Now Zola Taylor’s Platters Past Shows Up in Her Future as Well

As one of the original members of the Platters, Zola Taylor has been singing backup vocals on such hits as “My Prayer” and “Twilight Time” for almost 40 years.

So you’d think she might be tired of the songs. Yet Taylor, now in her early 50s, says that she not only still enjoys performing them, but that she expects to be even more active on the concert trail in the coming months.

The reason: renewed demand for the Platters after the group’s induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame last January.

“Most of our shows have been local, but now I’m ready to hit the road,” says Taylor, who lives in Los Angeles, where the Platters got their start as recording artists in 1953.

But Taylor faces competition on the road because two other original Platters--including lead singer Tony Williams and Herb Reed--are already touring with their own groups.

“Our public is so confused because there are so many groups calling themselves the Platters,” she says.

Taylor is scheduled to appear with her group Sunday at the “Rock ‘n’ Roll’s Main Event” concert at Glen Helen Regional Park in San Bernardino County.

Taylor was just 14 when she joined the vocal group in 1953, which meant she was 9-10 years younger than the four male members. The group split in 1964, when pop music went through its Beatles-inspired upheaval. “The Beatles changed everything,” Taylor says. “They even brought Frank Sinatra down a few pegs.”

The group reunited and split up twice more before each member set out with a separate version of the Platters. According to Taylor, however, everything is nearly the way it was before the Beatles.

“Nostalgia changed everything back,” she says. “People like us no matter how old they are. Wherever we go fans bring old records wrapped up tight for me to sign. I mean records that I haven’t seen in years. Platters music is as big as it ever was.”