The Drifters

The Drifters were formed in 1953 originally as back up vocalists for Clyde McPhatter, however McPhatter was only associated with the group for a year. McPhatter, with the intention of wanting to blend gospel and secular music, got some of his old church group together, which included William “Chick” Anderson, David Baldwin, James “Wrinkle” Johnson and David “Little Dave” Baughan. They only released one recording, but the record executive in charge of the group didn’t think the group worked and suggested a whole new lineup.

The whole new lineup consisted of Bill Pinkney, Andrew Thrasher, Gerhart Thrasher, Willie Ferbee and Walter Adams, and it was this group that produced the hit song “Money Honey” in September 1953. Unfortunately the group went through a few more lineup changes and was a short-lived group due to various reasons. Some members of the group started a new group under the name The Original Drifters (inducted into the Vocal Hall of Fame in 1998), but The Drifters continued on with a whole new lineup that included Ben E. King, Charlie Thomas, Dock Green, Elsbeary Hobbs. It was this group that released a string of successful songs, including “There Goes My Baby” and “This Magic Moment,” and it was also this group that was later inducted into the Vocal Hall Of Fame in 2000 (as Ben E. King & The Drifters).