Bill Pinkney, last original Drifter, R.I.P.

[Squaredancecalling Steve]

The last surviving member of one of my all-time favorite groups has passed.

Bill Pinkney joined the original Clyde McPhatter-led group in 1953, part of the original recording group (and second configuration of The Drifters) after Ahmet Ertugen wooed Clyde away from Billy Ward and The Dominoes.

He sings the lead vocal on the group's great version of "White Christmas", recorded while Clude was on active military duty.

The wire services are reporting that he left the group before their "big string of hits", and then it lists hits by the Ben E King and the Five Crowns incarnation of the The Drifters. {King's group was hired and renamed The Drifters on the spur of the moment after The Drifters' manager, George Treadwell (Sarah Vaughan's husband), fired the entire group for showing up smashed and unprepared for a show at The Apollo in August of 1958. The name and the manager were the only parts of the original group connected the King group. Pinkney, who doubled as road manager, had left the group in January of that year.}

But Pinkey was in fact part of the hits of the first two incarnations of the The Drifters, the Clyde McPhatter group (Money Honey, Treasure of Love, Such A Night, White Christmas, etc.) and the Johnny Moore-led group after Clyde left for a solo career (Ruby Baby, Fools Fall In Love, Drip Drop, etc.).


>>DAYTONA BEACH, Florida: Bill Pinkney, the last survivor of the original members of the musical group The Drifters, has died. He was 81.

Pinkney was found dead Wednesday at the Hilton Daytona Beach Oceanfront Resort, Daytona Beach Police spokesman Jimmie Flynt said. The death was not considered suspicious, he said.

Pinkney was scheduled to perform for U.S. Independence Day festivities there...

Even though he left the group, Pinkney didn't let go of The Drifters' name. He fought for laws allowing performers or bands to claim an affiliation with a classic group like The Drifters or The Coasters only if at least one member recorded with the original group.

The Drifters were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988.

Pinkney was a World War II veteran and pitched for the New York Blue Sox of the Negro Baseball League in the late 1940s and early '50s.<<

[stereojack]

Great photos!

[Gentle Giant]

RIP. Definitely a great, great band.

There Goes My Baby

[hornplayer]

"I-I-I-I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas......... Just like the ones I used to know" has been going through my head all day.

Rest in Peace, Original Drifter.

and on the roof its peaceful as can be.....

lots of great memories.... great tunes.

[Pete C]

RIP. Definitely a great, great band.

There Goes My Baby

See Steve's explanation above. You've got the wrong Drifters.