Band
The Drifters are an American doo-wop and R&B/soul vocal group.
Clyde McPhatter was signed to Atlantic on the condition that he form his own group. McPhatter promptly assembled a group in May 1953 and called them the Drifters. The members were - Clyde McPhatter, David "Little Dave" Baughan, William "Chick" Anderson, David Baldwin, James "Wrinkle" Johnson, Arthur Hamm and Chauncey Westbrook. They recorded a few tracks in June 1953, including a song called "Lucille", written by McPhatter himself. This group of Drifters did not have the sound Atlantic executives were looking for, however, and Clyde was prompted to assemble another group of singers in July 1953. The new line-up were - Clyde McPhatter, Bill Pinkney, Andrew Thrasher, Gerhardt Thrasher, Willie Ferbee, Walter Adams. The revised lineup recorded and released such hits as "Money Honey", "Such a Night", "Honey Love", and "Whatcha Gonna Do", with the record label displaying the group name "Clyde McPhatter and the Drifters" on the first two singles, later changed to "The Drifters featuring Clyde McPhatter". In October 1953, Willie Ferbee and Walter Adams replaced by Jimmy Oliver.
In April 1954, David Baughan joined. In November 1954, Johnny Moore joined and he left the band in March 1955.
In late 1954, McPhatter was drafted into the US Army and assigned to the Special Services in the continental United States, which allowed him to continue recording. After his tour of duty, he left the Drifters in July 1955 and began a solo career. McPhatter sold his share of the group to George Treadwell, husband of singer Sarah Vaughan. In September, David Baughan was replaced by Johnny Moore.
In August 1956, Andrew Thrasher and Bill Pinkney were replaced by 'Carnation Charlie' Hughes and Tommy Evans.
In Mid 1957, Tommy Evans left the group and Bill Pinkney again joined. In the month of October, Johnny Moore replaced by Bobby Hendricks.
In January 1958, Bill Pinkney and Jimmy Oliver left the group, and Tommy Evans joined again. In March, 'Carnation Charlie' Hughes left the group and Jimmy Milner joined. In May, Jimmy Oliver joined the group.
In 1958, Benjamin Earl Nelson (Ben E King) joined a Doo Wop group called the Five Crowns, whose line-up included: James 'Papa' Clark, Charlie Thomas, Benjamin Earl Nelson, Dock Green and Elsbeary Hobbs. This group were hired later that year, replacing the complete line-up of the group the Drifters, whose manager, George Treadwell, decided to run with a new set of vocalists under that name. So total new line up from June was Charlie Thomas, Ben E. King, Dock Green, Elsbeary Hobbs, Reggie Kimber.
From 1959 onward, they enjoyed chart success with the song 'There Goes My Baby', 'Oh My Love', 'Save the Last Dance for Me' and so on. Ben performed on 13 songs with the Drifters, however, due to a dispute over royalty payments, Ben decided not to appear in live shows, but would continue to record in the studio until a replacement member was found.
Ben E King left the group in May 1960.
Songs of Drifters
* Honey Love (1954)* Money Honey (1954)
* Such a Night (1954)
* Watcha Gonna Do? (1955)
* Ruby Baby (1956)
* Drip Drop (1958)
* Moonlight Bay (1958)
* There Goes My Baby (1959)
* Dance with Me (1960)
* If You Cry True Love (1960)
* Lonely Winds (1960)
* Save the Last Dance For Me (1960)
* This Magic Moment (1960)
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