In 1953, Clyde McPhatter formed a group which he named “The Drifters”
And ‘drift’ they did, as lead singers followed in McPhatter’s vocalist’s spot throughout the group’s thirteen year recording career—From 1953 through 1966, with each incarnation of the group maintaining as consistently high standards as the one it proceeded, they churned out hit after hit… Lead vocalists for the Drifters who made it to the Hall of Fame include;
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| Clyde McPhatter |
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| Ben E King |
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| Rudy Lewis |
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| Johnny Moore Bottom Right | and Charlie Tompson top center |
Andrew Thrasher
By the time of the 1955 Apollo show, Clyde McPhatter was already gone to the army—First tenor Gerhart Thrasher had shifted to lead and his brother Andrew Thrasher was baritone, and Bill Pinkney shifted from baritone to bass. Never-the-less, the group was still flying high with the hits originally recorded with McPhatter
—Tunes like MONEY HONEY…
As well as Whatcha Gonna Do, the last tune recorded with McPhatter…
This line-up, without McPhatter, would have a double sided R&B hit (Adorable b/w Steamboat) in September of 1955 and were promoting the two tunes with the summer shows…
Possibly (but I can’t verify this), they were also working out what would be their February 1956 smash hit Ruby Baby...
(something like what they did in this1956 Alan Freed Show)…
(something like what they did in this1956 Alan Freed Show)…
But, the show at Harlem’s Apollo Theater on July 2, 1955 was certainly a rocker, even without Clyde McPhatter, and the best was yet to come (including that Ben E. King led line-up starting in 1959)…
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