging as possible, while still getting the product to you safely in the same condition as shipped. SHIPPING IS FREE (INCLUDED) ON THIS ITEM!
RETURN POLICY
: If you find an item not matching the description, please contact us and WE WILL MAKE IT RIGHT! We have a perfect feedback score, and want to keep it that way! All previously used electronics are SOLD AS-IS, but if an item arrives damaged or different from the way described, we will accept refunds if you can show damage separate from the photos and description included in the listing. All autographs are guaranteed authentic... if ever found not to be true, 100% money back!!
A NOTE ABOUT IMAGES:
We always use actual photos of the item you are receiving. No studio, no stock images. Sometimes they may be a bit out of focus, or angled, have some flash reflection, lines from scanner or camera, etc. Know that all display photographs of photos and autographed items actually are sharp and in focus... and unless noted otherwise, are true square angles, and in the condition as outlined in the description.
We prefer PayPal payments immediately following the close of the auction using eBay's checkout system.
THANKS - and good luck!!
------------------------------
For over 40 years, the legendary Monroe Powell has been a recording and touring
lead vocalist
with internationally acclaimed groups. First with The Dominoes (1958-63) and The Ink Spots (1960s), Powell is best known as the lead signer of The Platters for most of the last 40 years. Originally hired by Platters founder and manager Buck Ram in 1970, Powell has certainly created a legacy of his own.
Powell has never claimed to be an original member of the Platters... but it cannot be denied that Powell was a mainstay with the group. Powell replaced former lead singer Sonny Turner, becoming the third lead singer in Platters history. Today, because of world-wide appearances with the Platters over the last 4 decades, he may be the most well known "Platter" or former "Platter."
The Platters
are an American vocal group formed in 1952. They are one of the most successful vocal groups of the early
rock and roll
era. Originally, their distinctive sound was a bridge between the pre-rock
Tin Pan Alley
tradition and the burgeoning new genre. The act has gone through several personnel changes, with one of the most successful incarnations comprising lead tenor
Tony Williams
, David Lynch, Paul Robi,
Herb Reed
, and
Zola Taylor
. The group had 40 charting singles on the
Billboard
Hot 100
chart between 1955 and 1967, including four number-one hits. The Platters are one of the first African-American groups to be accepted as a major chart group and are one of the most successful vocal groups in the world.
[1]
Band formation and early years
[
edit
]
The Platters formed in Los Angeles in 1952
[2]
and were initially managed by
Federal Records
A&R
man,
Ralph Bass
. The original group consisted of founding and naming member, Herb Reed, Alex Hodge,
Cornell Gunter
and Joe Jefferson.
[3]
[4]
In June 1953, Gunter left to join the Flaires and was replaced by lead vocalist
Tony Williams
. The band then released two singles with Federal Records, under the management of Bass, but found little success. Bass then asked his friend, music entrepreneur and songwriter
Buck Ram
, to coach the group in hope of getting a hit record. Ram made some changes to the lineup, most notably the addition of female vocalist
Zola Taylor
and, in autumn 1954, the replacement of Alex Hodge by Paul Robi.
[5]
Under Ram's guidance, The Platters recorded eight songs for Federal in the R&B/gospel style, scoring a few minor regional hits on the West Coast, and backed Williams' sister,
Linda Hayes
. One song recorded during their Federal tenure, "
Only You (And You Alone)
", originally written by Ram
[6]
for the
Ink Spots
, was deemed unreleasable by the label,
[7]
though copies of this early version do exist.
Despite their lack of chart success, The Platters were a profitable touring group, successful enough that
the Penguins
, coming off their #8 single "
Earth Angel
", asked Ram to manage them as well. With the Penguins in hand, Ram was able to parlay
Mercury Records
' interest into a 2-for-1 deal. To sign the Penguins, Ram insisted, Mercury also had to take The Platters.
[6]
The Penguins would never have a hit for the label.
[8]
Charting hits
[
edit
]
Convinced by Jean Bennett and Tony Williams that "
Only You
" had potential, Ram had The Platters re-record the song during their first session for Mercury. Released in the summer of 1955, it became the group's first
Top Ten
hit on the pop charts and topped the R&B charts for seven weeks. The follow-up, "
The Great Pretender
", with lyrics written in the washroom of the Flamingo Hotel in Las Vegas by Buck Ram,
[6]
exceeded the success of their debut and became The Platters' first national #1 hit. "The Great Pretender" was also the act's biggest R&B hit, with an 11-week run atop that chart. In 1956, The Platters appeared in the first major motion picture based around rock and roll,
Rock Around the Clock
,
and performed both "Only You" and "The Great Pretender".
[9]
The Platters' unique vocal style had touched a nerve in the music-buying public, and a string of hit singles followed, including three more national #1 hits and more modest chart successes such as "I'm Sorry" (#11) and "He's Mine" (#23) in 1957, "
Enchanted
" (#12) in 1959, and "
(You've Got) The Magic Touch
"
[6]
(#4) in 1956. The Platters soon hit upon the successful formula of updating older standards, such as "
My Prayer
",
[6]
"
Twilight Time
", "
Harbor Lights
", "
To Each His Own
", "
If I Didn't Care
", and
Jerome Kern
's "
Smoke Gets in Your Eyes
".
[10]
This latter release caused a small controversy after Kern's widow expressed concern that her late husband's composition would be turned into a "rock and roll" record. It topped both the American and British charts in The Platters-style arrangement.
The Platters differed from most other groups of the era because Ram had the group incorporated in 1956. Each member of the group received a 20% share in the stock, full royalties, and their Social Security was paid. As group members left one by one, Ram and his business partner, Jean Bennett, bought their stock, which they claimed gave them ownership of the "Platters" name. A court later ruled, however, that "FPI was a sham used by Mr. Ram to obtain ownership in the name the 'Platters', and FPI's issuance of stock to the group members was 'illegal and void' because it violated California corporate securities law."
[11]
The group was inducted into the
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
in 1990 and into the
Vocal Group Hall of Fame
in its inaugural year of 1998. The Platters were the first rock and roll era group to have a Top Ten album in the United States. They were also the only act to have three songs included on the
American Graffiti
soundtrack that fueled an oldies revival already underway in the early to mid-1970s: "
Smoke Gets in Your Eyes
", "
The Great Pretender
", and "
Only You (and You Alone)
".
Changing line-up
[
edit
]
The line-up in 1952 included lead vocalist
Cornell Gunter
,
Herb Reed
, Alex Hodge, Joe Jefferson, and David Lynch. Soon, Gunter was replaced by tenor
Tony Williams
.
The band's second manager Ram decided to build the group around Williams's distinctive and versatile voice and his ability to bring life to Ram's songs.
[10]
Within a year, Hodge and Jefferson were also out and replaced by Paul Robi
[5]
and a woman,
Zola Taylor
. The details of baritone Hodge's departure are muddy; author Peter A. Grendysa says Hodge was fired by Ram in October 1954 after having been accused of possession of
marijuana
.
[12]
Bookers and the record company were told that Hodge was let go for bouncing a 15-dollar check.
[13]
The resulting line-up, the one remembered for some of the group's timeless hits, lasted until 1960.
As a group, The Platters began to have difficulties with the public after 1959, when the four male members were arrested in Cincinnati on drug and prostitution charges.
[14]
Although no one was convicted, their professional reputation was seriously damaged and US radio stations started removing their records from playlists,
[15]
forcing the group to rely more heavily on European bookings.
In 1960, lead vocalist Williams left to pursue a solo career, and was replaced by tenor
Sonny Turner
. Mercury refused to issue further Platters releases without Williams on lead vocals, provoking a lawsuit between the label and manager Ram. The label spent two years releasing old Williams-era material until the group's contract lapsed.
The group's line-up splintered further: in 1964 Taylor left
[16]
and was consecutively replaced by Beverly Hansen Harris,
[17]
Barbara Randolph
and, in 1965, by Sandra Dawn. 1965 also saw the departure of Robi,
[18]
who was replaced by
Nate Nelson
, former lead voice of
the Flamingos
.
This splintering of the group's line-up led to wrangling over The Platters' name, with injunctions, non-compete clauses and multiple versions of the act touring at the same time. Williams, Robi and Taylor led their own Platters' groups and, for a short while, Taylor, Robi and Lynch joined forces as "The Original Platters" with Williams-clone Johnny Barnes as their lead singer.
To distinguish his group from the offshoots started by former members, Ram added his name to that of the group. The "Buck Ram Platters", built to showcase his songs, were signed to
Musicor Records
and enjoyed a short chart renaissance in 1966–67, with the comeback singles "I Love You 1000 Times", "With This Ring", and the Motown-influenced "Washed Ashore".
Sonny Turner
sang the lead on these three records, with Reed, Lynch, Nelson, and Dawn completing the group.
[19]
Nelson left the group in 1967. Dawn, who left in 1969, was replaced by Regina Koco, who stayed with the group until 1983.
[19]
Also in 1969, Reed, the final member of the original Platters, resigned from the group. For a period of time, Reed performed under the name Herb Reed and The Platters. Nelson also worked with this group until suffering a fatal heart attack in 1984.
After Reed's departure, Ram also illegally continued to promote his own Platters group.
[20]
Turner left in 1970 and was replaced by Monroe Powell, who remained a constant member from 1970 to 1995, amid many other line-up changes. Tony Williams formed his version of The Platters in 1971 and announced a worldwide tour.
[21]
[
full citation needed
]
In 1995, a dispute between Powell and manager Jean Bennett (who had purchased Personality Productions, the booking/management arm of the Platters' business, from Ram in 1966) led to the two parting ways. At the time, the group's line-up was in limbo, leaving one person, Kenn Johnson, as the only other group member. Powell and Johnson continued touring as "The Platters", with Bennett hiring five new singers to be the "Buck Ram Platters".
[22]
[
failed verification
]
Despite Ram and Bennett's assertions, it was later determined that Five Platters Inc., and Jean Bennett never had legitimate rights to The Platters name.
[23]
[24]
Legal battles
[
edit
]
A profusion of legal challenges ensued among the many groups of Platters. Those looking to hear the classic lineup of songs had their pick of approved, disputed and substituted Platters, including Sonny Turner's, Zola Taylor's, Ritchie Jones' (member 1984–85), Milton Bullock's (member 1967–70), Paul Robi's (managed by his widow), Jean Bennett's "Buck Ram Platters", Monroe Powell's, Herb Reed's, and several other groups with no current ties to the original group. Many had once contained former members who were now retired or deceased.
Powell, who had been touring under the Platters' name, was sued by Bennett for breach of contract. Bennett and Powell later reached an agreement that Powell would be able to tour, but only as "The Platters featuring Monroe Powell".
[25]
In 1994, Jean Bennett licensed the name to a tribute group for a show at the
Sahara
Casino in
Las Vegas
; that show ran for 15 years.
Shortly before Robi succumbed to pancreatic cancer on February 1, 1989, he won a long court battle against Ram's estate and was awarded compensation and the right to use the Platters' name. Those rights were stripped from Robi's widow in 1997, and the exclusive right to tour as "The Platters" was awarded to Reed. A series of rulings in 1999, 2002, and 2004 gave Bennett the common law right to the name. The 2002 case legally rescinded Reed's exclusive trademark rights, and the trademark was returned to the Five Platters, Inc. and Bennett.
In January 2006, Bennett sold her corporate Platters-related assets and intellectual property rights to the Las Vegas-based company G.E.M. Group, Inc. But there was an immediate disagreement between Bennett and G.E.M., which filed a lawsuit to attain certain corporate assets, Bennett's personal property and the assets of the 1950s Platters. In June 2006, G.E.M. entered into an agreement with Sonny Turner, who'd been the lead singer of the Platters from 1960 to 1970. Turner had not been able to bill himself as "The Platters" since 1972 due to a legal injunction. However, Turner later sued G.E.M.
In 2007, Reed discussed the abundance of touring Platters groups: "I have to laugh because when you ask me how I feel about it, I'm irate, I'm infuriated. ... I've lost 25 weeks of work a year."
Herb Reed died in June 2012 at 83. Reed was the only group member to appear on every original Platters recording. Sonny Turner, who replaced Tony Williams in late 1959, is still alive and performing as Sonny Turner former lead singer of The Platters. Sonny brought The Platters back to the charts in 1966 with the hits, "I Love You 1000 Times", "With This Ring", and "Washed Ashore".
[26]
In 2011, Herb Reed and his companies obtained judgments declaring that his rights to the name were superior to others, including Five Platters Inc. and Jean Bennett.
[27]
In March 2014, Herb Reed's companies were granted a judgment finding they had superior rights to the name "The Platters" over Larry Marshak and his companies, who claimed to have received rights through FPI and/or Tony Williams
[28]
In April 2014, Reed's company obtained a judgment against the World Famous Platters requiring them to identify themselves as a "Tribute to the Platters" or a "Salute to the Platters".
[29]
In June 2014, Herb Reed's companies obtained a judgment against former singer Monroe Powell for trademark infringement. The Nevada district court granted Mr. Reed summary judgment, awarding him over ,000 in damages (from US and international tour performances) and permanent injunctive relief, preventing Mr. Powell from using the "Platters" name without using the words "tribute" or "salute".
[30]
[31]
Personnel
[
edit
]
Original lineup (1952)
[
edit
]
Cornell Gunter
Alex Hodge
David Lynch
Joe Jefferson
Herb Reed
Federal lineup (1953-1954)
[
edit
]
Tony Williams
Lead singer
Alex Hodge
Herb Reed
David Lynch
Zola Taylor
Mercury Classic lineup (1955–1959)
[
edit
]
Tony Williams
Lead singer
Herb Reed
David Lynch
Paul Robi
[5]
Zola Taylor
Mercury and Musicor lineup (1959–1970)
[
edit
]
Sonny Turner
Lead singer
Herb Reed
Paul Robi
[5]
Zola Taylor
David Lynch
Nate Nelson
Barbara Randolph
Sandra Dawn
James Austin, Jr.
Milton Bullock
Other line-ups
[
edit
]
Various line-ups using The Platters' name have toured concurrently since the 1970s. The following are some of the groups that at one time or another illegally called themselves The Platters:
Paul Robi's Platters
Paul Robi
Beverly Harris
Gerry Garrett
Virgil Gibson
Elmer Hopper
[32]
Replacements
Tyrone Sweet
Herb Rawlings
Tommy Smiley
Sonny Turner's Platters (1970–)
Sonny Turner
Daemine Lowe
Michelle Johnson
Keith Blake
The Platters featuring Monroe Powell
Monroe Powell
Wilson Williams
Kenn Johnson
Verceal Whitaker
Al Holland
The World Famous Platters
Eddie Stovall
Lawrence Lockard
JT Marshall
Andre Sheppard
The Platters featuring Tony Williams
[21]
Tony Williams
Helen Williams
Ronnie McCain aka Ronnie Forte
Ernie Wright
Other former members
[
edit
]
Kathleen Lewis
Kristy Brook
Willie McCall
Herb McQuay
Paris Red
Wille Nash
Damon Freeman
Sandra Dawn
Wayne Miller
Kenny Williams
Singles discography
[
edit
]
Release date
Titles
Chart positions
Album
US charts
US R&B chart
UK charts
Australia
January 1953
"Hey Now"
b/w "Give Thanks"
The Platters
(Federal LP)
November 1954
"Voo-Vee-Ah-Bee"
b/w "Shake It Up Mambo"
January 1955
"Maggie Doesn't Work Here Anymore
"b/w "Take Me Back, Take Me Back"
July 1955
"
Only You (And You Alone)
"
b/w "Bark, Battle and Ball" (Non-LP track)
5
1
5
19
Encore of Golden Hits
November 1955
"
The Great Pretender
"
b/w "I'm Just A Dancing Partner" (Non-LP track)
1
1
5
1
December 1955
"I Need You All The Time
"b/w "Tell The World"
The Platters
(Federal LP)
February 1956
"
(You've Got) The Magic Touch
"
b/w "Winner Take All" (Non-LP track)
4
4
19
Encore of Golden Hits
June 1956
"
My Prayer
" /
1
1
4
4
The Platters
(Mercury LP)
June 1956
"Heaven on Earth"
39
13
41
August 1956
"
You'll Never Never Know
" /
11
9
23
18
Non-LP tracks
August 1956
"It Isn't Right"
13
10
23
November 1956
"On My Word of Honor" /
20
7
The Platters
(Mercury LP)
November 1956
"One in a Million"
31
11
32
Encore of Golden Hits
February 1957
"I'm Sorry" /
11
15
18
The Platters
(Mercury LP)
February 1957
"He's Mine"
16
5
Non-LP track
February 1957
"My Dream"
b/w "I Wanna" (from
The Platters
(Mercury LP))
24
7
Encore of Golden Hits
August 1957
"Only Because"
b/w "The Mystery Of You" (Non-LP track)
65
The Flying Platters
December 1957
"Helpless"
b/w "Indiff'rent"
56
Non-LP tracks
April 1958
"
Twilight Time
"
b/w "Out Of My Mind" (Non-LP track)
1
1
3
1
The Flying Platters Around The World
June 1958
"You're Making a Mistake"
b/w "My Old Flame" (from
The Flying Platters Around The World
)
51
Non-LP track
September 1958
"I Wish" /
42
More Encore of Golden Hits
September 1958
"It's Raining Outside"
93
The Flying Platters Around The World
October 1958
"
Smoke Gets in Your Eyes
"
b/w "No Matter What You Are" (Non-LP track)
1
3
1
1
Remember When?
February 1959
"
Enchanted
"
b/w "The Sound and The Fury" (from
More Encore of Golden Hits
)
12
9
13
Encore of Golden Hits
May 1959
"Remember When"
b/w "Love Of A Lifetime" (Non-LP track)
41
25
62
Remember When?
September 1959
"Where" /
44
66
More Encore of Golden Hits
September 1959
"Wish It Were Me"
61
January 1960
"
Harbor Lights
" /
8
15
11
33
Reflections
January 1960
"Sleepy Lagoon"
65
May 1960
"
Ebb Tide
" /
56
59
May 1960
"(I'll Be With You) In Apple Blossom Time"
102
Life Is Just A Bowl Of Cherries
August 1960
"
Red Sails in the Sunset
"
b/w "Sad River"
36
72
Reflections
October 1960
"To Each His Own"
b/w "Down The River Of Golden Dreams" (from
Reflections
)
21
57
More Encore of Golden Hits
January 1961
"
If I Didn't Care
"
b/w "True Lover" (from
Song For The Lonely
)
30
95
Remember When?
1961
"Trees"
b/w "Immortal Love" (from
Song For The Lonely
)
62
98
Life Is Just A Bowl Of Cherries
July 1961
"
I'll Never Smile Again
"
b/w "You Don't Say" (Non-LP track)
25
[33]
17
Remember When?
December 1961
"You'll Never Know" /
109
Song For The Lonely
November 1961
"Song For the Lonely"
115
January 1962
"
It's Magic
"
b/w "Reaching For A Star"
91
May 1962
"More Than You Know"
"b/w"Every Little Movement (Has Meaning All Its Own)"
Encore of Golden Broadway Hits
November 1962
"Heartbreak"
b/w "Memories" (from
The Platters Sing of Your Moonlight Memories
)
Non-LP track
March 1963
"Once In A While"
"b/w"I'll See You In My Dreams"
The Platters Sing of Your Moonlight Memories
June 1963
"Here Comes Heaven Again"
"b/w"Strangers"
Non-LP tracks
June 1964
"P.S. I Love You"
"b/w"Sincerely"
Encore of Golden Hits of The Groups
April 1966
"I Love You 1,000 Times"
b/w "Hear No Evil, Speak No Evil, See No Evil" (from
Double Gold: The Best of The Platters
)
31
6
I Love You 1,000 Times
September 1966
"Devri"
b/w "Alone In The Night (Without You)"
111
The Platters Have The Magic Touch
November 1966
"I'll Be Home"
b/w "
(You've Got) The Magic Touch
" (from
The Platters Have The Magic Touch
)
97
I Love You 1,000 Times
February 1967
"With This Ring"
b/w "If I Had A Love" (from
I Love You 1,000 Times
)
14
12
100
Going Back To Detroit
June 1967
"Washed Ashore"
b/w "What Name Shall I Give You My Love" (early copies)
"One In A Million" (later copies)
(Both B-sides from
The Platters Have The Magic Touch
)
56
29
New Golden Hits
October 1967
"Sweet, Sweet Lovin'"
b/w "Sonata"
70
32
Sweet, Sweet Lovin'
December 1967
"Love Must Go On"
b/w "How Beautiful Our Love Is" (from
Sweet, Sweet Lovin'
)
Going Back To Detroit
February 1968
"Think Before You Walk Away"
b/w "So Many Tears"
I Get The Sweetest Feeling
August 1968
"Hard To Get a Thing Called Love"
b/w "Why"
125
December 1968
"Fear Of Losing You"
b/w "Sonata"