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The Great Pretender

Music by Buck Ram, Lyrics by Buck Ram

Originally Performed by The Platters

"The Great Pretender" is a popular song recorded by The Platters, with Tony Williams on lead vocals, and released as a single on November 3, 1955. The words and music were written by Buck Ram, the Platters' manager and producer who was a successful songwriter before moving into producing and management. "The Great Pretender" reached the number one position on both the R&B and pop charts in 1956. It also reached the UK charts peaking at number 5.

    Release Date: 1955


The Great Pretender

The Great Pretender

The Platters

"The Great Pretender" is a popular song recorded by The Platters, with Tony Williams on lead vocals, and released as a single on November 3, 1955. The words and music were created by Buck Ram, the Platters' manager and producer who was a successful songwriter before moving into producing and management. The Great Pretender reached the number one position on both the R&B and pop charts in 1956. In 2004, the song was voted 360th greatest song of all time by Rolling Stone.



Songbooks, Arrangements and/or Media

Displaying 1-6 of 6 items.


The Platters : The Platters Anthology : Solo : Songbook : 073999902136 : 0881888419 : 00490213

The Platters : The Platters Anthology

A wonderful collection of 20 songs from this classic R&B group. Includes photos and biographical information.

Songlist: Enchanted, The Great Pretender, He's Mine, Helpless, I Wish, It's Raining Outside, It's Raining Outside, My Dream, My Prayer, On My Word Of Honor, One In A Million, Only Because, Only You (And You Alone), Smoke Gets In Your Eyes, Twilight Time, Where, With This Ring, You'll Never, Never Know, You're Making A Mistake

More details
Voicing: Solo | Performed by The Platters | 4021b | Songbook | $18.95 ON SALE $12.95 | PVG


Sing With The Choir : The 1950's : Solo : Songbook & CD : 884088237691 : 1423437403 : 00333004

Sing With The Choir : The 1950's

This great new series lets you sing some of the most-loved songs of all time as part of a fantastic professional choir! The 9 x 12 book includes complete SATB parts, and the CD features full performances. Just open the songbook, pick your part, play the CD, and then sing along! This volume features 8 great '50s favorites.

Songlist: At The Hop, The Great Pretender, Kansas City, La Bamba, Love Me Tender, My Prayer, Rock Around The Clock, Unchained Melody

More details
Voicing: Solo | 8913b | Songbook & CD | $14.95


Various : The Big Book of Oldies : Solo : Songbook : 073999376715 : 0634032542 : 00310756

Various : The Big Book of Oldies

A whopping collection of 73 classic hits from the '50s and '60s for piano/vocal/guitar. Songs include: All My Loving - Barbara Ann - Be-Bop-A-Lula - Can't Take My Eyes off of You - Crimson and Clover - Crying - Donna - For Once in My Life - Get a Job - Good Vibrations - Great Balls of Fire - Green Onions - I Think We're Alone Now - Jailhouse Rock - Kansas City - La Bamba - Mellow Yellow - Mony, Mony - Rag Doll - Respect - Soldier Boy - Stagger Lee - Soul Man - Twist and Shout - Winchester Cathedral - Windy - You Keep Me Hangin' On - more!

Songlist: Walkin' The Dog, Ahab The Arab, Let's Get Together (Get Together), All My Loving, Hurdy Gurdy Man, Stand By Me, Jenifer Juniper, Along Comes Mary, Dizzy, Heartbreak Hotel, Crystal Blue Persuasion, Nobody But Me, Hold On I'm Comin', Soldier Boy, Ya Ya, Stormy, Somebody To Love, Elenore, Respect, Sock It To Me Baby, Donna, Barbara Ann, Be-Bop-A-Lula, Be True To Your School, For Once In My Life, Book Of Love, La Bamba, California Sun, I Thank You, Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You, and more

More details
Voicing: Solo | 20297b | Songbook | $22.95 | PVG


The Mighty Echoes : Doo Wop Til You Drop : 1 CD

The Mighty Echoes : Doo Wop Til You Drop

The Mighty Echoes have always been among our favorite Doo Woppers (not the kind you get with fries and a Coke, wise guy), so we were very pleased to see their latest release. These guys have been having way too much fun singing street corner 50s and 60s doo-wop on large stages for the last 1 years, and a great deal of seeing them live finds its way onto their CDs! "AC Doo Wop II" is their best yet, beautifully arranged, with harmonies sweet and tight enough to make the Wolfman howl.

Songlist: Fools Fall in Love, Under the Boardwalk, Teenager in Love, Monster Mash, Gloria, Sh-Boom, What Time Is It?, Blue Moon, Teddy Bear, Remember Then, What's Your Name?, The Lion Sleeps Tonight, The Great Pretender, Do You Love Me?

More details
8228c | 1 CD | $14.98 | A Cappella


The Platters : All-Time Greatest Hits : 1 CD : MRYB000175502.2

The Platters : All-Time Greatest Hits

The Platters, 4-man, 1-woman followed of black vocal harmony groups like the Ink Spots and the Mills Brothers, ushering in a new age of contemporary pop and R&B. The group grew up in the thriving music scene of Los Angeles in the early 1950s, first signing with Federal records, and then joining fellow Federal artists the Penguins (who had a national hit with "Earth Angel"), signed by Chicago-based Mercury Records. Their first recording, "Only You," didn't get a lot of attention until a Seattle DJ played it, eventually turning it into a national hit. "The Great Pretender" was a #1 smash, "The Magic Touch" was a top five it, but their next recording, of British songwriter Jimmy Kennedy's "My Prayer" became the group's biggest hit. Rock 'n' Roll-styled "Out of My Mind" and one other song were scheduled for the Platters to perform on Dick Clark's Saturday night TV show, who heard "Twilight Time" over the phone and said, "That's the hit!" It was the first record of the rock 'n' roll era to feature strings. "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes," "Harbor Lights," "With This Ring"-18 all-accompanied winners by one of the most exciting and popular vocal groups of all time! Beautiful liner notes with history and pictures of the group.

Songlist: Only You (And You Alone), The Great Pretender, (You've Got) The Magic Touch, My Prayer, Heaven On Earth, You'll Never Never Know, It Isn't Right, On My Word Of Honor, One In A Million, I'm Sorry, He's Mine, My Dream, Twilight Time, Smoke Gets In Your Eyes, Enchanted, Harbor Lights, I Love You 1000 Times With This Ring

More details
7604c | 1 CD | $13.95 | Accompanied


The Platters : Best of - 20th Century Masters : 1 CD

The Platters : Best of - 20th Century Masters

The Platters' rise into R&B/Rock 'n' Roll stardom began in Los Angeles, and two of its members had a lot to do with their meteoric rise, angel-voiced Tony Williams and manager Buck Ram. Tony's emotion-drenched voice made prayers and the longings of lovers so believable, and the precision and clarity of his delivery was pure pop gold. Ram agreed to let Mercury Records sign his hit group the Penguins if they'd also sign the Platters. Although the label first marketed the group on its purple "race" label, Ram convinced them to release it on their black "pop" label. The kids, just having discovered Elvis and Bill Haley, who heard the big hits "Only You" and "The Great Pretender" wanted to see who was singing them, and were surprised to see the suave, smooth black quintet. Thus the first number one pop record for a black group made its way up the charts. 11 classic winners, all accompanied, "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes," "The Magic Touch," "Harbor Lights," "You'll Never, Never Know," "Red Sails in the Sunset" and "Enchanted"-this is all incredible stuff from the legendary Platters!

Songlist: The Great Pretender, Twilight Time, Smoke Gets In Your Eyes, Only You (And You Alone), You'll Never Never Know, My Prayer, (You've Got) The Magic Touch, I'll Never Smile Again, Harbor Lights, Red Sails In The Sunset, Enchanted

More details
7605c | 1 CD | $9.95 | Accompanied


Individual Folios

Displaying 1-1 of 1 items.


The Great Pretender : SATB : Roger Emerson : Buck Ram : The Platters : 1 CD : 08200973 : 073999009736

Roger Emerson : The Great Pretender

You don't have to pretend to like the 1956 #1 hit by The Platters - Emerson's arrangement has it all! Available: SATB, TTBB, ShowTrax CD. Performance Time: Approx. 3:30.

Arranger: Roger Emerson | Composer: Buck Ram | Lyricist: Buck Ram Performed By: The Platters

More details
Voicing: SATB | Sheet Music | $2.35 |
(Minimum order 4 copies)
| 08200973 | Showtrax CD Available
Other Voicings: TTBB

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