From:   "Dik de Heer" 
Date:  Thu Nov 21, 2002  6:16 am
Subject:  Born To Be With You : Buck Ram
 
BUCK RAM (By Shaun Mather)

Born Samuel Ram, 21 November 1907, Chicago, Illinois
Died 1 January 1991, Las Vegas, Nevada

Buck Ram was a lover of classical music from an early age and taught
himself the violin as a boy. He was a brilliant violinist but a football
accident
at the age of 15 whereby he fractured his hand, forced him to switch to the
saxophone. He studied classical music whilst attending the University of
Illinois as a pre-law major. On graduation he headed for New York and got
a job with Mills Music, a major publishing house. He became an a big band
arranger and writer, working with the likes of Duke Ellington, Count Basie,
and the Dorseys. In 1943 he co-wrote "I'll Be Home For Christmas," a huge
hit for Bing Crosby and later covered by Elvis Presley. He moved to Los
Angeles and in 1944 co-wrote "Twilight Time", for The Three Suns. During
the late 1940's and early 50's he was recovering from a nervous collapse
and left the business for a time.
When he returned to the music business in 1952 he started a management
company, Personality Productions. He became manager of the Platters and
put the beautiful tenor of Tony Williams to the fore. He was also looking after
the Penguins and in early 1955 got both groups signed to Mercury Records.
Although it was the Penguins the label were most interested in, they never
enjoyed a major hit on Mecury, whilst the Platters became massive
international stars. With songs mostly written by and arranged by Ram they
hit with the likes of "Only You," "The Great Pretender," "My Prayer,"
"(You've Got) The Magic Touch," "Twilight Time" and "Smoke Gets In Your
Eyes".
He started up his own label, Antler Records, but the venture was a failure.
Things started to take a downturn with the Platters as well when Tony
Williams went solo. At the time of his death on New Year's Day 1991 at
the age of 73, Personality Productions was still thriving.