Platters star will perform benefit at Whitfield Clinic

By David Williams
Published in Sports on November 10, 2004 1:56 PM

• Print
• Email

This year, the George Whitfield Baseball Clinic is going back to the fifties.

Whitfield, who operates the oldest and respected baseball clinic in the United States every January in Goldsboro, is adding an attraction to benefit Goldsboro High School.

Milton Bullock, who was the lead singer for the legendary 1950s group The Platters, will be at the clinic to perform at Whitfield's kick-off dinner and awards night on Jan. 14 at Goldsboro High. Guests of the clinic are invited to the performance, and the general public can purchase tickets to the performance for $10, with the proceeds benefiting the school.

Bullock, a native of Edgecombe County, joined The Platters as lead tenor in 1965 and toured with the group until their breakup. The Platters recorded such legendary hits as "Only You," "My Prayer," "You've Got (The Magic Touch)," "Smoke Gets In your Eyes," "Twilight Time," and "The Great Pretender."

Today, Bullock is known as "The Golden Platter," and performs a show entitled "Back Down Memory Lane." He sings many of The Platters' hits and other classic songs.

In addition, Bullock recorded a song entitled "Do it for the Kids," which is also the name of the children's foundation he founded with Muhammad Ali back in 1982.

The group tries to enhance the quality of living of today's youth through education and scholarship programs.

"I'm doing this to benefit Goldsboro High, because it's where I started out," Whitfield said. "It's why I hold the clinic here every year."

Bullock has held benefits all over the region, with his last benefit for the victims of Hurricane Floyd in the Bellhaven community. Teamed with Lowes, Bullock helped to raise over $1.5 million for the victims of the floods.

"We use the entertainers and athletes as a nucleus to get into the issues and challenges of the youth of today," Bullock said.

Bullock said he hoped the performance would give him a chance to perform for other schools in the area. While the music is of another generation, Bullock said the crowds he sings to are appreciative and enthusiastic, regardless of their age.

"I see nine and ten-year-olds in the crowd, and they tell me they've heard my music," Bullock said. "They tell me their parents and grandparents play it for them. And it's music like it was meant to be -- no dirty words or shouting."

Whitfield will hold his 33rd annual clinic at the school with a nationally-recognized staff of clinicians on Saturday after the Friday dinner, awards and entertainment.