THE PLATTERS: LABOUY BLAKE, OTIS HEMBRE, DAVID BACARR and FELICIA HERNANDEZ
B/w photo of the Platters, signed by Labouy Blake, Otis Hembre, David Bacarr and Felicia Hernandez
Inscribed photograph signed "LaBouy/Blake", "Always/Otis Hembre" and "Felicia/Hernandez" in blue ink and "Music/David Bacarr" in purple ink. B/w, 8x9¾ overall, 7¼x8½ image, one surface. Photo from Personality Productions in Las Vegas, Nevada. Captioned: "The Plattersr". There are an estimated 125 sanctioned versions of "the original Platters" on the oldies show circuit. This is a signed photograph of one of those groups. The Platters formed in Los Angeles, California in 1953, with original members Tony Williams (lead singer), Herb Reed (bass), David Lynch (tenor), Alex Hodge and Zola Taylor. There wasn't much to differentiate them from other rhythm and blues groups until Samuel "Buck" Ram took over management of the group. Ram - who also worked with the Penguins, of Earth Angel fame - restructured the group and turned the Platters into a hit machine and one of the most romantic doo wop acts going. They released numerous Top 20 hits on the Billboard Pop Singles charts and five chart toppers: Only You (1955), My Prayer (1956), The Great Pretender (1958), Twilight Time (1958) and Smoke Gets in your Eyes (1959). The Platters continue to tour under numerous personnel changes. Lightly creased and bowed. Hernandez's signature is faint, but legible. Otherwise in fine condition.