The Great Pretender : Rolling Stone

Written by: Buck Ram
Produced by: Ram
Released: Dec. '55 on Mercury
Charts: 24 weeks
Top spot: No. 1

Heirs to the smooth crooning style of the Ink Spots and the Mills Brothers, the Platters were one of the Fifties' quintessential ballad groups. "The Great Pretender" was the first song by an R&B vocal group to top the pop charts, heralding the arrival of doo-wop. Ram, a titanic figure in doo-wop (he also co-wrote "Only You" and "Twilight Time"), was pushing fifty when the song hit.

Appears on: The Magic Touch: An Anthology (Mercury)

Next: All Shook Up

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