Described as ‘one of the most significant figures in the modern recording industry’, Ahmet Ertegun was the Turkish-American co-founder and executive of Atlantic Records from 1946 - a new independent label for gospel, jazz and R&B music. He encouraged Clyde McPhatter to join Atlantic in the early 1950’s and together they formed The Drifters. Atlantic became the premier rhythm and blues label with artists such as Ruth Brown, Joe Turner, Ray Charles and then in the 60’s developed the growth of soul music with Ben E. King, Aretha Franklin, Otis Reading, Led Zeppelin and the Rolling Stones.

Ahmet was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1987 later becoming its Chairman. He helped establish a Rhythm & Blues Foundation and in 1991 he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate at Berklee College of Music, Boston and won a Grammy Trustees Award for lifetime achievement in 1993.

Born in North Carolina, Clyde McPhatter started his music career as a gospel singer and had relative success with ‘Billy Ward and the Dominoes.’ He caught the attention of Ahmet Ertegun of Atlantic Records who asked him to form an R&B group to sign up with their label.

Clyde formed The Drifters in 1953 and his high passionate vocals with gospel, blues and soul were a great influence during the 50’s & 60’s. ‘Money Honey,’ ‘Honey Love’ and ‘Such a Night’ were all a huge success, but in May 1954, McPhatter looked towards a solo career. He sold his half share of The Drifters to George Treadwell when he left.

Clyde was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, the Vocal Group Hall of Fame and the Rockabilly Hall of Fame. ‘Money Honey’ was inducted to the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999.                                                                                                                        

In the 1940’s, former jazz trumpeter George Treadwell featured on albums of jazz singer Sarah Vaughan (who he married) with his All Stars and his Orchestra. Later he married Faye Treadwell. A savvy businessman, he became manager of The Drifters from 1953 until his early death in 1967. In 1954 he bought Clyde McPhatter’s share of The Drifters and became sole owner. Despite success, low wages brought unrest in band line-up, which came to a head at the Apollo Theatre May 1958 when he fired the whole band and then signed up a group on the same bill the Five Crowns managed by Lover Patterson and featuring the later known Ben E. King.

There followed a golden era of chart successes and a succession of outstanding members Rudy Lewis, Johnny Moore, Bill Fredricks and Charlie Thomas. Despite continual change the sound, style, innovation and the songs were a huge success for The Drifters and George Treadwell. After his death in 1967 the legend was passed on to his widow Faye who continues to manage The Drifters today alongside her daughter Tina Treadwell.                                                       

Wife of the late George Treadwell, Faye took over the management of The Drifters after the early death of her husband in 1967 and owns the Trademark of The Drifters name. After George’s death, Faye brought The Drifters England where they signed to Bell Records in 1973 and produced six UK Top 10 hits. In 1976 the group’s management company was re-named Treadwell Drifters Inc. With sales over five decades and in excess of 50 million records being sold, the legend lives on and the Treadwell history continues, Faye and Tina have tenaciously bought The Drifters to a new audience and a new era.                          

Tina Treadwell, daughter of Faye and George Treadwell, has now taken over the reins from her parents, continuing the legacy of The Drifters. Tina was formerly Vice President of Talent and Alternative Programming at Disney Channel and has her own casting agency in Hollywood, having nurtured the career Success if major artists such as NSYNC, Justin Timberlake, Britney Spears and Christina Aguilira.

New York City born Gerald ‘Jerry’ Wexler became a music journalist and producer, and one of the major record industry icons behind the 1960’s soul music. He worked for BMI and MGM and was a former editor of Billboard Magazine and in 1953 became a partner alongside Ahmet Ertegun at Atlantic Records.

Together they oversaw the setting up of The Drifters with formal recording sessions to choose the right voices and built up Atlantic Records into a major force. In the 1960’s they developed the growth of soul music. Wexler turned around the career of Aretha Franklyn and was named Record Executive of the Year. Wexler was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 2006. From doo-wop, rhythm & blues, jazz and soul, Wexler brought black music to the masses.                                                                                                   

Roger Greenaway was a prolific English songwriter along with Roger Cook. They began their music careers early in 1965 singing with a close harmony group called The Kestrels. In July 1965 Beatles manager, impressed with their demo tapes encouraged them to record hits such as ‘Michelle’ and ‘Lovers of the World Unite.’ Many songwriting hits followed for artists such as The Fortunes, Andy Williams, Gene Pitney, Cilla Black and The New Seekers.

They were asked to write for The Drifters when they moved to England and signed for Bell Records, and in 1974 ‘Kissing in the Back Row of the Movies’ and ‘Down on the Beach’ were huge hits for them. Their legendary music lives on, and both have been honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the British Association of Songwriters, Composers & Authors.

Jerry Lieber and Mike Stoller are among the most influential songwriters and music producers in post World War 11 popular music, with RnB, boogie woogie, Rock & Roll influences. In 1953 they formed Spark Records with Lester Sill which was later bought by Atlantic Records. A string of ground-breaking hits followed including ‘Hound Dog,’ Love Me,’ ‘Loving You,’ ‘Don’t,’ and ‘Jailhouse Rock’ for Elvis Presley. In the mid 1950’s, The Drifters began working with Lieber & Stoller and in 1959 hits such as ‘There Goes My Baby’, which introduced the use of strings and Latin tinged rhythms and a powerful black sound leading into the soul music that would follow, working with Ben E. King and introducing a session musician Phil Spector! This was a huge hit for The Drifters, a two million seller.

In 1985 they were inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame and in 1987 the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and they have also been given a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. 

Brothers Andrew and Gerhart Thrasher started their music careers as gospel singers but also sang country and opera. Together with Bill Pinkney they joined Clyde McPhatter for practice sessions, he was trying to form a RnB group to sign up with Atlantic Records. Willie Ferbie joined them, and the second session in August 1953 had Andrew ‘Bubba’ Thrasher – second tenor, Gerhart ‘Gay’ Thrasher – baritone and lead Clyde McPhatter, who came up with the name The Drifters.

They recorded ‘Money Honey’ their first Number 1 hit and recordings followed of ‘Honey Love’, ’Such a Night’, ’White Christmas’ and ‘Someday You’ll Want Me To Want You’. In 1955, ‘Driftin Away From You’ was led by Gerhart, as was ’Your Promise to be Mine’ in 1956. Andrew left in 1955 but Gerhart was part of The Drifters until 1958. Andrew & Gerhart won five Grammy Awards.. In 1988, Gerhart was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.’         

Charlie Thomas grew up with gospel music joining the Five Crowns managed by Lover Patterson which also included Ben E. Nelson, later known as Ben E. King. In 1958 whilst appearing at the Apollo Theatre, The Drifters manager George Treadwell sacked his own group and bought the Five Crowns to replace them. The following year in the recording studio Charlie Thomas the lead singer developed microphone fright so was deputised for by Nelson to record ‘There Goes My Baby’ which he had co-written, ‘Hey Senorita’, and ‘Oh My Love’, the former being a major landmark in the history of R & B and soul.

Other hits followed, including 1961’Sweets For My Sweet’, ’Room Full Of Tears’, ‘When My Little Girl is Smiling’, 1962 ‘I Feel Good All Over’, 1965 ‘Chains of Love’, ‘Outside World’. In 1967 just after Treadwell died Charlie left The Drifters. In 1971 he toured again as the Charlie Thomas Drifters, he is the only surviving original Drifter from the 50’s. He was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame1988, the Pioneer Award Rhythm & Blues 1999, the Vocal Group Hall of Fame 2000.

Born in Harlem in 1941, Bill grew up making music. After his army service he sang in cabarets and at cocktail parties his soulful rich smooth baritone voice singing songs of The Drifters. He successfully auditioned for them in 1967 and teamed up with Johnny Moore on lead for the next four years. Five singles were released of which two had Fredricks on lead. In 1972, Bill was lead singer on ’Like Sister Like Brother’, which made the British Top Ten in the charts. ‘Kissing in the Back Row of the Movies’, ‘Down On the Beach Tonight’ and ‘Love Games’ all charted in the next two years with Fredricks in harmony role. In 1975 he went solo, remained in London and signed with Polydor. He died in London in April 1999.                                          

Born in Philadelphia, Lewis with his rich silky voice started out in gospel music with the Clara Ward Singers. In 1960 he auditioned for George Treadwell and joined The Drifters, following in the footsteps of Ben E. King. His expressive compelling voice, like King, lent itself to many of his repertoire. He later shared lead with Johnny Moore until 1964, when tragically the night before he was due to record ‘Under the Boardwalk’ he was found dead in his apartment. There are disputed theories as to why. Lewis featured on hits such as ‘Some Kind of Wonderful’ and ‘Please Stay’ in 1961, ‘Up On the Roof’ 1962, ‘On Broadway’ 1963. Rudy Lewis was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1998                                                                         

An exciting rhythm and blues singer, Johnny Moore began his career on lead vocals for the Hornets. He joined The Drifters as lead in 1955, one of the original members of The Drifters. His first hits were ‘Ruby Baby’ ‘Adorable’ and then in 1956 ‘I Got to Get Myself a Woman’. Moore was drafted in 1957, and then recorded in the name of Johnny Darrow as a soloist for Sue Records. He rejoined The Drifters in 1963 and sang with Rudy Lewis hits ‘Up On the Roof’, and ‘Broadway’, ‘I’ll Take You Home’, and ‘Saturday Night at the Movies’, Lewis died suddenly in 1964 and Moore became lead singer recording smash hit ‘Under the Boardwalk’, followed by ‘Come On Over To My Place’ and ‘Kissing in the Back Row of the Movies’.

Johnny Moore went with The Drifters to England and reunited with Bill Fredricks to record ‘A Rose by Any Other Name’ and ‘Be My Lady’ – their last release for them for Atlantic Records. Between 1973 – 75 the group had six UK Top Ten hits, Moore left in 1978, returned 1979, left 1982 and was back in 1983. He was the longest serving member of The Drifters and was in the group until his death in 1998.

He was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 1988 and was given the Rhythm and Blues Pioneer Award.                                                                                                           

Born Benjamin Earl Nelson in North Carolina, his rich baritone voice was unique and he was one of the most famous soul singers of the early 60’s. He joined the Five Crowns in 1958 managed by Lover Patterson, and the same year was seen by The Drifters manager George Treadwell who having sacked his own group signed up the Five Crowns to replace them and fulfil their commitments.

A fore-runner of the Motown sound he is probably best known as the singer and co-composer of ‘Stand By Me’ a U.S. Top 10 hit in both 1961 and 1986 when it was the song title to the film, and a No.1 hit in the U.K. in 1987. He left The Drifters in 1960 to further his solo career, changing his name to Ben E. King, but re-joined them for their European tour in 1981 – 85. King recorded ten songs with The Drifters, including ‘There Goes My Baby’ (co-written), ’Save the Last Dance for Me’, ‘I Count the Tears’, and a non-single called ‘Temptation’. His successful solo career included ‘Spanish Harlem’, ‘Don’t Play That Song (You Lied)’, and ‘Stand by Me’. Ben E. King was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 1988 and the Vocal Group Hall of Fame with The Drifters 2000.                                                                             

Bill Pinkney was an influential member of the early Drifters from 1953 – 1956, performing on vocals and bass, a blend of nostalgic magic and onstage excitement his distinctive baritone can be heard on such classics as ‘Honey Love,’ ‘Steamboat,’ bass lead on ‘White Christmas’ - the all time best seller for The Drifters. In 1954, ‘Someday’ and in 1955 ‘No Sweet Lovin’ featured Bill Pinkney before he left The Drifters in 1956. Bill died suddenly in 2007 and was the last survivor of the 1953 Drifters.

Among many awards Bill Pinkney was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1988, the Rhythm & Blues Foundation Award, the Vocal Group Hall of Fame, the North & South Carolina Halls of Fame, the Entertainment Industry Living Legend, and an Honorary Doctor in Fine Arts at Carolina University in 2002. At his 75th birthday celebrations he received a Gold Record replica for ‘White Christmas.’

Bobby Hendricks was born in Columbia Ohio in 1938 and grew up following RnB and soul music. He loved ballads which suited his tenor voice and South American and Carribean dance music. He started out with The Swallows and then later joined The Flyers with Bill Pinkney, but when Johnny Moore was drafted he joined up with The Drifters. In 1958, ‘Suddenly There’s a Valley’ was a major hit with Hendricks voice said to have a McPhatter sound. He left later that year for a solo career and recorded ‘Itchy Twitchy Feeling’, backed by The Coasters, which was a U.S. Top 30 pop hit.                                                          

It was early 1970 when The Drifters managed by Faye Treadwell, widow to the legendary George Treadwell left Atlantic Records, which had been the home of the group during the earlier years of success, and moved to Bell Records (Now known as Arista Records as part of Sony BMG). The Drifters lineup now consisted of what became known as the classic group of the seventies. This line up featuring Butch went on to record four hugely successful albums and this era became known as the third ‘Golden Period’ of the Drifters legacy.

During his time as a second tenor and baritone with the Drifters, Butch helped record the memorable hits ‘Down on the Beach Tonight’, ‘Kissing in the Back Row of the Movies’, ‘Love Games’ and ‘There Goes My First Love’, which topped the British and European charts in the early seventies.