Sonny Turner is amongst the greatest performers of our time! Why? Because, he is one of the greatest lyricist and vocalist, he had a second-to-none stage performance. Sonny has the best showmanships of our generation!
I was fortunate enough to meet Sonny and his wife Lois when he was performing in Reno. Had breakfast with them more than once. Lovely people. He and Lois drove me to my hotel, even though the hotel was only a block away, after a performance at the Eldorado. Sonny would not hear of me walking alone. Yes, those were the good days not to be forgotten. The champagne flowed every time I went to see him and it was compliments of Sonny.
Even though Sonny wasn't the orig singer on these great Platters hits, he does a great job. Since he was Tony Williams official replacement in 1959 he has every right to sing these songs, and at age 72, his voice is still there. Sonny sang lead on the mid 60's Platters hit 'With This Ring'.
I was privileged to see Sonny and the Fabulous Platters in Queens New York the Community Gardens Disco in 1975. Will forever remember that great voice and the Original Plattters
Saw SONNY in Greenville South Carolina in 1973. As Taco Gillespie said, "Sonny never met a stranger!" Lucky to be able to chat with him because the Holiday Inn was a relatively small venue. Offered to buy him a drink and he said , "No I'll buy you a drink" ❗ As I recall, he had an "Old Fashioned". 🥃 😊 This one's for you SONNY. RIP my friend ❗🙏🏼 Still have his autograph which I display and treasure to this day ❗😊
To whoever said the Platters didn't have any major hits on Musicor--you're wrong. I was in junior high at the time. Maybe these songs weren't Top 10, but "With This Ring," "Washed Ashore" and "I Love You 1,000 Times" were constantly played on the radio in New York, and were on both the WMCA and WABC surveys.
I knew Sonny when I worked at Harvey's Resort Hotel and Casinos in Tahoe...He booked several shows there. He was a man that loved people and never met a stranger...he always took time to say hi and answer questions from the audience and Harveys employees. I miss those days.
I've seen Sonny perform many, many times in Reno, Nevada, through the years, and this is a first-class entertainer. A powerful stage presence, not just a magnificent vocalist.
Had a drink with him In Lake Tahoe back in 87. we were talking and I looked at him and said I saw the show. You were great !So tell me Sonny why didn't you ever go big time he looked at me, and smiled. He then said after fifteen years as lead singer for the Platter's he just didn't think he could pull it off! I never got my foot out of my mouth!!!
Sonny, I am so glad to see that after all these years you are able to enjoy the Platter's history that you so richly deserve! I've seen you in Reno, Vegas, Tunica, & Shreveport. You still have the voice, although I haven't seen you do the splits in a few years! LOL. Keep putting it out there man!
No one can replicate Tony Williams. But, Sonny Turner is a good second to none replacement for Tony Williams. He can still capture The Platters' sound that Tony Williams created. Others have come and gone and become the lead singer for The Platters but none of them can compare to these two legends.
...Along with With This Ring, Washed Ashore, and Love You 1000 Times, it is Sonny's voice heard on Platters recordings in major motion pictures and on TV. Don't discount Tony Williams success, but don't even try to diminish the accomplishments of Sonny Turner who is still performing and keeping his legacy of great music alive.
Oh Sonny, you wont believe who it is, all rown up, or maybe you will, since I look just like my dear old mother, your long time friend, yes this is Beverly Boyd's youngest daughter, Amy Boyd, I'm gonna find you on facebook Remember Hilton Head Island S.C. When you pulled me up on stage for my favorite Rubberband Man. People look, Sonny is the best his wife and so. Used to travel with him and they are a great family to know
@packard400 After those 3 big hits, well as you know it gave him a singing career , with the rest of the group for his whole life. I think he is still performing. But Pal . i didnt mean to diminish Tony Williams , one bit, nor your post. What a great sound. I love all the music from the 50's 60's some 70's and 80's.. Man Our music[ or that time period] was so great.Im from Philly, and we have Gamble and Huff, and other great writers, and producers. So much talent in all pockets of the USA,
Seems like Sonny's voice actually held up better over many decades than Tony Williams' voice held up just over a few years. By 1970 Tony Williams was already losing his voice, but Sonny Turner always sounds great!
Tony had Emphysema in his final years and his lungs were not able to project- but no one could touch him when he was at his high point from 56 through 58
@packard400 Well I agree too that all the balad hits from 55 to 60 cemented Tony Wiliams as a huge influence in that slow ballad romantic sound that Tony layed down. Songs like "Smoke Gets in your Eyes", along with "Harbor Lights' , etc are just a few.I was making the point, that Sonny Turner [ i didnt know that he could sing Tony's slower songs also] while singing the up Tempo, hits, 'Love u 1000 times', With this ring', and 'Washed Ashore'[ My Fav] made him so versatile.
@jjs499 I was not trying to disrespect him......there is no doubt whatsoever that he has earned his spot in history! I just did not want things to get clouded up about who the " original lead singer" is..Aside from a select group of folks from Wilmington NC down to Savannah GA..when you think 'Platters"...you think 1955-1960..I like the "latter Platters" stuff too, but the classic material is the Tony Williams material..(he even got paid extra to"phone in" the lyrics on a platters album in 63" )
Mercury released records with Sonny on the cover and doing lead vocals on the songs. He recorded the Platters first ever Christmas album and their first ever Spanish language albums with Mercury. He toured as their lead singer all over the world during the Mercury years and many of the records you THINK are Tony's voice are actually Sonny. In fact, Buck Ram took the Platters and left Mercury over the lead singer dispute, and had Sonny rerecord ALL of the Platters hits on Musicor...
@packard400 I agree somewhat, but Sonny Turner in the 60's was dynamite, Had 3 big hits of his own plus could sing all the Tony Williams songs... He did a great job and is still performing.......
..the real lead singer of the Platters is Tony Williams. This guy got booed off of stages the first couple of years after joining because he was NOT Tony Williams. Mercury records was so confident in him, that albums released well into 1963 still had pictures of Tony Williams on them. Having said that, he is a great vocalist and entertainer, the voice on "with this ring" and 'love you 1000 times" and deserves to be up on that stage, especially since Tony Williams is deceased and can't be there.
Turner was not the real lead of the platters.please he replaced tony and did a pretty good job.but tony was the greatest lead of that era.nate nelson also.
Dog, Sonny was indeed the Real lead lead vocalist for the Platters. He is not the original but he has the best voice and is easily the best of the entertainers of this era. You may like Tony better but Sonny has the strongest voice of all these vocalists period. He has 12 Gold Records with The Platters and keeps the most grueling touring schedule and sounds Great every night! I know this for a fact as I did 2 world tours with him starting in '82 through '84. I was his musical director for those tours and not only does he have more vocal range and power than any other vocalist but he can dance and entertain as well as anyone. He is an important part of the Golden era of American Music History. Listen to that last note on Smoke Gets in your eyes and tell me someone else can sing with that power and control! Not saying you don't have a right to your opinion but I was in the middle of all that Magic and I know what I am talking about.
Some good, accurate comments about this you tube post but when I first saw the title- "Sonny Turner- the real lead singer of the platters.." it got me quite annoyed because there never was or ever will be a replacement for Tony Williams. Fortunately lots of other posters agree with me. Sonny Turner was a decent tenor but nothing like Tony Williams. And if you are a fan of 50s Rock N roll and like really good vocals, the most unheard of and underrated singer was probably Joe Van Loan from the Ravens. whose voice, in some ways, even surpassed Tony Williams. Try listening to his rendition of "A Simple Prayer"...Not sure that even Tony Williams could hit a double falsetto. Of Course, the ending of My Prayer cemented Tony Williams as having the greatest tenor voice of the 50s bar none.
Sonny was a Nice man, good voice but not the real lead singer of the Platters- he was never a tony Williams. Didnt even get the correct lyrics of the great pretender and wouldnt dare the last note of my prayer. Original means what it means and tony is the original.
We lost Sonny today. RIP, Sonny. You were the best.
Sonny Turner is amongst the greatest performers of our time! Why? Because, he is one of the greatest lyricist and vocalist, he had a second-to-none stage performance. Sonny has the best showmanships of our generation!
NEW TO THIS 83 YEAR OLD FAN. I LOVED TONY, BUT SONNY A REAL TALENT ON HIS OWN......KUDOS TO HIM & THEM!
I was fortunate enough to meet Sonny and his wife Lois when he was performing in Reno. Had breakfast with them more than once. Lovely people. He and Lois drove me to my hotel, even though the hotel was only a block away, after a performance at the Eldorado. Sonny would not hear of me walking alone. Yes, those were the good days not to be forgotten. The champagne flowed every time I went to see him and it was compliments of Sonny.
Even though Sonny wasn't the orig singer on these great Platters hits, he does a great job. Since he was Tony Williams official replacement in 1959 he has every right to sing these songs, and at age 72, his voice is still there. Sonny sang lead on the mid 60's Platters hit 'With This Ring'.
Absolutely THE VERY BEST ......EVER !!! Thanks, Steve for All your years of Love for Sonny.
Sonny Turner is a brilliant singer. Love him and his incredible voice.
Sonny Turner is a fabulous entertainer who never met a stranger.
I was privileged to see Sonny and the Fabulous Platters in Queens New York the Community Gardens Disco in 1975. Will forever remember that great voice and the Original Plattters
Saw SONNY in Greenville South Carolina in 1973. As Taco Gillespie said, "Sonny never met a stranger!" Lucky to be able to chat with him because the Holiday Inn was a relatively small venue. Offered to buy him a drink and he said , "No I'll buy you a drink" ❗ As I recall,
he had an "Old Fashioned". 🥃 😊
This one's for you SONNY. RIP my friend ❗🙏🏼
Still have his autograph which I display and treasure to this day ❗😊
Nothing like keeping the Platters alive.
Oh Sonny. I miss your songs and you friendship in Reno... NV 😅
SONNY IS STILL IN GREAT VOICE!
He's magnificent! The closest you can get to the sound of the original members. I am very impressed.
To whoever said the Platters didn't have any major hits on Musicor--you're wrong. I was in junior high at the time. Maybe these songs weren't Top 10, but "With This Ring," "Washed Ashore" and "I Love You 1,000 Times" were constantly played on the radio in New York, and were on both the WMCA and WABC surveys.
The best entertainer in the World,,,bar none!
The Greatest of all greatest,D'Original Platters!!!
Saw Sonny perform in Lake Tahoe at Harrahs. I was amazed.
I knew Sonny when I worked at Harvey's Resort Hotel and Casinos in Tahoe...He booked several shows there. He was a man that loved people and never met a stranger...he always took time to say hi and answer questions from the audience and Harveys employees. I miss those days.
I just saw Sonny perform tonight at a Doo Wop show in New Bedford, what a voice & what a showman!
Tony Williams singing is superb and so is Sonny Turner's.
Both beautiful in their own way...definitely different
Loved him
Wow super und genial und phänomenal und Gänsehaut pur ❤liebe Grüße aus Germany/Hamburg/Wedel/Schleswig-Holstein 🙏🙏🙏🙏💕
The platters wherever they went every buddy love them.
I met Sonny when he was playing in Lake Tahoe. The nicest man you'd ever want to know
懐かしいですね！
プラターズが日本に来た時コンサートに行き、席が前の方の通路だったので、彼が舞台から降りて来て握手をした思い出があります！ターナーは大好きなアーティスト❤️
I've seen Sonny perform many, many times in Reno, Nevada, through the years, and this is a first-class entertainer. A powerful stage presence, not just a magnificent vocalist.
Oops
No
Had a drink with him In Lake Tahoe back in 87. we were talking and I looked at him and said I saw the show. You were great !So tell me Sonny why didn't you ever go big time he looked at me, and smiled. He then said after fifteen years as lead singer for the Platter's he just didn't think he could pull it off! I never got my foot out of my mouth!!!
Sonny Turner is a wonderful entertainer.
The Platters - son maravillosos maravilloso . mis respetos y admiracin para ellos
I was Sonny's bass guitarist in 1982...I was living in Reno at the time and he was the most talented nicest guys in the world! Miss ya Sonny!
Yes sir , play ya a lot at my shows
Sonny, I am so glad to see that after all these years you are able to enjoy the Platter's history that you so richly deserve! I've seen you in Reno, Vegas, Tunica, & Shreveport. You still have the voice, although I haven't seen you do the splits in a few years! LOL. Keep putting it out there man!
Saw him perform in Ocean Grove for my birthday, 8/31/19. AWESOME show! Looked great, sounded great. Keep doing your thing!! 👑 XoxO
GREAT POST!! Sonny sounds wonderful and your guitar is great Steve!!
Wow...this man sounds perfect..
RIP Sonny, wonderful singer and fabulous showman.
Oh my!! How fabulous and heart warming
No one can replicate Tony Williams. But, Sonny Turner is a good second to none replacement for Tony Williams. He can still capture The Platters' sound that Tony Williams created. Others have come and gone and become the lead singer for The Platters but none of them can compare to these two legends.
I fully agree with this comment, as an avid lover of the original 1956 Platters sound with Tony Williams
I saw him in Reno 4 or 5 times in the 90's, GREAT
R.I.P Sonny Turner 😥
big finish at the end is amazing
Rest In Peace Sonny Turner you gave the Carolina Beach music wonderful songs to shag to!
great singing as always
i never knew of this guy untill now he is a classic can this man sing oh my god i love it
Ditto...
Genial !***** INTÉRPRETE
INESQUECÍVEL 🤗
RIP Sonny
...Along with With This Ring, Washed Ashore, and Love You 1000 Times, it is Sonny's voice heard on Platters recordings in major motion pictures and on TV. Don't discount Tony Williams success, but don't even try to diminish the accomplishments of Sonny Turner who is still performing and keeping his legacy of great music alive.
Great!! Nice, Steve.
Excellent!
What a talent!
RIP to the great Sonny Turner
Sonny Turner is the closest you can get to Tony Williams and is great in his own right.
well....Tony Williams is the one ..for me!!!!!
Oh Sonny, you wont believe who it is, all rown up, or maybe you will, since I look just like my dear old mother, your long time friend, yes this is Beverly Boyd's youngest daughter, Amy Boyd, I'm gonna find you on facebook Remember Hilton Head Island S.C. When you pulled me up on stage for my favorite Rubberband Man. People look, Sonny is the best his wife and so. Used to travel with him and they are a great family to know
Very good Sonny
the best slow of my youngness
❤👍👍🙏
Sonny and his son Jason had dinner with me back in the day.
My grandpa ate❤️ grandpa from dads side
Tony William incredible voice
@packard400 After those 3 big hits, well as you know it gave him a singing career , with the rest of the group for his whole life. I think he is still performing. But Pal . i didnt mean to diminish Tony Williams , one bit, nor your post. What a great sound. I love all the music from the 50's 60's some 70's and 80's.. Man Our music[ or that time period] was so great.Im from Philly, and we have Gamble and Huff, and other great writers, and producers. So much talent in all pockets of the USA,
Interessante o número de co juntos,cada um com integrantes diferente. Sou mais os originais que nos deixaram eternas canções.
Seems like Sonny's voice actually held up better over many decades than Tony Williams' voice held up just over a few years. By 1970 Tony Williams was already losing his voice, but Sonny Turner always sounds great!
Tony had Emphysema in his final years and his lungs were not able to project- but no one could touch him when he was at his high point from 56 through 58
Fantastic Replacement for Tony Williams !
@packard400 Well I agree too that all the balad hits from 55 to 60 cemented Tony Wiliams as a huge influence in that slow ballad romantic sound that Tony layed down. Songs like "Smoke Gets in your Eyes", along with "Harbor Lights' , etc are just a few.I was making the point, that Sonny Turner [ i didnt know that he could sing Tony's slower songs also] while singing the up Tempo, hits, 'Love u 1000 times', With this ring', and 'Washed Ashore'[ My Fav] made him so versatile.
@jjs499 I was not trying to disrespect him......there is no doubt whatsoever that he has earned his spot in history! I just did not want things to get clouded up about who the " original lead singer" is..Aside from a select group of folks from Wilmington NC down to Savannah GA..when you think 'Platters"...you think 1955-1960..I like the "latter Platters" stuff too, but the classic material is the Tony Williams material..(he even got paid extra to"phone in" the lyrics on a platters album in 63" )
Mercury released records with Sonny on the cover and doing lead vocals on the songs. He recorded the Platters first ever Christmas album and their first ever Spanish language albums with Mercury. He toured as their lead singer all over the world during the Mercury years and many of the records you THINK are Tony's voice are actually Sonny. In fact, Buck Ram took the Platters and left Mercury over the lead singer dispute, and had Sonny rerecord ALL of the Platters hits on Musicor...
Thank you... Sonny is missed..The last of the real Platters. All other groups ate fake
@packard400 I agree somewhat, but Sonny Turner in the 60's was dynamite, Had 3 big hits of his own plus could sing all the Tony Williams songs... He did a great job and is still performing.......
..the real lead singer of the Platters is Tony Williams. This guy got booed off of stages the first couple of years after joining because he was NOT Tony Williams. Mercury records was so confident in him, that albums released well into 1963 still had pictures of Tony Williams on them. Having said that, he is a great vocalist and entertainer, the voice on "with this ring" and 'love you 1000 times" and deserves to be up on that stage, especially since Tony Williams is deceased and can't be there.
Sonny is the 2nd and last legitimately skilled lead for the Platters. His version of I'm Sorry is better than Tony's IMHO
For booking Sonny Turner, go to www.maxwellentertainment.us
子供のころ来日したのはソニーとプラターズだ。勿論tvで見たのもソニーだ。４０年前に来日したのもソニー＆サウンドリット
最高のボーカルでした。レコードは持っていまず。
Turner was not the real lead of the platters.please he replaced tony and did a pretty good job.but tony was the greatest lead of that era.nate nelson also.
Dog, Sonny was indeed the Real lead lead vocalist for the Platters. He is not the original but he has the best voice and is easily the best of the entertainers of this era. You may like Tony better but Sonny has the strongest voice of all these vocalists period. He has 12 Gold Records with The Platters and keeps the most grueling touring schedule and sounds Great every night! I know this for a fact as I did 2 world tours with him starting in '82 through '84. I was his musical director for those tours and not only does he have more vocal range and power than any other vocalist but he can dance and entertain as well as anyone. He is an important part of the Golden era of American Music History. Listen to that last note on Smoke Gets in your eyes and tell me someone else can sing with that power and control! Not saying you don't have a right to your opinion but I was in the middle of all that Magic and I know what I am talking about.
He past away.I think they could have gotten some one else to replace Tony Williams.He couldn't hit the notes in some of the songs.
Some good, accurate comments about this you tube post but when I first saw the title- "Sonny Turner- the real lead singer of the platters.." it got me quite annoyed because there never was or ever will be a replacement for Tony Williams. Fortunately lots of other posters agree with me. Sonny Turner was a decent tenor but nothing like Tony Williams. And if you are a fan of 50s Rock N roll and like really good vocals, the most unheard of and underrated singer was probably Joe Van Loan from the Ravens. whose voice, in some ways, even surpassed Tony Williams. Try listening to his rendition of "A Simple Prayer"...Not sure that even Tony Williams could hit a double falsetto. Of Course, the ending of My Prayer cemented Tony Williams as having the greatest tenor voice of the 50s bar none.
His voice quivered on the high notes.
Sonny was a Nice man, good voice but not the real lead singer of the Platters- he was never a tony Williams. Didnt even get the correct lyrics of the great pretender and wouldnt dare the last note of my prayer. Original means what it means and tony is the original.
やめろやめろ。インチキプラターズ。
Good, but, no one can measure up to Tony Williams. Sorry, Sonny.
Sonny Turner was the great pretender. He tried to copy Tony Williams style but he was just a cheap copy of the real thing.