R.I.P. Herb Reed of the Platters: The Last of the Great Pretenders

While perusing the New York Times obituary section on the train this morning, I learned that the world had lost Herb Reed at the age of 83. I had never heard of Mr. Reed (seen on the left), but he was the last surviving member of The Platters, one of the earliest and most successful pop vocal groups. (You can read the NYT obit here.)

In general, I"m not a huge fan of this type of early rock, but I have always loved "The Great Pretender," which was the greatest of the Platters' many hits. My favorite part is the very end when Mr. Reed sings "stillll a-rrrrrouuuundddd."



The Platters were one of the first black groups to be marketed not as "race records" which was the early term for rhythm & blues, but just as a great record on its own terms.

Watching clips of The Platters on YouTube, I started wishing that Chrissie Hynde had covered the tune, given that she too is a great Pretender. I didn't see that, but I did find an appropriately over-the-top version by Queen's late great Freddie Mercury with a video that screams 1987.



R.I.P. Herb. And R.I.P. Freddie.

Buy the Best of the Platters on iTunes here.
Buy "The Great Pretender by Freddie Mercury here.