The Drifters
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New York City, NY, USA (1953 – present)
The Drifters are a long-lived american doo wop pop R&B band, originally formed by Clyde McPhatter (of Billy Ward & the Dominoes) in 1953 from New York City, NY, USA. There have been over 60 members since 1953. www.theofficialdrifters.com shows the current lineup and tour dates.
The original Drifters
Ahmet Ertegün of Atlantic Records approached Clyde McPhatter after he left The Dominoes and signed him. McPhatter first recruited several members of his former group, The Mount Lebanon Singers: William “Chick” Anderson (tenor), David Baldwin (baritone), and James “Wrinkle” Johnson (bass), plus David “Little Dave” Baughan (tenor). This aggregation lasted for only a single session (from which “
Lucille” was the only song released), after which Atlantic asked McPhatter to form a different group. He finally settled on Gerhart Thrasherand Andrew Thrasher on baritone and second tenor, respectively, Bill Pinkney on high tenor, Willie Ferbee as bass, and Walter Adams on guitar. This is the group on the second session, which produced the group’s first major hit: “Money Honey”.
After the session, Ferbee was involved in an accident and left the group and Adams died (to be replaced by Jimmy Oliver). Ferbee was not replaced and the voice parts were shifted around: Gerhart Thrasher became first tenor, Andrew Thrasher was now the baritone, and Bill Pinkney shifted down to bass. The group released several more hits (“Such A Night,” [1][2] “Honey Love,” “Bip Bam,” “White Christmas,” and “What’cha Gonna Do”) before McPhatter was drafted in May 1954 (after which he 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.
The original Drifters
Ahmet Ertegün of Atlantic Records approached Clyde McPhatter after he left The Dominoes and signed him. McPhatter first recruited several members of his former group, The Mount Lebanon Singers: William “Chick” Anderson (tenor), David Baldwin (baritone), and James “Wrinkle” Johnson (bass), plus David “Little Dave” Baughan (tenor). This aggregation lasted for only a single session (from which “
Lucille” was the only song released), after which Atlantic asked McPhatter to form a different group. He finally settled on Gerhart Thrasherand Andrew Thrasher on baritone and second tenor, respectively, Bill Pinkney on high tenor, Willie Ferbee as bass, and Walter Adams on guitar. This is the group on the second session, which produced the group’s first major hit: “Money Honey”.After the session, Ferbee was involved in an accident and left the group and Adams died (to be replaced by Jimmy Oliver). Ferbee was not replaced and the voice parts were shifted around: Gerhart Thrasher became first tenor, Andrew Thrasher was now the baritone, and Bill Pinkney shifted down to bass. The group released several more hits (“
Such A Night,” [1][2] “Honey Love,” “Bip Bam,” “White Christmas,” and “What’cha Gonna Do”) before McPhatter was drafted in May 1954 (after which he 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.
Top Albums
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Save the Last Dance for Me (Classic Album - Gold…
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Rockin' & Driftin' (Classic Album - Gold Edition)
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Christmas With The Drifters
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Saturday Night at the Movies
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Shoutbox
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Leeaff So darling, save the last dance, for me. ♥
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HE1NZ sorta like black Beach Boys
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lorenzo_2 bad!!!
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arja1 изображая жертву?хммм
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Teffasus There goes my baby...
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alleywrites By the pool with the Drifters cool
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SoulJazzsterInc Amazing group
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NearChicago This Magic Moment! Epic song. I blast it from my car stereo every chance I get. haha. I definitely get some strange looks but its all good. People dont know what good music is nowadays
Videos
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Under the boardwalk - The…
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のってる音頭 Notteru Ondo (full ver.)
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Save the last dance for me -…
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Be Bop A Lula - The Drifters…
Events
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Jun
5
The Drifters
EKU Center for the Arts, Richmond, KY, United States
2 going
- Nov 1 THE DRIFTERS IN CONCERT – MASQUERADE TOUR Palace Theatre, Redditch, United Kingdom
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More Information
- Links
- Band Members
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- Gerhart Thrasher
- Rick Sheppard
- Victor Bynoe
- Johnny Lee Williams
- Gene Jenkins
- Joe Cofie
- Bill Pinkney
- Clyde Brown
- Butch Mann
- Jimmy Millinder
- Clyde McPhatter
- Billy Davis
- Gene Pearson
- Joe Blunt
- James "Wrinkle" Johnson
- Bill Fredericks
- Johnny Terry
- Ben E. King
- Charles Baskerville
- William "Chick" Anderson
- Andrew Thrasher
- George Grant
- Tony Jackson
- Charlie Thomas
- George Chandler
- Keith John
- Ray Lewis
- Elsbeary Hobbs
- James Poindexter
- Dan Danbridge
- Roy Hemmings
- Billy Lewis
- Willie Ferbee
- Grant Kitchings
- Tommy Evans
- Bobby Hendricks
- Reggie Kimber
- Walter Adams
- John Thurston
- Jonah Ellis
- Rudy Lewis
- David Baughan
- Charlie Hughes
- Milton Turner
- Jason Leigh
- David Baldwin
- Rohan Delano Turney
- Johnny Moore
- William Brent
- Louis Price
- Butch Leake
- Patrick Alan
- James Clark
- Don Thomas
- William Van Dyke
- Peter Lamarr
- Jimmy Oliver
- Dock Green
- Labels
