June 2012 | Blog Archives
Curating the Beatles
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum is very fortunate to have what is most likely the finest, most extensive Beatles exhibit anywhere in the world. That exhibit is the result of relationships we have built over the years. I have been the chief curator at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Cleveland since 1994, before the Museum opened, and one of the first people I contacted when I got the job was Yoko Ono.
Prior to joining the Museum, I was a writer and editor at Rolling Stone magazine, where I had interviewed Yoko. In addition, Jann Wenner, the editor and publisher of Rolling Stone and one of the founders of the Hall of Fame, was friends with Yoko and John Lennon. Having made those connections, I first arranged to meet Yoko at her apartment at the Dakota in New York City in 1994. Much to my surprise, she had an enormous amount of ...
Remembering Herb Reed of the Platters
Herb Reed, the last surviving original member of the Platters, died on June 4, 2012, after losing his battle with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The Platters were arguably the most significant vocal group of rock and roll's early decades, performing sold-out shows in more than 100 countries, cutting nearly 400 recordings and selling millions of albums. Founding member Herb Reed's inimitable bass vocals were an instrumental part in shaping the instantly recognizable harmonies of the quintet's litany of memorable tracks. Songs such as "The Great Pretender," "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes," "Only You" and "Twilight Time" – to name but a few – forever enriched the American songbook.
Reed, founding member of the Platters, was born in Kansas City, Missouri, in 1929. The Platters were one of the top vocal groups of the Fifties, delivering smooth, stylized renditions of pop standards. Like the Ink Spots a decade earlier, they were the most popular black group of their time, achieving success ...
