Herb Reed, a founder of the Platters, dies at 83

(CBS/AP) Herb Reed, the last surviving original member of the 1950s R&B vocal group the Platters, has died in Boston at the age of 83. The group's hits like "Only You" and "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes" propelled it to stardom.

His manager says Reed, who suffered from heart disease, died Monday in a Boston area hospice after a period of declining health.

A Kansas City, Mo., native, Reed was the only member of the group, which started in Los Angeles in 1953, to appear on all of their nearly 400 recordings. Reed sang bass on the group's four No. 1 hits, including "The Great Pretender," "My Prayer," "Twilight Time" and "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes."

The group also appeared in a few early rock movies, notably 1956's "Rock Around the Clock" featuring Bill Haley and His Comets.

The Platters were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990.

Reed outlived his siblings and is survived by a son, Herbert Jr, and three grandsons. Funeral arrangements were pending.