Nate Nelson born 10 April 1932

Nate Nelson (born Nathaniel Nelson April 10, 1932 – June 1, 1984) was a tenor vocalist in two legendary R & B vocal groups: The Flamingos and The Platters.

Nate nelson was trained on the gospel music of his Baptist church. After completing a Navy stint in the early Fifties, nelson formed a Chicago-based vocal group The Velvetones (not the more famous outfit). But after meeting the struggling three year old Flamingos at martin’s nightclub in 1953, Nelson joined the group on a part-time basis as the replacement for Sollie McElroy who was eased out of the line-up.
 
Recording at the Chicago-based Parrot label, Nelson shared lead vocal duties with Johnny carter on the minor hit “I’m Yours.” Now at the Chess subsidiary Checker Records, nelson assumed the lead vocal duties as the blues and harmony-based ballad group enjoyed a string of hits with “When “ (1955), “Please Come Back Home” (1955) and a Nelson composition which was covered by Pat Boone “I’ll Be Home.” (1956).

                        

The Flamingos disbanded after recording the beautiful ballad “The Vow” (1956). After briefly recording as a solo act at Chess, Nelson relocated to Pittsburgh in1957 where he formed a new Flamingos line-up and released several substantial releases at Decca Records. Relocating to New York City and signing with George  Goldner’s End Records,  nelson and The Flamingos enjoyed renewed fame with “Lovers Never Say Goodnight” the timeless ballad “I Only

Have Eyes For You” (1955) and “Nobody Loves me Like You” (1960).

Leaving The Flamingos in 1962, nelson emerged in the Herb Reed-led Platters. Signed to Musicor Records in 1964, The Platters scored a pair of hits with “I Love You a Thousand Times” and “With This Ring” (1967). An intermittent member of the group, Nelson quit for good in 1982 when he had the first of many heart attacks.

Nelson's name had been on a waiting list for a heart transplant. He died of heart failure June 1, 1984 at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston one day after his wife, Angel, called a news conference to try and find a heart donor for her husband. He was 52.  (Compiled and edited mainly from a bio by Nick Tolevski)