The Buck Ram Platters

 Fifty Four Years and Counting

In 1952, when Alex and Gaynel Hodge, Herb Reed, Joe Jefferson, David Lynch and Cornell Gunter were sitting around the Hodge's kitchen table trying to come up with a name for their new group, there were a bunch of records on the table.  Disc Jockeys had begun calling records "platters."  Looking at the records, Herb Reed suggested they call the group The Platters, and everyone agreed.

When Tony Williams went to Buck Ram looking for management, he brought Alex Hodge, David Lynch, Herb Reed and the name The Platters with him.  Before the group hit the charts there had been yet other personnel changes with Paul Robi replacing Alex Hodge and the addition of Zola Taylor.

Six years later Sonny Turner replaced Tony Williams and, while personnel changes happened, the group maintained its integrity through Ram's music, management and production.  In 1970, with bogus groups springing up around the world and close to a million dollars already spent in legal fees trying to stop them, Ram preceded the name The Platters with his own, and the group became known as The Buck Ram Platters so savvy buyers would know they were getting the music, arrangements and professionalism Personality and The Five Platters had been presenting for 16 years.   But groups with no relationship to The Five Platters were unstoppable despite court rulings.

The court ruled as follows:  Jean Bennett, based on her 43 contineous years with The Platters (at the time of the ruling) has the common law rights to the name the Platters.  She may also license two (2) groups* to perform as The Platters.  Herb Reed has performing rights as Herb Reed and His Platters.  Sonny Turner may bill himself as Sonny Turner Former Lead Singer of The Platters, and Monroe Powell may bill himself as Monroe Powell and The Platters. 

Personality has been presenting The Platters aka The Buck Ram Platters since 1953.   When booking, please call us.   When attending a show be sure that you are buying tickets for Jean Bennett presents The Platters or The Buck Ram Platters.  We are the only ones with the right to the name.  We are the experts with 54 years of experinece! 

*  Jean has licensed Bransons' World Famous Platters for fourteen years.  No other groups are licensed or may legitimately use The Platters' name.