Laughlin Entertainer: Cover Stories

Sonny Turner doesn't have “smoke in his eyes” when it comes to “great pretenders.” Posing Platters have him seeing red.

The once lead singer of the Platters is part of a contingency of crusading entertainers leading the charge for a piece of legislation called Truth In Music. Turner, along with Mary Wilson of the Supremes and Jon “Bowzer” Bauman of Sha Na Na and other actual members of singing groups are trying to put a stop to groups billing themselves as “originals” when they are in fact copy-cats. The bill has passed in Nevada. Now the problem is pulling the plug on shows that ignore the law.

Turner, too, has to be careful how he bills himself even though he was a member of the group beginning in 1959. He replaced Tony Williams, the original lead singer of the group, chosen through a nationwide search from more than 100 applicants. This was a tough assignment-Williams possessed that soaring signature voice of the Platters-the one that danced on the high notes of “The Great Pretender” and slid up and down the scale on “Only You” and “My Prayer.”

For the first couple of years with the group, it was Turner's role to recreate that Williams' sound. It was almost as if he was performing as some modern day “tribute artist,” recreating someone else's style.

Eventually, Sonny Turner got to sing the Platter leads as Sonny Turner would sing them, helping to put the Platters back on the charts in the 1960s with hits like “I Love You 1000 Times,” “With This Ring,” and “Washed Ashore.”

Turner remained with the Platters from late 1959 until 1970 when he left to pursue a solo career.

Despite his contributions to the group, Turner has had his share of legal battles over the years over his rights as a former member. He's okay with the outcome. He knows where he stands. His fans are fine with it, too. They don't care if he was a Platter, a Knife, a Fork or a Butter Dish. All they know is the guy sings, dances, makes them laugh and puts on one hell of a show.

What Turner isn't fine with are bogus Platter groups taking credit for work they didn't do. There is only one original Platter on the planet, group founder Herb Reed. Ever since Reed formed the group in the 1950s, members have come and gone, been replaced, died or left to pursue solo careers. Along the way some of these members have “sold” their rights to people who never sang with the group, who put their groups together billing them as “originals.” Therein lies the problem. This same thing has happened to Drifters, Coasters, Supremes, Marvelettes and others.

When Turner isn't testifying in hearings, he continues to get the word out the best way he can-keeping the music alive through his concert appearances and delivering the message personally. He continues to perform music he believes in.

In 2005, Turner received The Lifetime Excellence in Entertainment Award in Las Vegas where he currently resides. He was also inducted into the Vocal Group Hall Of Fame for his achievements with the Platters. Today Turner performs all over the world and continues to record new music.

Turner makes a stop at the Tropicana Express Saturday, June 14 in the Pavilion Showroom. The Laughlin entertainer recently talked with Turner about his show, his crusade and his career.

Q. Tall about the show you're bringing back to the Tropicana?

A. We'll be doing a full-range of Platters music and a show with ample entertainment. I'll be performing some of my own stuff. I recorded a new album, or in this day and age, a new CD. (When you say album these days, kids don't know what you're talking about). It's a new remix for Platters' fans and it's called Golden Memories. The title song was written for me, and I'll sing that at the opening of the Platters segment of the show. I love the CD.

I'll bring my four-piece rhythm section, hopefully I can augment that with a couple of horns. If not, the rhythm section will pull it off and the audience will find we do a nice show. We're looking forward to it-we're pumped up and ready to go.

Q. Talk about the Truth in Music measure and why it's so important to you.

A. It says no one but members of the group can have the name as long as there is one member of the original group, only that person can perform on stage using that group name. We have been pushing the Truth In Music measure and it's been passed into law in the state of Nevada. It keeps people from being defrauded.

The main reason for it is to protect original performers like the Temptations, the Drifters, the Coasters, the Supremes, Danny & the Juniors, who have spent their lives making music for you and the music you love and support. You have these promoters who are putting on shows and defrauding the public. It's a really sore point with performers-because we were with these groups, it keeps us working. These people are stealing our legacy. It's like walking into your living room and someone's sitting on your couch. You're asking, “Why are you in my house?”

Q. You weren't an original member, but you had the toughest job and added pressure of coming in and replacing the signature voice of Tony Williams-and you succeeded. Talk about that.

A. I did and I earned my right to be there with sheer talent. God blessed me with opportunities and I was successful in a righteous way. You earn your right and then people walk up and take it for free, they take your legacy and lie, but the justice is they are relegated to the back rows of obscurity.

Q. You have taken a very active stand on exposing bogus acts. Talk about that.

A. We got a news crew from KTLA to come here to Vegas a couple of months ago to confront performers of a group who were calling themselves “original” Platters. They didn't want to talk or be photographed. Their promoter is Larry Marshak-he's the culprit, a cancer on the music industry who expects people to give him something for nothing. His tactics to keep from being prosecuted have been confusion, postponement and delays.

He has four or five groups going out performing as Platters, Coasters, Marvelettes and Drifters. He tried the Temptations, but it's a little nervy going against Motown. He figures no one knows the difference. He's been successful for so long thinking he can do anything he pleases, but judges are saying no more delays and postponements-what he has done is an elaborate shell game, and he's preventing real performers from making a living. We don't want to prevent these people either, but they need to either be performing as tributes or we shut them down.

The news crew also spoke to some of the patrons who had attended the show. They didn't know the performers weren't originals-they enjoyed the music, they didn't like the fact they were told a lie.

I was there when the Nevada governor signed the bill into law. I sang, “Only you can pass this bill for us.”

Thanks for letting me vent.

Q. Are you really okay with the outcome of your legal battle?

A. There was a judgment against me, so I have to be careful how I bill myself-former lead singer of the Platters is okay. Talent will take me where I need to go. I've stood in good stead all these years. On stage, people get quality shows. I'm known for my association with the Platters. I'm known for putting on a quality show. That's what people know. What they see is what they get-an actual former lead singer of the Platters.

I don't work as much as I used to, that's the biggest rub with me-I resent the hell out of that.

Truth takes a fight, it's that or you don't get to see the fruits of your labor. God gave us the ability to fight, to stand up for ourselves.

Q. Do you have a favorite Platters song?

A. The whole songbook, especially the ones I recorded like, “I Love You 1000 Times,” “With This Ring,” and “Washed Ashore.”

Q. You autograph a lot of CDs and other merchandise. What's the strangest thing you've ever put your name on?

A. We were in Cleveland the other night and this guy brought me an 8-track to sign. I laughed. I haven't seen one of those in years.

Q. What's next for Sonny Turner.

A. I'm continuing to get together with Mary Wilson and Bowzer to collectively talk to the Attorney General to force these groups to say tribute or we shut them down. “The devil is busy,” as my grandmother used to say, so that we stay busy. I'm still a scrapper-some things haven't changed. I'm still enjoying the hell out of myself.

Q. You have taken a very active stand on exposing bogus acts. Talk about that.

A. We got a news crew from KTLA to come here to Vegas a couple of months ago to confront performers of a group who were calling themselves “original” Platters. They didn't want to talk or be photographed. Their promoter is Larry Marshak-he's the culprit, a cancer on the music industry who expects people to give him something for nothing. His tactics to keep from being prosecuted have been confusion, postponement and delays.

He has four or five groups going out performing as Platters, Coasters, Marvelettes and Drifters. He tried the Temptations, but it's a little nervy going against Motown. He figures no one knows the difference. He's been successful for so long thinking he can do anything he pleases, but judges are saying no more delays and postponements-what he has done is an elaborate shell game, and he's preventing real performers from making a living. We don't want to prevent these people either, but they need to either be performing as tributes or we shut them down.

The news crew also spoke to some of the patrons who had attended the show. They didn't know the performers weren't originals-they enjoyed the music, they didn't like the fact they were told a lie.

I was there when the Nevada governor signed the bill into law. I sang, “Only you can pass this bill for us.”

Thanks for letting me vent.

Q. Are you really okay with the outcome of your legal battle?

A. There was a judgment against me, so I have to be careful how I bill myself-former lead singer of the Platters is okay. Talent will take me where I need to go. I've stood in good stead all these years. On stage, people get quality shows. I'm known for my association with the Platters. I'm known for putting on a quality show. That's what people know. What they see is what they get-an actual former lead singer of the Platters.

I don't work as much as I used to, that's the biggest rub with me-I resent the hell out of that.

Truth takes a fight, it's that or you don't get to see the fruits of your labor. God gave us the ability to fight, to stand up for ourselves.

Q. Do you have a favorite Platters song?

A. The whole songbook, especially the ones I recorded like, “I Love You 1000 Times,” “With This Ring,” and “Washed Ashore.”

Q. You autograph a lot of CDs and other merchandise. What's the strangest thing you've ever put your name on?

A. We were in Cleveland the other night and this guy brought me an 8-track to sign. I laughed. I haven't seen one of those in years.

Q. What's next for Sonny Turner.

A. I'm continuing to get together with Mary Wilson and Bowzer to collectively talk to the Attorney General to force these groups to say tribute or we shut them down. “The devil is busy,” as my grandmother used to say, so that we stay busy. I'm still a scrapper-some things haven't changed. I'm still enjoying the hell out of myself.

SONNY TURNER

former lead singer of the PLATTERS

Saturday, June 14

at 8 p.m.

Pavilion Showroom

in the

TROPICANA EXPRESS

Tickets are $25, $35 VIP-$2 off all ticket prices when Players Club members of Tropicana Express and/or River Palms show their cards

at purchase.

For tickets, see Players Club booth at the south end of the casino or call

1-800-243-6846 or

702-298-4200