Although he was born in Philadelphia, Platt considers Denver his hometown; his childhood bounced him from Park Hill to Aurora before he landed firmly in Montbello, where he grew up from the time he was in the fifth grade. He and several siblings were raised there by his mother, who worked security at Rocky Flats to support her family.
Career
DJ
While working at a Dave Cooksporting goods store in Aurora, Platt met a friend who taught him DJing. From 1985 to 1989, he DJed at Norman's Place, building an audience for himself through word of mouth. He then founded his own party event at a ballroom in a Quality Inn, which was profitable. However, a murder taking place at Platt's 25th birthday party in 1990 and the negative press that followed brought that run to an end. A friend convinced him to rebuild, and he successfully got a following going again, drawing patrons to the club Maximilian's.
Management
Platt credits a conversation in Denver with Public Enemy's front man, Chuck D, as main inspiration for wanting to be more than a local DJ. He decided to become a manager and relocated to Los Angeles where he was introduced to Madukey Productions by a friend. He secured the crew a remix to 2Pac's single "Keep Ya Head Up" and brokered a publishing deal with EMI for both Madukey and producer Kiyamma Griffin, thereby establishing a relationship with Steve Prudhomme, a creative manager at EMI.
Publishing
In 1995, Prudhomme left EMI to join Warner Bros. and he recommended his former employer to hire Platt as the creative manager. It didn't take long until he made noise by acquiring the publishing rights to TLC's single "Waterfalls," one of the biggest crossover hits of the mid '90s. He quickly climbed the corporate ladder becoming the creative-director after a year and vice president a year later. He also successfully recruited Jay-Z to EMI after the release of his classic debut-album, Reasonable Doubt, in '96. In 2012, Platt left his position as vice president at EMI for Warner/Chappell Music where he was named President. In 2015, Platt was named CEO of Warner/Chappell. In 2019, Platt joined Sony Music/ATV as CEO and President.
