FAQ

Alex Hodge and Cornell Gunter. Gunter's mother encouraged the kids in the
neighborhood to come to her house to sing and write songs. They often
gathered at Hodge's house to practice. Zola Taylor has been quoted saying, "I
don't want to leave nobody out. It was Alex who started all of this.'"

It is generally accepted that Herb Reed came up with the name. Reed was
the bass singer of the group from 1953 to 1970. He was the oldest, the most
reliable and was, therfore, the road manager.

Yes. He recieved the NARAS Lifetime Acheivement Award in 1986. He
ranked as one of the top five BMI songwriters of their first 50 years along with
Paul Simon, Paul McCartney, Kris Kristofferson, and Jimmy Webb. "I'll Be
Home for Christmas" was played on the moon. Until recently, "Only You"
was the most successful song ever written. He was listed in Who's Who. To
name a few. You will be able to see first hand many of his awards and
accomplishments at the International DooWop Museum when it opens in Las
Vegas in 2005.

Aside from The Platters hits, "Only You," "The Great Pretender," "Twilight
Time," "The Magic Touch," "I'm Sorry," "One in a Million," "Bark, Battle and
Ball," "Love All Night," et al, he wrote "I'll Be Home for Christmas,"
(originally as a poem for his mother while he was in college), "At Your Beck
and Call," "Come Prima," "Chew, Chew, Chew Your Bubble Gum," "Red
Man Rock," and at least 500 others.

Jean Bennett is the manager/owner of The Buck Ram Platters. She was there
the night Tony Williams auditioned for Buck Ram, and is as much responsible
for the group's success as Ram or the singers. She promoted them to the top
of the charts and booked them around the world including their first gig at Slim
Jenkins Super Club in northern California, as the opening act as Las Vegas's
famous Moulin Rouge in 1954, at the Flamingo Hotel Casino in 1955, and, in
the 80's, as the first black entertainers to perform for an integrated audience in
South Africa.

Ram and Bennett managed not only The Platters but The Flares, The Penguins,
The Colts, and other top groups. Bennett has collected everything possible
since the beginning. The International DooWop Museum and Hall of Fame,
which will display her collection, is scheduled to open in Las Vegas in 2005.

No. Ram made his money from the songs he wrote. The Platters made
many of those songs famous so it was a win/win situation for both Ram and
the singers.

When you create something that is as successful as The Platters, everyone
wants a piece of the action. People who sang with the group for 6 months
claim to be originals. A longer tenure seems to give some people the belief
that they have "ownership" rights. People who have no relationship to the
group claim to be the original lead singer. Ram's death opened the door for
even more false claims to be made.