Re-visit The Drifters

As promised we're going to go back and look at the great lead singers of The Drifters. I must admit that while researching the group I found some things that even surprised me.
Let's start with Clyde McPhatter. McPhatter joined a gospel group called the Mount Lebanon Singers. In 1950 McPhatter joined Billy Ward's Dominoes, and can be heard on the hit "Sixty Minute Man". McPhatter recorded a number of songs with the group including, "Have Mercy Baby".
McPhatter left the Dominoes in 1953 and signed with Atlantic Records and formed a new group called the Drifters. The first version of this group recorded, "Money Honey", "Such A Night", "Honey Love", "Whatcha Gonna Do", and the classic "White Christmas", with Bill Pinkney on bass.
In 1954 McPhatter was drafted, but was able to record with the group because he was stationed in the US. When McPhatter returned from the military he found that there was no room for him in the group, so he decided to start his solo career. McPhatter teamed with Ruth Brown for his first hit, "Loved Has Joined Us Together". Over the next few years McPhatter recorded several songs without a hit. A song written by Brook Benton, "A Lovers Question", went to #6 in 1958. McPhatter released "Lover Please" that same year. Afew of McPhatter's song charted high in the UK.
McPhatter singed with MGM and released another string songs including, "I Told myself A Lie", "Think Me A Kiss", and "TaTa".
In 1960 McPhatter left the US and spent time in England where he was back by a UK band called ICE. McPhatter returned to the states and soon died of heart failure.
McPhatter complained over the years about how his replacement in The Dominoes (Jackie Wilson) was having a better solo career than he was.

Next in line is Bill Pinkney. Pinkney was part of the first group of Drifters, with Andrew and Gerhart Thrasher and bass singer Willie Ferbie. On The Drifters first recording "Money Honey", Pinkney a natural baritone sang first tenor. Willie Ferbie left the group and Pinkney then moved to bass, and can be heard on the classic White Christmas. The Drifters version of "White Christmas" was scorned at first, but the more it was played the more it caught on, and fifty years later it is still one of the top selling Christmas songs of all times.
Pinkney was in and out of the group over the next few years, he did not record with the group when they recorded "Fools Fall In Love", and "Drip Drop".
Pinkney later formed a new group of Drifters called The Original Drifters and toured with the group over the years.

Next up is Ben E. King. King started his career using his given name Benjamin Earl Nelson. In 1958 King joined a do-wop group called The Five Crowns. That same year the manager of The Drifters (George Tredwell) fired the members of The Drifters and hired The Five Crowns as the new Drifters. King only recorded 10 songs with the group, including "There Goes My Baby", which was co-written by King.
King left the group in 1960 after being refused a raise by Tredwell.
King's first hit was "Spanish Harlem" in 1961 followed by "Stand By Me". "Stand By Me" was written by King along with Jerry Leiber, and Mike Stoller. King had a fantastic career and is still touring at this time.

There was not a lot of information on Rudy Lewis. Lewis was the lead for The Drifters from 1960 until 1964. Sometimes switching off with Johnny Moore. Lewis lead on "Some Kind Of Wonderful", "Please Stay", "On Broadway", and "Up On The Roof". It seems that Lewis' biggest problem was folling Ben E. King as lead of The Drifters. Lewis died May 20, 1964, the night before a recording session. Johnny Moore took the lead at the session and The Drifters moved on.

Johnny Moore joined The Drifters in 1955 at age 21. He was drafted and forced to leave the group; upon returning he recorder as a solo act under the name of Johnny Darrow. He rejoined the group and became lead singer in 1964. Johnny Moore toured with a number of Drifters group over the years. Moore even moved to the UK with a group of Drifters in the 1970's. Moore stayed with the group until his death in 1998.

Last and by no means least is Charlie Thomas. Thomas was a member of The Five Crowns with Ben E. King when they were hired to be the new Drifters. Charlie Thomas' biggest song was "Sweets For My Sweets".


While doing my research I found some great connections. The first connection is Leiber and Stoller who were song writers and producrs who signed to the Atlantic label, but were allowed to write and produce for other labels. Leiber and Stoller wrote and produced songs for the likes of Elvis, The Coasters, and The Drifters. It seems that the duo had a majic touch for making hits, no matter who they worked with.

The second connection is the Drinkard Singers. Leiber and Stoller took a female gospel group that included Dionne Warwick, Dee Dee Warwick, Sissy Houston, and at times Judy Clay and made them an important part of the Drifters success.
Leiber and Stoller arranged some of The Drifters songs so that The Drifters sang in unison on a note that was in harmony with the harmony of The Drinkards Singers. This arrangement kept The Drifters on the charts for years.


As time goes on we will visit Leiber and Stoller many times as we look at groups that were touched by the pair.

If there are any groups that you would like to hear about, please leave request in the comments section of this blog.