Why did Martin Luther King leave the Drifters?
The last of the King-led Drifters singles to be released was "Sometimes I Wonder", which was recorded May 19, 1960, but not issued until June 1962. Due to contract disputes with Treadwell in which King and his manager, Lover Patterson, demanded greater compensation, King rarely performed with the Drifters on tour or on television.
What was Ben E King's solo career?
Solo career. In May 1960, King left the Drifters, assuming the stage name Ben E. King in preparation for a solo career. Remaining with Atlantic Records on its Atco imprint, King scored his first solo hit with the ballad " Spanish Harlem " (1961). His next single, " Stand by Me ", written with Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller,...
Who left the Drifters first?
Although Treadwell owned the Drifters brand, original members felt they were the real Drifters and were determined to keep the group alive. Bill Pinkney left first.
What happened to Johnny King of the Drifters?
King returned to the Drifters in late 1982 in England, and sang with them until the group's break-up and reorganization in 1986. From 1983 until the band's break-up, the other members of this incarnation of the Drifters were Johnny Moore, Joe Blunt, and Clyde Brown.
When did Ben E. King leave the Drifters?
1960On May 2, 1957, Elvis Presley recorded the song "Jailhouse Rock," the title song to his next movie. In 1960, singer Ben E. King left The Drifters to go solo.
Who replaced Ben E. King in the Drifters?
Lewis was also named in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Drifters induction. Ben E. King died on April 30, 2015, at the age of 76. Hobbs was drafted for military service and replaced by the returning Tommy Evans (from the first group).
Who was the best lead singer with the Drifters?
Ben E. KingKing, the unforgettable lead singer for the Drifters and solo star. After leaving the Drifters in the early '60s, King quickly found success on his own with such rhythm 'n blues classics as 'Stand by Me. '
Did Ben E. King Sing with Drifters?
King. From 1958 to 1960, he sang lead with The Drifters on songs like "Save The Last Dance For Me," "There Goes My Baby" and "This Magic Moment." As soon as he left The Drifters, he started a solo career. His biggest hit was a song he co-wrote.
Who are the current Drifters?
The current lineup is Pinkney, Cockerham, Dunbar, Young, and Clyde McPhatter's son, Billy McPhatter. Greg Johnson is now in Bobby Hendricks' Drifters. Treadwell had approached Lover Patterson, the manager of The Five Crowns. All but one member of The Five Crowns went along with the name change to become the Drifters.
What was the biggest hit for the Drifters?
# 1 – Up On The Roof / Under The Boardwalk “Up On The Roof,” is a cut from 1962 written by Gerry Goffin and Carole King. It was a major hit upon its release, reaching number five on the pop chart and number four on the R&B charts.
Are any of the original Drifters still performing?
The Drifters will be back on tour in the UK with a brand-new show performing all their classic hits from the last six decades. Following the phenomenal success of their 65th anniversary tour in 2018 and further sell-out shows in 2019, they're bringing their live shows back for 2022.
What songs did Ben E King sing with the Drifters?
Stand by MeStand By MeUnder the BoardwalkDon't Play That SongSave the Last Dance for MeThis Magic MomentBen E. King/Songs
How many original Drifters were there?
Over 65 years and several eras of Drifters, there have been 60 different vocalists including several splinter groups called the Drifters. The “original” group consisted of Clyde McPhatter, Gerhart Thrasher, Andrew Thrasher, Bill Pickney, and Jimmy Oliver.
Who is Ben King to Johnny Depp?
American actor Johnny Depp's house manager, Ben King, who was working with him and Amber Heard during their stay in Australia in 2015, has testified about finding the actor's injured finger.
Is Ben E. King of the Drifters still alive?
April 30, 2015Ben E. King / Date of death
How many lead singers did the Drifters have?
They had 12 different lead singers, 11 from other groups, and even boasted two members named Charlie Thomas who knew each other and were both originally from Virginia. Before the original hit group formed there were at least three different units going under the name the Drifters.
Who sang lead on this magic moment by the Drifters?
The DriftersThis Magic Moment / Artist
Are the Drifters still together?
The current members of The Drifters are listed as being Charlie Thomas, Louis Bailey, Stephen Brown and Jerome Manning.
What songs did Ben E King sing with the Drifters?
Stand by MeStand By MeUnder the BoardwalkDon't Play That SongSave the Last Dance for MeThis Magic MomentBen E. King/Songs
Did the Drifters sing Stand By Me?
King was best known for his sing “Stand By Me”, which hit No. 1 in 1961 and again in 1987 when it was the theme song to the film of the same name. King was a principal member of the group The Drifters, and sang on such classics as “This Magic Moment” and “There Goes My Baby”.
When did the Drifters break up?
The album spawned two top 40 R&B hits "A Star in the Ghetto" and "Get It Up". King returned to the Drifters in late 1982 in England, and sang with them until the group's break-up and reorganization in 1986.
What was the first R&B hit by the Drifters?
He co-wrote and sang lead on the first Atlantic hit by the new version of the Drifters, " There Goes My Baby " (1959).
What was the song that King sang with Average White Band?
In 1977, King collaborated with Average White Band in releasing the classic album "benny and us". The album spawned two top 40 R&B hits "A Star in the Ghetto" and "Get It Up".
When was the last Drifters song?
The last of the King-led Drifters singles to be released was "Sometimes I Wonder", which was recorded May 19, 1960, but not issued until June 1962.
When did King join the Five Crowns?
In 1958 , King (still using his birth name) joined a doo-wop group called the Five Crowns. Later that year, the Drifters' manager George Treadwell fired the members of the original Drifters, and replaced them with the members of the Five Crowns. King had a string of R&B hits with the group on Atlantic Records.
When was Stand By Me reissued?
A 1986 re-issue of "Stand by Me" followed the song's use as the theme song to the movie Stand By Me and re-entered the Billboard Top Ten after a 25-year absence. This reissue also reached Number 1 in the United Kingdom and Ireland for three weeks in February 1987.
Who is Ben King?
For other people with similar names, see Ben King (disambiguation). Benjamin Earl King ( né Nelson; September 28, 1938 – April 30, 2015) was an American soul and R&B singer and record producer. He is best known as the singer and co-composer of " Stand by Me "—a U.S. Top 10 hit, both in 1961 and later in 1986 ...
Who was the lead singer of the Drifters?
Ben E. King, the unforgettable lead singer for the Drifters and solo star whose plaintive baritone graced such pop and rhythm 'n blues classics as "Stand by Me," ''There Goes My Baby" and "Spanish Harlem," has died. He was 76.
How old was George Treadwell when he started the Five Crowns?
By age 20 , he and some friends had formed the Five Crowns, who shared a bill at the Apollo Theater with a previous version of the Drifters and were noticed by manager George Treadwell when he needed to recruit new singers. Get the Monitor Stories you care about delivered to your inbox. Your email address.
Who wrote the lead on "There goes my baby"?
King co-wrote and sang lead on "There Goes My Baby," and he and the Drifters followed with such favorites as "Save the Last Dance for Me" and "This Magic Moment," romantic and emotional ballads mostly written by the team of Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman. Known for his warm smile and trim mustache, King didn't stay long.
Who did the Drifters sell their group to?
He sold his share of the group to George Treadwell, manager, former jazz trumpeter, and husband of singer Sarah Vaughan. As a result, the Drifters recycled many members, none of whom made much money and got paid a mere $100 a week (US$966 in 2020 dollars ).
Where did the Drifters move to?
Post-Atlantic career. The Drifters moved to England and continued with several different vocalists. They had hits on the U.K. charts with "Like Sister & Brother", "Kissin' in the Back Row of the Movies", "There Goes My First Love", and "You're More Than a Number in My Little Red Book".
What happened to the Drifters in 1958?
With declining popularity, the last of the original Drifters were reduced to working the club scene and doing double duty with gigs under the Coasters and the Ravens names. By May 1958, both Hendricks and Oliver had quit, returning only for a week's appearance at the Apollo Theater. During that week, one of the members got into a fight with the master of ceremonies for the Apollo Theatre's Amateur Night, Ralph Cooper. This was considered the last straw for Treadwell, who fired the entire group. After the argument with Cooper, Treadwell hired a group called the Five Crowns and renamed them "The Drifters".
Why was Bill Pinkney fired?
Bill Pinkney was fired after asking Treadwell for more money. In protest, Andrew Thrasher left, as well. Pinkney formed The Flyers with lead singer Bobby Hendricks, who would leave to join the Drifters the next year. Pinkney was replaced by Tommy Evans (who had replaced Jimmy Ricks in The Ravens ).
How many hits did the Drifters have?
According to the Vocal Group Hall of Fame: "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.". Matching that feat, subsequent formations of the Drifters recorded 13 Billboard Hot 100 top-30 chart hits.
How did Faye Treadwell die?
Faye Treadwell died of breast cancer at the age of 84 on May 22, 2011.
What happened to Ahmet in Birdland?
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.