THE PLATTERS - INSCRIBED PRINTED PHOTOGRAPH SIGNED IN INK CO-SIGNED BY: THE PLATTERS (LEON GILLIAM), THE PLATTERS (NANCY NELSON), THE PLATTERS (MONROE POWELL), THE PLATTERS (GENE WILLIAMS), THE PLATTERS (DELANEY McQUAIG) - HFSID 206488

THE PLATTERS: LEON GILLIAM, GENE WILLIAMS, DELANEY McQUAIG, MONROE POWELL, NANCY NELSON
Signed b/w photo of the Platters, with Leon Gilliam, Gene Williams, Delaney McCraig and Monroe Powellin tuxes and Nancy Nelson in a black evening dress and opera gloves
Inscribed printed photograph signed in ink: "Leon/Gilliam", "Gene Williams", "Nancy Nelson" and "Delaney/McQuaig" in black ink and "Monroe/Powell" in blue ink. B/w, 7¾x9¾ overall, 6½x8¼ image, one surface. Photo from Personality Productions in Las Vegas, Nevada. Captioned: "THE BUCK RAM PLATTERS/The Platters". 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" Ramtook 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. LEON GILLIAM began singing at a young age. He moved to Las Vegas in 1980 and immediately joined the internationally known recording group Buck Ram's Platters and traveled four years with them before establishing a spin-off group of his own called “The Sounds of the Platters”. In 1994 Leon formed a seven piece group, now called Leon C. that debuted at Harrah's Las Vegas. GENE WILLIAMS sang in the youth choir while growing up in Fresno, California. He performed in multiple bands before being recruited in 1970 by Buck Ram to join his group The Platters. Williams toured in Las Vegas as a member of the platters for 18 years. NANCY NELSON sang with The Platters from 1988 to 1991. DELANEY MCQUAIG was a singer with The Platters and later with the group Doug Clark and His Hot Nuts. He sang and played lead guitar. MONROE POWELL was one of the longest running members of The Platters. He went on to form his own band which he also called The Platters, but after a legal battle with the owner of the estate, Jean Bennett, it was agreed that he would rename the group The Platters featuring Monroe Powell. His show ran at the Sahara casino for 15 years. Lightly creased and bowed. Light scratches on image (not visible head on). Otherwise, fine condition.