Herb Reed of The Platters Dies at 83
The founding member of the vocal group The Platters, Herb Reed, has died at age 83 on Monday.
Also the last surviving member of the group, Reed died after a period of declining health that included chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, according to the late singer's manager, Fred Balboni.
Reed's manager added that the singer died in a Boston area hospice after the singer had lived in the area for several years.
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The Platters, which formed in the 1953, were the most popular black singing group of their time. Reed came up with the group's name after a '50s disc jockey who called records platters, and saw numerous members before signing their first major recording contract in 1955.
The most successful incarnation of the group consisted of Reed, lead tenor Tony Williams, David Lynch, Paul Robi, and Zola Taylor. The group had 40 charting singles on the Billboard Hot 100 between 1995 and 1967, including "The Great Pretender," "Twilight Time," and "I'll Never Smile Again," among many more.
In 1990, The Platters were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. An induction into the Vocal Hall of Fame followed in 1998. Their recordings are also in the Grammy Hall of Fame.
Reed, a Kansas City, Mo. native, once credited the music industry for saving him from a life of poverty. The singer recounted that he had spent his first big royalty check on a house while his bandmates trifled theirs.
"I never thought that it would keep going, and I never wanted to assume we'd keep getting checks," he explained in an interview earlier this year, according to the Huffington Post.
He was the only existing member of The Platters to appear on every single one of their nearly 400 recordings, on which he provided a bass voice. Until last year, Reed continued touring and performing up to 200 shows per year.
On Twitter, fans of Reed are mourning the singer following the news of his death.
"Herb Reed, last original member of The Platters, has died at age 83," wrote The Loon. "RIP & thank you for the marvelous music."
Jet Magazine posted, "Our condolences to the family of the Platters' Herb Reed, who died Monday. Hits included 'Only You' & 'Twilight Time.'"
"May he rest in peace," wrote Rosemarie.
Reed is survived by a son and three grandsons.
