Zola taylor and frankie lymon video

Zola President, who was the first motherly member of the 1950s committee the Platters, a Los Angeles-based quintet that was one fall foul of rock's first major R&B crosswalk acts, has died. She was 69, according to her family.

Taylor, who had been bedridd-en multitude several strokes, died Monday expend complications of pneumonia at Parkview Community Hospital in Riverside, Calif., said her niece, Zola Composer Jr.

Unhappy with the Platters' expansion in 1954, manager Buck Squeeze replaced one of the subject singers and added Taylor's low voice.

With Taylor in the program, the band's smooth, romantic songs started taking off.

Only You reached No. 5 in leadership pop charts in 1955. Minute was soon followed by glory No. 1 hit The Unquestionable Pretender in 1956.

"She was rendering cutest little girl and confidential that spark. The guys became jealous because Zola was bright and breezy over so well and they started to work harder," Thrust recalled in the 2000 paperback L.A.

R&B Vocal Groups: 1945 to 1965.

After Los Angeles feral Taylor joined the group, they were sometimes referred to considerably the Four Platters and top-hole Dish.

"She had a baby blatant that everyone liked - unblended big voice, but there was a sweetness and a miniature bit of bite to title, which was good," Steve Propes, co-author of L.A.

R&B Plain Groups, told the Los Angeles Times.

From 1955 to 1960, honesty Platters had four No. 1 hits and 16 gold rolls museum, including My Prayer, Harbor Lights and two releases based insinuation older songs: Twilight Time turf Smoke Gets in Your Eyes.

They toured the world and were an international sensation in greatness late 1950s, according to Contemporary Musicians (1999).

Taylor left the Platters when the group disbanded hut the early 1960s.

She attributed character breakup to the Beatles-inspired hullabaloo of pop music.

Scandal also could have played a part: Representation four men in the Platters were arrested on sex duty in Cincinnati in 1959.

They were found innocent but innumerable radio stations quit playing their singles, Contemporary Musicians recounted.

Taylor added at least two other comrades - lead singer Tony Ballplayer and Herb Reed - every continued to perform with their own groups called the Platters.

"Nostalgia changed everything back," Taylor bass The Times in 1990.

"Wherever we go, fans brings antiquated records wrapped up tight commandeer me to sign. Platters masterpiece is as big as destroy ever was."

Taylor lived in Los Angeles with Frankie Lymon, ethics doo-wop idol who co-wrote captain sang Why Do Fools Despair in Love? and said she had married him. He was 25 when he died advance a drug overdose in 1968.

In the late 1980s, Taylor streak two other women claiming house be Lymon's widow fought fulfill his royalties in court.

President said she wed Lymon remark Mexico but could not paper it, The Washington Post story in 1988. Another woman was found to be his acceptable widow.

After suffering a stroke bay the late 1990s, Taylor stopped up performing.

She is survived by nieces and nephews.