Clyde A Milner

The Drifters were a highly influential American vocal group with a fluid membership that spanned several decades. The group's history is marked by numerous lineup changes, with different iterations achieving varying degrees of success. The earliest Drifters, formed in 1953, were led by Clyde McPhatter, formerly of Billy Ward and his Dominoes. This initial lineup produced early hits like "Money Honey." Following McPhatter's departure and subsequent sale of the group's name to George Treadwell, the Drifters continued with new members, experiencing periods of significant chart success in the 1950s and 1960s. A notable period was the 1959 formation led by Ben E. King, which included hits such as "There Goes My Baby." The group's instability, often attributed to low pay and management issues, led to the formation of splinter groups by former members, frequently identified by possessive names like "Bill Pinkney's Original Drifters."

The Drifters' story begins in 1953 when Clyde McPhatter, a former lead tenor for Billy Ward and his Dominoes, was approached by Atlantic Records' Ahmet Ertegun to form his own group. McPhatter initially sought members from his church group, the Mount Lebanon Singers, but this lineup did not yield satisfactory results. A revised group, including members like Bill Pinkney and the Thrasher brothers, recorded their first major hit, "Money Honey," released under the name "Clyde McPhatter and the Drifters." Despite McPhatter's relatively brief association with the group, his distinctive tenor was central to their early success. "Money Honey" propelled the group to immediate fame, though further lineup adjustments followed due to member departures and accidents.

After Clyde McPhatter departed, selling his share of the group's name to manager George Treadwell, the Drifters entered a new phase characterized by frequent personnel changes and a reliance on hired musicians. This period saw the group achieve significant R&B and pop chart success with hits like "Adorable," "Ruby Baby," and "Fools Fall in Love." However, low salaries and internal conflicts contributed to member turnover. By 1958, the group's popularity waned, leading Treadwell to disband the current lineup and recruit members from the vocal group the Five Crowns, renaming them "The Drifters" to continue the legacy.

The Drifters' history is marked by its instability, leading to multiple iterations and splinter groups. George Treadwell owned the Drifters' name from 1955, and over decades, numerous musicians passed through various lineups, with few original members remaining. This fragmentation led to the formation of groups led by former members, such as "Bill Pinkney's Original Drifters" and "Charlie Thomas' Drifters," each attempting to carry on the group's legacy. Despite these changes, the Drifters are recognized for their significant contributions to music, with multiple inductions into Halls of Fame and a catalog of enduring hits across R&B and pop charts.

“Ahmet exited Birdland like a shot and headed directly uptown. He raced from bar to bar looking for Clyde and finally found him in a furnished room. That very night, Ahmet reached an agreement with McPhatter under which Clyde would assemble a group of his own. They became known as the Drifters.”

“Through turmoil and changes, the (original) Drifters managed to set musical trends and give the public 13 chart hits, most of which are legendary recordings today.”