Sing along with the Golden Sounds of the Platters in Downtown Branson

By CINDY THOMAS, Staff Writer

The 1950s and 1960s were a landmark era for groundbreaking new music with lasting influence on future generations and artists. Many songwriters wrote for multiple groups during the post-World War II era of dance tunes and pop hits, and music was one thing everyone enjoyed and shared during an otherwise turbulent era of civil rights activism. To help your children and grandchildren appreciate the significance of those days, or just for a fun evening of singing along with favorites, look no further than the Golden Sounds of the Platters tribute show at Branson Hot Hits Theatre, 206 S. Commercial St. in downtown Branson.

The Platters were the first black group to have a hit on pop charts; their single “Only You” made it to the top of pop charts before any covers of the tune by white artists did so, and they had at least 35 Top 10 tunes. They were also innovators in the blending of music and video with their 1956 appearance in the motion picture “Rock Around the Clock,” and three of their songs were in the “American Graffiti” soundtrack: “Smoke Gets in Your Eyes,” “The Great Pretender,” and “Only You,” all of which are heard in the tribute show.

The Branson group includes lead singer Eddie Stovall, whose career has included singing with several pop groups of the era and who has been featured in several Branson shows. Willie Nash, Louis Clark, and William Gill join Stovall with not only great music but dance and comedy. Judging from the people singing along, there are many audience favorites including “Stand by Me” and “Chain Gang.”

Since pop groups often covered each other’s hits and there was turnover in group members through the years, the performance wouldn’t be complete without additional tributes to other artists and groups of the era. The show includes “Kansas City,” performed in memory of Rooster Lawrence, the Drifters’ “Save the Last Dance for Me,” Carole King’s “Up on the Roof,” and more. During a medley of Coasters songs, nearly everyone in the theater sings “Why’s everybody always pickin’ on me?” along with “Charlie Brown.”

The four vocalists of the Golden Sounds of the Platters tribute artists perform top hits.

Photo by Philip Thomas

Visit www.bransonhothits. com for ticket information about Golden Sounds of the Platters, featured on Tuesdays at 7:30 p.m., Wednesdays at 10 a.m., and Thursdays at 2 p.m., or any of the other great tribute shows guaranteed to take you back and increase your appreciation for a musical legacy that continues to influence a new generation of performers.

Audience members dancing to Golden Sounds of the Platters

Photo by Philip Thomas