Member Since: 09/06/2006
Band Members: HistoryThe original Drifters
Ahmet Ertegun of Atlantic Records approached McPhatter after he left the Dominoes and signed him. McPhatter recruited several members of his former group, the Mount Lebanon Singers, and finally settled on Gerhart and Andrew Thrasher on tenor and baritone, respectively, Bill Pinkney on second tenor, Willie Ferbee, bass, and Walter Adams on guitar. Adams' presence on guitar made the group unusual among R&B groups of the time. He was soon replaced by Jimmy Oliver. This line-up released the group's first major hit, "Money Honey", occasionally considered the first rock and roll record. By this time, Bill Pinkney had taken over on bass, and the group released several more hits before McPhatter left in 1954 to enter military service and then pursued a solo career. McPhatter had demanded a large share of the group's profits, which he had been denied in the Dominoes, but, upon his departure, did not ensure that this would continue for his successor. He sold his share of the group to George Treadwell, manager, former jazz musician and husband of legendary singer Sarah Vaughan. As a result, the Drifters' cycled through copious members, none of whom made much money. McPhatter later expressed regret at this action, recognizing that it doomed his fellow musicians to unprofitability.McPhatter was first replaced by David Baughn, whose erratic behavior and similar sound to McPhatter made him unsuitable in the eyes of Atlantic Records executives. Baughn soon quit the group, and was replaced by Johnny Moore (of The Hornets). This line-up had a major R&B hit in 1955 with "Adorable", followed by several others. Treadwell soon added Bobby Hendricks (of The Swallows and The Five Crowns), but to no success. The group, however, was not able to break into mainstream markets.In the mid 1950s, The Drifters began working with Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, legendary songwriters, who eventually became the group's producers as well. This is widely considered the group's golden age, inaugurated by the 1956 hit "I Gotta Get Myself a Woman". Low salaries contributed to burnout among the members, particularly Bill Pinkney, who was fired after asking Treadwell for more money. Thrasher left as well in protest, and Pinkney and Bobby Hendricks soon formed The Flyers.Jimmy Ricks filled in as bass, and he was soon replaced by Tommy Evans (of The Dominoes). Charlie Hughes also joined as a baritone. The group's momentum was stalled by Johnny Moore's being drafted. Pinkney and Hendricks returned and Jimmy Millinder took over as baritone. In 1958, The Drifters were performing onstage with another group, The Five Crowns. Treadwell fired all of the members of the group and recruited the Five Crowns as a new Drifters group.Following their dismissal, Bill Pinkney joined with the Thrashers and David Baughan and continued touring as "The Original Drifters". Baughan left after a short time, leaving the group a trio. Bobby Lee Hollis joined in 1964 and took over the lead spot. Later that year Andrew Thrasher was out and Jimmy Lewis was in. Bobby Hendricks returned, making the group a quintet for a short time, before Lewis left. Andrew Thrasher returned, replacing Hollis. Hollis and Baughan bounced in and out through the 1960s. By 1968, the group was Pinkney, Gerhart Thrasher, Hollis, and Hendricks. At this point, the group split.Pinkney met with an existing group, The Tears, and recruited them as the new Original Drifters. The Tears were Benny Anderson, George Wallace, Albert Fortson, and Mark Williams. Shortly after recruiting them, they broke away from Pinkney and continued touring as the Original Drifters for over a decade (Pinkney filed suit and successfully stopped them at that time).Pinkney then brought in new members Bruce Caesar, Clarence Walker, and Bruce Richardson. The lineup changed rapidly. In 1979 the group was Pinkney, Andrew Lawyer, Chuck Cockerham, Harriel Jackson, and Tony Cook. Their 1995 album Peace in the Valley, on Blackberry Records, credited vocals to Pinkney, Cockerham, Richard Knight Dunbar, Vernon Young, and Greg Johnson. [1][2] They appeared on the PBS special, Doo Wop 51 with Pinkney, Dunbar, Johnson, and Bobby Hendricks. The current lineup is Pinkney, Cockerham, Dunbar, Young, and Clyde McPhatter's son, Billy McPhatter. Greg Johnson is now in Bobby Hendricks' Drifters.The second Drifters
Meanwhile, in 1958, Treadwell had approached Lover Patterson, the manager of the Five Crowns, who agreed. All but one member of The Five Crowns agreed to become the Drifters. The new line-up was led by Charlie Thomas, and also included Dock Green (baritone), Elsbeary Hobbs (bass), James "Poppa" Clark, and Ben Nelson (baritone).This new line-up released several singles that have become known as landmark recordings, but was not able to release any hits except "There Goes My Baby". Ben Nelson was particularly unhappy with his share of the profits, and left to launch a solo career under the name Ben E. King. He was replaced by James Poindexter, and later Rudy Lewis (of The Clara Ward Singers). Clark also left and was replaced by Johnny Lee Williams, who left after a year, leaving the group a quartet. This new line-up was still innovative, in spite of a lack of major mainstream success. While recording "Please Stay", songwriter Burt Bacharach met Dionne Warwick, a back-up singer, thus beginning a legendary partnership.Hobbs left and was replaced by William Van Dyke in late 1960, then George Grant, and finally by the returning Tommy Evans. Doc Green left and was replaced by Eugene Pearson in 1962. Evans left again in 1963 and was replaced by Johnny Terry. Johnny Moore returned in 1964, making the group a quintet of he, Charlie Thomas, Rudy Lewis, Gene Pearson, and Johnny Terry.Later that year, the group was scheduled to record "Under the Boardwalk" on May 21. Rudy Lewis died under mysterious circumstances the night before, and his position was filled by Johnny Moore, who continued the lead spot. Terry was replaced in 1966 by Dan Bainbridge for a year, then by William Brent. Gene Pearson was replaced by Rick Sheppard that same year. Bill Fredricks replaced Brent in 1967. The group's last original member (original from the day they became the Drifters), Charlie Thomas, left shortly after Brent and was replaced by Charles Baskerville, a former member of The Limelites. Baskerville stayed only a short time, and was replaced by Milton Turner, then by Don Thomas (whose real first name was "Charlie", but he took the nickname "Don" to avoid confusion with the earlier Charlie Thomas). This lineup lasted until 1974.Throughout the 1970s, the only charted records for the group were disco songs on the British charts. Thomas and Sheppard left in 1974 and were replaced by Butch Leake and Grant Kitchlings. Fredricks was replaced by Clyde Brown the next year, and Kitchlings by Billy Lewis the next year. Leake was replaced by Joe Blunt in 1976, making the lineup Johnny Moore, Clyde Brown, Joe Blunt, and Billy Lewis. Moore left in 1978 and was replaced by Ray Lewis. Blunt and Billy Lewis left in 1979 and were replaced by the returning Johnny Moore and Louis Price. Moore left again in late 1982, along with Clyde Brown. They were replaced by two returning members, Ben Nelson (a.k.a. Ben E. King) and Bill Fredricks.Around this time members left and rejoined frequently. Fredricks, Lewis, and Price left in 1983 and were replaced by the returning Johnny Moore, Joe Blunt, and Clyde Brown. In 1986, the group was Ray Lewis, Billy Lewis, Louis Price, and new member Jonah Ellis. The next year more former members came in as replacements, making the group Moore, Billy and Ray Lewis, and Gene Jenkins (replaced shortly after by George Chandler, then John Thurston). Ray Lewis was out in 1988, and was replaced by Joe Cofie. In 1989, Billy Lewis left, and replaced by the returning George Chandler, then Tony Jackson, Keith John, and finally Peter Lamaar in 1990.Thurston was out at the end of the year and was replaced by Roy Hemmings. Patrick Alan was in for Lamaar briefly. Lamaar left completely in 1991 and was replaced by Rohan Delano Turney. This lineup lasted until 1996, when Cofie was out and Jason Leigh was in. Leigh was replaced after two years by the returning Lamaar.Tragedy struck in 1999 when the group's longest serving member, Johnny Moore, died. Patrick Alan returned to the group, keeping it a quartet. Lamaar left again in 2003, and was replaced by Victor Bynoe. Hemmings left in 2004 and was replaced by the again-returning Lamaar. The group's current lineup is Peter Lamaar, Rohan Delano Turney, Patrick Alan, and Victor Bynoe.Splinters
In the early 1970s, promoter Larry Marshak decided to reunite the Drifters (not realizing that they were still performing with a newer lineup). He found Doc Green, Charlie Thomas, and Beary Hobbs, and began to promote them as "The Drifters". This brought swift legal action from Faye Treadwell, wife of the late George Treadwell, who was managing the Drifters. In an attempt to grant his group the sole rights to the name, Marshak convinced Hobbs, Thomas, and Green to apply for a trademark on the Drifters name in 1976. The trademark was granted, but quickly revoked through Treadwell's legal action. The trio of original Drifters split afterward.In 1988, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inducted the seven significant contributors to The Drifters legacy; originals Clyde McPhatter, Bill Pinkney, and Gerhardt Thrasher, and later members Johnny Moore, Ben E. King, Charlie Thomas, and Rudy Lewis. Bill Pinkney's Original Drifters [3] continue to tour and record. Charlie Thomas leads another group [4]).Also, Rick Sheppard tours with a group ([5]). Ray Lewis and Roy Hemmings lead a group often playing to backing tapes ([6]); Bobby Hendricks leads a group ([7]), as does Billy Lewis (Trademark battle between he and Faye Treadwell).as cited on 6/12/06 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Original_Drifters
Influences: Motown, Duwop, a cappella singing in that era in general
Type of Label: Major