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Drifters music biography continued...

a high tenor who originally sang for the Dominos, and who was signed to Atlantic Records when the company was in its infancy. The main source for McPhatter's backing singers was among the ranks of former members of the Mount Lebanon Singers, the gospel group with which McPhatter had sung in the '40s. After several line-up changes, the original Drifters were set. They included: Gerhart Thrasher and Andrew Thrasher, two very experienced gospel singers on tenor and baritone, respectively, bass singer Willie Ferbee, Walter Adams on the guitar and Bill Pinkey on bass. As Clyde McPhatter and the Drifters, the group achieved a million-selling number 1 R&B hit with their debut single, "Money Honey". Follow-up releases, including "Such A Night" (number 5 R&B), "Lucille" (number 7 R&B) and "Honey Love" (a second chart-topper), also proved highly successful, for the first time fusing gospel and rock and roll. The group would face their first challenge when McPhatter was inducted into the armed forces in 1954, effectively ending The Drifters first era.



Upon leaving the army, McPhatter took up a solo career and The Drifters were entirely reconstituted now featuring Ben E. King on lead vocals. The new line-up declared themselves with "There Goes My Baby". Written and produced by Leiber And Stoller, this pioneering release featured a Latin rhythm and string section, the first time such adornments had appeared on an R&B recording. The single not only topped the R&B chart, it also reached number 2 on the US pop listings, and anticipated the "symphonic" style later developed by Phil Spector. Further excellent releases followed, notably "Dance With Me" (1959), "This Magic Moment" (1960) and "Save The Last Dance For Me", the latter a million seller which topped the US pop chart and reached number 2 in the UK. However, King left for a solo career following "I Count The Tears" (1960), and was replaced by Rudy Lewis who provided lead vocals on such hits as "Sweets For My Sweet", "When My Little Girl Is Smiling", "Up On The Roof" and "On Broadway." 1963's "Under the Boardwalk" was the Drifters' last Top Ten hit. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988, solidifying their status as one of the all-time greats.