Zola Taylor, an original member of The Platters, died Monday morning [4/30/07] in Los Angeles. She was 69. She had been in ill health for some time after reportedly suffering a stroke several years ago. An attractive contralto, she recorded and toured internationally with the Platters from 1954-1964 and was heard on the group's biggest hits. At one time, Ms. Taylor was married to the late singing star Frankie Lymon, and was portrayed by Halle Berry in the 1998 motion picture Why Do Fools Fall in Love. During the 1970s, she worked with other former originals Paul Robi and David Lynch in a touring Platters group and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990. Ms. Taylor was preceded in death by her former singing partners, Tony Williams (1928-1992), Paul Robi (1931-1989), and David Lynch (1929-1981). Today, original founder and bass singer Herbert Reed, is the classic group's sole survivor.
Thanks to Country Paul at Spectropop for passing on this sad news to me.
