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The Great Pretender
1955 song recorded by The Platters
The Great Pretender
"The Great Pretender" is a doo-wop song recorded by American band The Platters and released in November 1955. It was written and composed by Buck Ram, the group's manager and producer who was earlier a successful songwriter; lead vocals are by Tony Williams. The song reached No. 2 on Billboard's Top 100, and No. 5 on the UK charts. The song has been covered by a number of singers, including Roy Orbison and Dolly Parton. Freddie Mercury's version reached No. 4 on the UK charts. Sam Cooke's cover of the song is believed to have inspired Chrissie Hynde to name her band The Pretenders. A parody version was recorded by American radio comedian Stan Freberg in 1956.
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