herb Reed is the only Platter in all of the touring groups that can stand on stage and tell the audiences about "when WE recorded this song....." I think that says it all.
npwd, I agree. Is this line-up as good as the original? It's beside my point. Audiences love it, and keep coming back for more.
Groups DON"T stay together. Even the Four Tops, who were together for 40 years without personnel change, are performing with the one living original.
It's as normal and common as rainfall.
By the way, I had the pleasure of seeing Herb's group 2x in Sparks, Nv... He had a singer named Tony Funches who sounded EXACTLY like Tony Williams. It was a thrill to see!
I saw Herb many times when he worked several times on the cruise ship I worked on. Not only is he continuing HIS legacy but he, and his band, are a very nice and decent bunch of people.
2) Audiences all over the world love this man (and his group) in live performance, and there's nothing you can do about it, no matter how much you bad-mouth them.
1) vaman77788, Your opinion is also just that: an opinion. As I said before, slamming and insulting the people Herb Reed has taken into his group, to continue to present his personal legacy, does nothing to honor the legends that have passed on, God bless them all. This cynical (and plainly overstated) insulting of these performers, ultimately, says far more about you than it does about Herb Reed's Platters.
Have all the Original Platters passed on? with the exception of Herb Reed of course. These folks are talented but no one can match that incredible voice of Tony Williams, he was the best !!
Of course I've heard The Platters; I own their full discogrophy. I'm a musician, and I backed the Buck Ram Platters in the '80s in San Jose, California, with third lead vocalist, Monroe Powell, fronting the group.
Tony's one of the great pop singers in music history, but insulting these performers does nothing to add to his legend, it only makes you look like a fool.
I'm as polite to you as you were to these professional singers here. You received all of the "politeness" you deserved.
Your opinion is just that: an opinion. And other opinions on here are as valid as yours. I agree with "horrible" if you compare it to Tony and the original group. They are no more the Platters than any group of people who chose to call themselves the Platters; and, to boot, vocally, they are truly inferior. This is not an insult,-a statement of MY opinion as well as many others. If they put themselves out there as the legends, they will be compared;they will not fare well with the comparison.
I totally agree with you. I"m sick of these inferior musicians parading as the legends that the Platters were. One does not have to be a 'musician" as bobbisle claims to be to hear that they are no where near Tony and the original group. Your opinion is as valid as his.
Some years ago in a famous theater in Paris (France) I heard a group singing all The platters's oldies but their name was "Magic Platters" so no confusion.. and all were glad to listen to them.. The bad thing is to take the Platters's name..!! But not for us who have good ears and who like the REAL one with Tony Williams..! I wish you a HAPPY NEW YEAR 2010..!
I totally agree that tribute groups who respect and admire the Platters continue singing their music and keeping it alive.. But it is simply WRONG to pretend that they ARE the Platters, and the new generation hears this and thinks, "Wow..they weren't that good..what was all the fuss about?" That would be like you and me singing Everly Brothers songs and billing ourselves as the Everly Brothers. Happy New Year to you, too, my friend and fellow-Platter fan.
@vaman77788 LOL You make me laugh with tears thinking we are "Everly Brothers"!I think each voice is unique &no one can sing the same, also the interpretation is unique too..! So let the REAL PLATTERS be the unique Platters with all the magic of this group, all the feeling they gave in our hearts & soul..! Too bad my appartment was devasted by robbers, they took all my Platters discs and CDs..some of them were 45T given by my granma..& now impossible to find them in french shops !. H.N.Y 2010
What a sad loss! I have all their original albums starting with their first one, and each one is a treasure to me. Did you know that Bear Records at P.O. Box 1154, Hambergen, Germany had put out a 9 CD box set called "Four Platters and One Lovely Dish" that has MANY of the songs found on these albums. The last 3 discs feature the "new" Platters, but the others are the originals with Tony. I was thrilled to be able to hear these songs on CD and not continue to wear out my original discs.
Herb Reed is a fantastic bass, but, this is NOT the Platters...this lead tenor is SO far below Tony Williams, it is an insult to the legacy of beautiful music they created. Unless all five of the originals are singing, they should not be billed as the Platters. Would you accept any four guys calling themselves "The Beatles"? This is shameful.
Sorry I didn't respond to your other email, but, yes...I am the person you came to see briefly in the U.S in (I think) 2000. I see you're still monitoring the Platters' sites, and I am glad that you are one of the few that seem to be able to distinguish between the REAL PLatters and all these phonies.
Nice to hear from you my friend. Many people knows only the new groups who called themselves "The Platters". Of course these groups are not The Platters. But what can we do ? Buck Ram the Platters' manager himself toured the world since the 70' with a group who had no original member. Idem for Jean Bennett. So...
Well, unfortunately, we are in a world where money is more important that integrity. So, the musial legacy of the The Platters is soiled by these pathetic impersonaters who trick the younger people who don't know the real Platters. Everytime I see these hideous vidoes it makes me want to throw up. My best to you and your family, too.
well, hopefully they will have the good taste to call it a day, or they could bill themselves as a "tribute" to the platters. that would be the only legal way they could keep on performing. trouble is, there are promoters (i call them crooks) out there willing to take advantage of the fact that most baby boomers don't know or don't care. before you go to a show, ask! if they can't prove it is the real thing, find out if your state has a truth in music law, then file a complaint. its easy to do.
so what will hape to Herbs group if he should "pass away", will his group be the "real" spin off of the Original Platters group since he did start the group or will they be just like everyone ealse?
accept no substitutes. there are countless bogus platters groups out there performing, and frankly they all suck. unless herb reed is there, its not the real thing. don't blow your dough paying to support musical criminals!
Comment removed
CruisePlatter 1 year ago
herb Reed is the only Platter in all of the touring groups that can stand on stage and tell the audiences about "when WE recorded this song....." I think that says it all.
npwd 2 years ago
npwd, I agree. Is this line-up as good as the original? It's beside my point. Audiences love it, and keep coming back for more.
Groups DON"T stay together. Even the Four Tops, who were together for 40 years without personnel change, are performing with the one living original.
It's as normal and common as rainfall.
By the way, I had the pleasure of seeing Herb's group 2x in Sparks, Nv... He had a singer named Tony Funches who sounded EXACTLY like Tony Williams. It was a thrill to see!
bobbilse 2 years ago
I saw Herb many times when he worked several times on the cruise ship I worked on. Not only is he continuing HIS legacy but he, and his band, are a very nice and decent bunch of people.
npwd 2 years ago
2) Audiences all over the world love this man (and his group) in live performance, and there's nothing you can do about it, no matter how much you bad-mouth them.
bobbilse 2 years ago
1) vaman77788, Your opinion is also just that: an opinion. As I said before, slamming and insulting the people Herb Reed has taken into his group, to continue to present his personal legacy, does nothing to honor the legends that have passed on, God bless them all. This cynical (and plainly overstated) insulting of these performers, ultimately, says far more about you than it does about Herb Reed's Platters.
bobbilse 2 years ago
Have all the Original Platters passed on? with the exception of Herb Reed of course. These folks are talented but no one can match that incredible voice of Tony Williams, he was the best !!
victrolaman 2 years ago 2
What's the tittle of this song?
turgospel 2 years ago
my prayer. then my girl. then smoke gets in your eyes. there great! i saw them in the 80s touring the granada clubs.
tracylaugh 2 years ago
If Herb Reed wants to put a group together and call it The Platters, he has earned that right. He was on every record they recorded from 1954-1969.
Doowopdan 2 years ago
They can call them "the platters" they will never be ! Horrible voices !!!
clochette67 3 years ago
clochette67! Horrible voices? Clean the poop out of your ears - better yet, clean it out of your brain!
bobbilse 2 years ago
Did you ever heard the platters' voices with Tony Williams ??!! I dont think your ever heared them !! and please be polite with me !!!!
clochette67 2 years ago
Of course I've heard The Platters; I own their full discogrophy. I'm a musician, and I backed the Buck Ram Platters in the '80s in San Jose, California, with third lead vocalist, Monroe Powell, fronting the group.
Tony's one of the great pop singers in music history, but insulting these performers does nothing to add to his legend, it only makes you look like a fool.
I'm as polite to you as you were to these professional singers here. You received all of the "politeness" you deserved.
bobbilse 2 years ago
Your opinion is just that: an opinion. And other opinions on here are as valid as yours. I agree with "horrible" if you compare it to Tony and the original group. They are no more the Platters than any group of people who chose to call themselves the Platters; and, to boot, vocally, they are truly inferior. This is not an insult,-a statement of MY opinion as well as many others. If they put themselves out there as the legends, they will be compared;they will not fare well with the comparison.
vaman77788 2 years ago
I totally agree with you. I"m sick of these inferior musicians parading as the legends that the Platters were. One does not have to be a 'musician" as bobbisle claims to be to hear that they are no where near Tony and the original group. Your opinion is as valid as his.
vaman77788 2 years ago
Some years ago in a famous theater in Paris (France) I heard a group singing all The platters's oldies but their name was "Magic Platters" so no confusion.. and all were glad to listen to them.. The bad thing is to take the Platters's name..!! But not for us who have good ears and who like the REAL one with Tony Williams..! I wish you a HAPPY NEW YEAR 2010..!
clochette67 2 years ago
I totally agree that tribute groups who respect and admire the Platters continue singing their music and keeping it alive.. But it is simply WRONG to pretend that they ARE the Platters, and the new generation hears this and thinks, "Wow..they weren't that good..what was all the fuss about?" That would be like you and me singing Everly Brothers songs and billing ourselves as the Everly Brothers. Happy New Year to you, too, my friend and fellow-Platter fan.
vaman77788 2 years ago
@vaman77788 LOL You make me laugh with tears thinking we are "Everly Brothers"!I think each voice is unique &no one can sing the same, also the interpretation is unique too..! So let the REAL PLATTERS be the unique Platters with all the magic of this group, all the feeling they gave in our hearts & soul..! Too bad my appartment was devasted by robbers, they took all my Platters discs and CDs..some of them were 45T given by my granma..& now impossible to find them in french shops !. H.N.Y 2010
clochette67 2 years ago
What a sad loss! I have all their original albums starting with their first one, and each one is a treasure to me. Did you know that Bear Records at P.O. Box 1154, Hambergen, Germany had put out a 9 CD box set called "Four Platters and One Lovely Dish" that has MANY of the songs found on these albums. The last 3 discs feature the "new" Platters, but the others are the originals with Tony. I was thrilled to be able to hear these songs on CD and not continue to wear out my original discs.
vaman77788 2 years ago
Very Nice I Love This Group sing On
drip24 3 years ago
Is there any videos of Tony Williams live in his later days
alexvalenzi 3 years ago
Same goes for the "Drifters" people buy the name and it's a whole different group..Only CLyde McPhatter's drifters were good
hah13 3 years ago
Can't forget about the ones fronted by the late Bill Pinckney.
StoogeWatcher 3 years ago
Horrible. Tony Williams es the platters
elroerto 3 years ago
well hwe aint no tony williams thats fer sure
smudgey6120 3 years ago
Herb Reed is a fantastic bass, but, this is NOT the Platters...this lead tenor is SO far below Tony Williams, it is an insult to the legacy of beautiful music they created. Unless all five of the originals are singing, they should not be billed as the Platters. Would you accept any four guys calling themselves "The Beatles"? This is shameful.
vaman77788 3 years ago 2
You are right. Sorry for Herb Reed, but his group "sound" horrible.
AlainPY 3 years ago
Sorry I didn't respond to your other email, but, yes...I am the person you came to see briefly in the U.S in (I think) 2000. I see you're still monitoring the Platters' sites, and I am glad that you are one of the few that seem to be able to distinguish between the REAL PLatters and all these phonies.
vaman77788 3 years ago
Nice to hear from you my friend. Many people knows only the new groups who called themselves "The Platters". Of course these groups are not The Platters. But what can we do ? Buck Ram the Platters' manager himself toured the world since the 70' with a group who had no original member. Idem for Jean Bennett. So...
All my best to you and family.
AlainPY 3 years ago
Well, unfortunately, we are in a world where money is more important that integrity. So, the musial legacy of the The Platters is soiled by these pathetic impersonaters who trick the younger people who don't know the real Platters. Everytime I see these hideous vidoes it makes me want to throw up. My best to you and your family, too.
vaman77788 3 years ago 2
well, hopefully they will have the good taste to call it a day, or they could bill themselves as a "tribute" to the platters. that would be the only legal way they could keep on performing. trouble is, there are promoters (i call them crooks) out there willing to take advantage of the fact that most baby boomers don't know or don't care. before you go to a show, ask! if they can't prove it is the real thing, find out if your state has a truth in music law, then file a complaint. its easy to do.
21214gtrfreak 3 years ago
so what will hape to Herbs group if he should "pass away", will his group be the "real" spin off of the Original Platters group since he did start the group or will they be just like everyone ealse?
drip24 3 years ago
accept no substitutes. there are countless bogus platters groups out there performing, and frankly they all suck. unless herb reed is there, its not the real thing. don't blow your dough paying to support musical criminals!
21214gtrfreak 4 years ago 2
thank you for the truth!
drip24 3 years ago