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U.K.
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#62 

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#55

#80

#1

UK #30

#81

<200

#1

UK #12

 
  Title  (and record)
 

   U.S.
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U.K.
Pop Chart

#19

UK #6

#54

#7

UK #15

UK #41

#1 Hits:
1950
1951
1951
1951
1952
1952
1953
1953
1954
1954
1955
1955
1956
1957
1958
1959
1959

Double Crossing Blues
Sixty-Minute Man
Don' t You Know I Love You
Fool, Fool, Fool
Have Mercy Baby
Baby Don´t Do It
Help Me Somebody
Money Honey
Work With Me Annie
Earth Angel
Sincerely
Only You
The Great Pretender
Searchin´
Yakety Yak
There Goes My Baby
Poison Ivy

The first successful gospel-influenced R&B vocal group - formed by Billy Ward, pianist /composer /arranger - and also lead singer on several recordings after 1952 (born in Georgia September 15, 1921 - died in California February 16, 2002); with Rose Marks (died July, 1955) as manager and co-writer of several of their hits in New York City. Group originally called The Ques (no recordings), comprising of two singers from the Mount Lebanon Singers of Harlem (McPhatter and White)) and two singers from the 5 International Gospel Singers of South Carolina (Lamont and Brown). Won talent contest at the Apollo in 1950 and debuted on TV that same year as The Dominoes. Group billed and labeled Billy Ward & His Dominoes from December, 1952 (starting with "I´d Be Satisfied"). Lead singer Clyde McPhatter billed as Clyde Ward ("brother of coach Billy Ward"). The group located to Las Vegas and Los Angeles in 1955. Their "Sixty-Minute Man" (recorded December 30, 1950) turned cross-over and reached Pop #17 (produced by Ralph Bass).
Recording debut: New York November 14, 1950 Chicken Blues / Do Something For Me - Federal 12001.
Records for: Federal 50-55, King 53-56, Jubilee 1954, Decca 56-57, Liberty 57-59, ABC 1960, King 1960.

Search on The Dominoes | Billy Ward & his Dominoes
Billy Ward and the Dominoes at Wikipedia 
| More on the Dominoes | The Dominoes  |
Discography and album covers

Clyde with the Dominoes

Billy Ward and the Dominoes

Jackie with the Dominoes

"The Mighty Clovers" - Pioneer group of the East Coast tradition, mixing blues with gospel and jazz-crooning styles - and the most popular R&B vocal group of the early 1950s. Formed as a trio by Harold Lucas in 1946 (became The 4 Clovers when John Bailey joined) in Washington, DC with Billy Shelton (replaced by McQuater in 1948) and Thomas Woods (replaced by Winley in early 1950). The originals returned to Lucas as he reformed the group during the ´70s and ´80s. Manager: Lou Krefetz from Baltimore, who after one record for Rainbow introduced the group to Atlantic in late 1950 (coached by Jesse Stone). Many of the Clovers´ early hits were written by Ahmet Ertegun. In 1954 they appeared on the first Alan Freed show and in the "Showtime at the Apollo" TV series. Bailey entered the Army in 1952, returning in 1954 - but his soon-to-be replacement Billy Mitchell (who had sung and recorded with the Joe Morris outfit) stayed with the group, now becoming a sextet, which toured Europe in 1958. The Clovers had the same members for many years (although Mitchell left for a short while in 1957; McQuater was out for a while in 1958). From the '60s several different Clovers led by Lucas and by Bailey toured the circuit. Harold Lucas was the first (with Billy Mitchell – even recording for Atlantic) Lucas and Winley were still active during the late ´90s. Lately Johnny Mason led the former Harold Lucas group, and Harold Winley has recently formed a new Clovers group (The Original Clovers with their own website).

Recording debut: New York City 1950 Yes Sir That´s My Baby / Come Back To Me - Rainbow 122; first for Atlantic February 22, 1951 Don´t You Know I Love You / Skylark - Atlantic 934.
Records for: Atlantic 51-58, Poplar 1958, United Artists 59-61, Winley 61-62.

Original recording line-up: John "Buddy" Bailey, (50-ca Aug 52, May 54-61) (born December 27, 1931 in Washington - died February 3, 1994). He was drafted in 1952, shortly replaced by John Philip (who only sang on stage, then came Charlie White) Matthew McQuater, ten 50-61 (died December 19, 2000, aged 73) Harold Lucas, bar 50-  (& spokesman, born August 27, 1932 - died January 6, 1994) Harold "Jerome" Winley, bass 50-61 (born in Washington - sang with a late line-up of Ink Spots - for över 25 years - and is the only surviving original Clover, again active with a late line-up) Bill Harris, gtr (50-57) born April 14, 1925 in North Carolina, died December 10, 1988. Was always present on records Later members/leads: Charlie White  ca Feb-Nov 1953 (from the Dominoes and lead on the Checkers’ “Flame In My Heart” in 1952; now substituting for Bailey). Led the Playboys later and turned solo Billy Mitchell Dec 53-61 Sang White’s lead on stage and became sixth when Bailey returned; born 1931 in Washington, DC; died November 5, 2002. Essential CDs: The Very Best of... - Rhino R2 72971 or: Down In The Alley-The Best of... - Atlantic 82312-2; .. and The Best of.. - Love Potion No. 9 - UA/EMI CDP7-96336-2 Editor´s choise: The Clovers and The Clovers Dance Party (2CD) - Sequel RSA CD 857 and 858 For Collectors: The Feelin' Is Good - Jasmine (2CD) JASCD 576 Search on The Clovers The Clovers at Wikipedia Your Cash Ain't Nothin' But Trash (live)   | The Clovers | The Clovers | The Clovers | Discography and album covers

"The Apollo Kings" – “The First Soul Group” - Underrated, but passionate, truly raw church-styled high-quality pioneer R&B vocal group (with the tonation on -"ales"). Originally a gospel group formed in the late 1940s (some say 1948), named The Royal Sons Quintet in Winston-Salem, North Carolina; consisting of loose members including cousins Lowman (nicknamed "Pete") Pauling (who became the only one surviving the secular transition) and Clarence Pauling (later Clarence Paul, 1928-1995), Anthony Price, William Samuels, and Windsor King (sometimes also brother Curtis Pauling and pianist Royal Abbit); later also featuring Johnny Holmes. Johnny (John) Tanner and Otto Jeffries joined the group early on. Jimmy (James, sometimes also called Johnny) Moore replaced Tanner around 1949 and stayed with the group when Tanner returned from military service. Obadiah Carter replaced Samuels in mid 1951. The group turned secular and transformed into the most down-home sounding R&B vocal group of all. Some albums and reissues were released as The Five Royales, The 5 Royales, and as The 5 Royals (but they themselves preferred The '5' Royales - the group often actually were six singers even during the 1950s). All six members sang leads, although Johnny Tanner took care of most of the songs (written by member Lowman Pauling). The group´s manager: Carl LeBow. Produced by Henry Glover on most King tracks. Pauling and later the whole group joined the James Brown Revue in the ‘60s.

Recording debut: Winston-Salem, NC August 1951 as the Royal Son’s Quintet (actually a sextet featuring William Samuels) Bedside Of A Neighbor / Journey´s End - Apollo 253; first secular recording (prob New York City) October, 1951 Too Much Of A Little Bit (OJ) / Give Me One More Chance (JT/OJ) as by The Royals - Apollo 434; then New York City (still a sextet featuring Johnny Holmes) August 5, 1952 Come Over Here / Let Nothing Separate Me (JT) - Apollo 266 as the Royal Son’s Quintet; and as The "5" Royales same session Courage To Love / You Know I Know (both JM) - Apollo 441.

Records for: Apollo 52-54, King 54-60, Home of the Blues 60-61 (Memphis), VeeJay 61-62, ABC 1962, Smash 64-65.

Secular recording line-up thruout the years: Johnny L. Tanner, lead 51-63 (born in Forsyth, NC, Nov 28, 1926 - died in Winston-Salem, NC Nov 8, 2005) James (Jimmy) E. Moore, ten 51-ca 64 (and lead on some early tracks, died in New York August 16, 2008 at the age of 82) Obadiah Carter, bar 51-ca 65 (born 1925; died July 1994) Otto Jeffries, bass 51-ca 61 (road manager and occasional singer when Gene entered, lived 1912-1975) Lowman "El" Pauling, gtr 51-66 (and extra bass vcl; born July 14, 1926; died from epileptic seizure on December 26, 1973) Gene "June" Tanner, ten ca Dec 53-ca 65 (substituting for Jeffries - and extra lead from 1957 - born 1936, died December 29, 1994 New members (1960-64): Robert "Pee Wee" Burris, gtr, substituting for Pauling. He stayed when Pauling returned Royal Abbit, pno/org (born 1932, died 1995) Eudell Graham, lead (born 1933; died 1995) replaced Johnny Tanner, who left in December, 1963 Pauling concentrated on duets with Royal Abbit for Savoy and Federal as El Pauling and The Royalton, and as El Pauling and Royal Abbit in the early 1960s, but soon returned to his Royales. Later lineup: Tom “T-Bone” Pruitt, gtr and Larry Robinson, lead Larry Taylor and Lebarron Washington, vocals Essential CD: Monkey, Hips And Rice-Anthology (2CD) - Rhino R2 71546 Favorite CDs: All Righty! - The Apollo Recordings 1951-1955 - WestSide WESM 59(29 great tracks). It’s Hard But It’s Fair – Ace UK CDCHD 1038 (26 King gems) Catch That Teardrop (1960-64) – Ace UK 1055 Search on The Five Royales | Search on The 5 Royales The "5" Royales at Wikipedia

| More on The "5" Royales |  nice pdf-presentation |

"The Original Motown Group” - "The Twisters" - Emotional, gospel-influenced Detroit pioneers, formed in 1952 as The Royals (originally named The Four Falcons – no recordings) and involved with Johnny Otis (their first manager) on their first record "Every Beat Of My Heart" (in Cincinnati, Ohio with Otis on vibes). Before that Jackie "Sonny" Wilson, Little Willie John, and even Levi Stubbs (later of the Four Tops) hang around the group together with the group´s originator Alonzo Tucker, who was an early Detroit musician and organizer (and later worked with LaVern Baker, and with Jackie Wilson again – all artists, including the Royals, managed by Al Green in the early years). The group changed name to the Midnighters on the second pressings of "Work With Me Annie" after it became a hit in 1954, using the same catalogue number. The group had two successful music craze periods - mid 50s (produced by Ralph Bass and Henry Glover) and in the early 60s, as the group re-formed and changed billings to Hank Ballard and The Midnighters (and also released forthcoming records as Hank Ballard and His Midnighters on Federal´s "mother" King). "The Twist" was originally recorded by Ballard and his group for Henry Stone (unissued at that time) before Syd Nathan accepted it for King in 1958.

Recording debut: Cincinnati, Ohio January 8, 1952 Every Beat Of My Heart (Sutton, lead) / All Night Long - Federal 12064. First lead with Hank Ballard November 1, 1952 Are You Forgetting and I Feel So Blue (issued on two separate Federal singles). Hank had already sung with the Royals on I’ll Never Let Her Go and Fifth Street Blues on May, 10 (both led by Henry Booth) and Moonrise (lead Sutton).

Records for: Federal 52-58, King (Hank Ballard & The Midnighters) 59-67.


Booth, Ballard, Sutton, Tucker, and Woods.

Lineup from ca 1963 or poss earlier:
Hank Ballard, Norman Thrasher (later replaced by Walter Miller), Frank Stanford, Wesley Hargrove.
Hank reformed his group several times during later years with guitarist J.C. Billy Davis, who later played with Jackie Wilson for several years.
 
Essential CD: Sexy Ways - The Best of... - Rhino R2 71512;
Editor's Choise: Ther Very Best of the Royals and the Midnighters - Collectables COL-CD-2828
and The Very Best of Hank Ballard and the Midnighters - Collectables COL-CD-2823
For Collectors: Nothing But Good 1952-1962 - Bear Family 5CD Box BCD 16795 EK
or Come On And Get It: The Singles Collection 1954-1959 2CD - Jasmine JASCD 568
Reading: King of the Queen City - The Story of King Records by Jon Hartley Fox (US 2009)
Search on The Midnighters | Hank Ballard
Hank Ballard and the Midnighers at Wikipedia
The Midnighters
| Hank Ballard & The Midnighters | The Midnighters |
The Midnighters at Vocal Group Hall of Fame
The Royals

A qualitative - long-lasting - vocal group formed in the South Side of Chicago in late 1950 as the Swallows by Jake and Zeke Carey, Johnny Carter, and Judah Byrd (replaced by Carter’s friend Paul Wilson around 1951) - all black Hebrews. They soon changed name to the Five Flamingos or "5 Flamingo Boys" when Earl Lewis entered (neither group any recordings), and due to an already existing Swallows group. The Flamingos are regarded as one of the most versatile groups of early R&B and worked out a professional stage act. The group signed for George Goldner´s End Records in 1958, where the big success finally struck. The Careys are not brothers and not cousins - not relatives at all, although Zeke moved in with the Jake Carey family in Baltimore and both left for Chicago around 1950. They still acted with Flamingo lineups in the ´90s.

Recording debut: Chicago, January 28, 1953 If I Can´t Have You / Someday, Someway - Chance 1133.
Records for: Chance 53-54, Parrot 54-55, Checker 55-56, Decca 57-58, End September 58-63; Checker 1964.

Original recording line-up:
Jake Carey, bass 53-  (born in Baltimore September 9, 1923 - died December 10, 1997)
Zeke Carey, second tenor 53-56, 58- (born January 24, 1933 in Bluefield, Virginia - died in Washington, DC December 24, 1999)
Johnny Carter, first tenor and sometimes lead 53-56 (born June 2, 1934 in Chicago; later sang with the Dells - died August 21, 2009)
Sollie McElroy, lead tenor 53-54 (born July 16, 1933 in Gulfport, Miss - died January 15, 1995; replacing original non recording member Earl Lewis)
Paul Wilson, baritone 53-ca 77 (born January 6, 1935 in Chicago - died in May, 1988; replaced orginal non-recording Judah Byrd)
New member from late 1954:
Nate Nelson, lead late 54-61 (born April 10, 1932 in Chicago - died June 1, - some files say April 10 -  1984) replacing Sollie. Nate joined Terry Johnson around 1962 and then the Platters in 1966

Later lineup changes (from July, 1956):
Zeke Carey and Johnny Carter left for Army services substituted by
Tommy Hunt (56-61) Born June 18, 1933 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania – the group now a quartet.
Terry Johnson, gtr and vcl (Jan 57-61) Born November 12, 1935 in Baltimore, Maryland. The group now a quintet again. Terry started his "Modern Flamingos” in 1961, and still has a Flamingos group.
Carter did not return to the Flamingos, but joined the Dells after his services. Zeke returned in August, 1958 – the group now a sextet. Hunt later went solo and the group again became a quintet.

Lineup after April, 1961 (recording in September):
Eddie Williams (lyric tenor), Billy Clarke (tenor and drums), Zeke Carey (tenor and bassist), Paul Wilson (baritone), Jake Carey (bass),
Alan Fontaine (guitar), and Julien Vaught (saxophone). In 1963 Doug McClure (tenor) joined as sixths singer. The group hang on (although with further changes).

Essential CD: The Best of... - Rhino R2 70967
or: Dream of a Lifetime 1953- 1959 (2CD) - Jasmine JASCD 554
CD for Collectors: The Flamingos meet The Mooonglows - Vee-Jay CD NVD2-706 (the complete Chance recordings).
Search on The Flamingos
The Flamingos at Wikipedia
The Flamingos
| The Flamingos | Terry Johnson´s Flamingos |
Discography and album covers
Jump Children video (great one)

Important "doo wop" group, baptized by rock and roll "coiner" Alan "Moondog" Freed. They originally were formed as a trio  called the Crazy Sounds (with Fuqua, Danny Coggins, and Barnes - no recordings) in Cleveland, Ohio 1951. Moved to Chicago in 1953. Several late ´50s records by the Moonglows were issued as Harvey & the Moonglows. Marvin Gaye shortly worked with the group, when Bobby Lester, who had led several Moonglows recordings (and also some Checker recordings as Bobby Lester & The Moonlighters - who were the Moonglows) had quit. Soon after the group disbanded. Harvey Fuqua - songwriter and founder of the group created and produced the Spinners in 1961 (after the Moonglows had split) and became heavily involved in the leadership of Motown Records. Later Harvey sometimes acted with the members of the Sheps in a revival Moonglows group
Recording debut: Cleveland, Ohio early 1953 I Just Can´t Tell No Lie / I´ve Been Your Dog - Champagne 7500; Chicago October, 1953 Baby Please - Chance 1147 and Just A Lonely Christmas - Chance 1150.
Records for: Chance 53-54, Chess 54-58 ("Sincerely" issued as by The Moonglow's), Checker (as Bobby Lester & The Moonlighters) 1954, RCA 1972.

Essential CD: Their Greatest Hits - MCA/Chess CD 9379 or: Blue Velvet-Ultimate Collection (2CD) - MCA/Chess CHD2-9345 For Collectors: The Flamingos Meet the Moonglows - Vee-Jay CD NVD2-706 (Chance recordings) Most of All  - The Singles As & Bs - Jasmine 2CD JASCD 591   (57 great tracks 1952-1960) Search on The Moonglows The Moonglows at Wikipedia Great article by Marv Goldberg The Moonglows | More on The Moonglows | | Vocal Group Hall of Fame | Discography and album covers Great article on the Moonglows

The hit-making, internationally famous group, who actually were formed twice - 1953 in New York City to back Clyde McPhatter on Atlantic Records, who recruited members from his old gospel partners in the Mount Lebanon Singers, including David Baughan, and then re-formed them with other gospel-experienced singer (the Thrasher Wonders from Alabama and Bill Pinkney) - and in 1958, when a whole new group emerged (featuring Ben E. King), recruited by The Drifters´ manager George Treadwell, who hired The (Five) Crowns and re-named them (still on Atlantic). The group was billed on records as Clyde McPhatter and The Drifters and as The Drifters featuring Clyde McPhatter 1953-54. Clyde owned the name of The Drifters together with manager George Treadwell - but sold his share to George when he started his solo career. Produced by Jerry Wexler and Ahmet Ertegun during Clyde´s years; and many hits of 1959-1963 were produced by Leiber-Stoller. The Drifters emerged into at least three different touring groups during the 70s: 1. Bill Pinkney´s Original Drifters (by many regarded as "the best", featuring David Baughan, the Thrasher brothers, Bobby Hendricks, Bobby Lee Hollis, and Jimmy Lewis  - on and off - and who have recorded several times - remnants of this group kept touring under Bill´s lead - lately including Clyde's son Ron). 2. Moore´s "legal" group, heavily touring Europe after the split with Atlantic Records, up to Moore' s death (Bobby Hendricks led Faye Treadwell's US Drifters after Moore´s death up to around 2003 - but as the UK Drifters awoke again Hendricks used the name the Bobby Hendricks Drifters). 3. Charlie Thomas´ touring and recording group (that group has been recording since 1972 - often featuring Beary Hobbs - who´s name is nowadays fronting the Larry Marshak group of 2000+). The first Thomas group was managed by Larry Marshak and they actually won the U.S. rights to the name through an early court decision in the 1970s - nowadays rejected (see below). Even Ben E. King re-joined both Thomas´ (1970s) and Moore´s (1980s) groups. Just prior to Bill Pinkney's death, Pinkney, Ben E. King, Charlie Thomas and Bobby Hendricks worked on stage together for a reunion meeting 15-17 May, 2007 (also featuring Pinkney's Original Drifters and Charlie Thomas' back-up - Lou Bailey, Jerome Manning and Stephen Brown). Charlie Thomas' Drifters recorded a CD album "Charlie Tjomas' Drifters Live - The Original Legacy Continues" around 2007. Lately Tina Treadwell's UK Drifters have called themselves The Official Drifters (featuring Steve King, Maurice Cannon, Michael Williams, and Damion Charles).
Recording debut: NYC June 28, 1953 (with Clyde, Baughan and former members of the Mount Lebanon Singers) Lucille (issued on Atlantic in 1954); August 9, 1953 (famous line-up plus Willie Ferbee, bass - Pinkney sang baritone on this session and changed to bass since Ferbee only attended one session) Money Honey / The Way I Feel - Atlantic 1006; first re-formed session NYC March 6, 1959 There Goes My Baby / Oh My Love - Atlantic 2025.
Records for: Atlantic 53-71, Bell/Arista 72-75 (Europe). Charlie Thomas´ Drifters: Musicor 1974, Trip, Gusto, EMI International.

Listen to "White Christmas" with The Drifters featuring Bill Pinckney and Clyde McPhatter

Re-formed lineup from June, 1958:
The Crowns became The Drifters. Ben E. King’s manager Lover Patterson and James “Poppa” Clark were associated with the Crowns, but Clark did not join, when the new Drifters were formed by the Drifters’ manager Treadwell.
Ben E. King, lead/baritone (6/58-6/59 on stage, 5/60 on recordings, and 82-85). Born Benjamin Earl Nelson September 28, 1938 in Henderson, North Carolina
– died in Hackensack, New Jersey April 30, 2015. Managed by Lover Patterson in the early years.
Charlie Thomas, lead/tenor (6/58-6/67) From Virginia, born April 7, 1937 - some files say 1939
Dock Green, tenor (6/58-ca 1/63) Born October 8, 1934. Manager Lover Patterson helped Dock to start a rival Drifters, as soon as Dock left, featuring Charlie Hughes and Tommy Evans
Elsbeary (Beary) Hobbs, bass (6/58-late 60) Born ca 1936 - died May 31, 1996 - other files say in 2000, after several years of touring with Thomas´ group
Reggie Kimber, gtr (58-59)

Leads.
Ben E. King only spent his original time with the group from the starting point June 1958 (with the first recordings in March, 1959)
until ca May 1960. On “Nobody But Me” (the flip of Save The Last Dance For Me) the credits were Vocal Quartet & Ben E. King.
The group singing behind King’s solo hits were not the Drifters, but singers recruited by Patterson.
Johnny Lee Williams (extra lead a short period 1959, as plans for King's solo career were made)
Thomas (continued to sing co-lead up to 1968 and in 1971 he started his own Drifters-group with Hobbs)
New leads entering early 1960s:
Rudy Lewis late 60-5/64 (repl. Williams/King. He came from the Clara Ward Singers; born August 28 (or 23), 1936 - died on May 20, 1964)
Johnny Moore 4/63 -  back again ( with short leavings in 79, 82, 86). The Drifters became a singing quintet, plus guitarist, up to Lewis’ death with three great lead singers.
New members during the ´60s:
Billy "Abdul Samad" Davis, gtr (mid 59-67) He want to Thomas’ group for several years
Tommy Evans, bass late 60-late 62 (repl. Hobbs).
In 1960 William Van Dyke, James Poindexter, and George Grant, all tried their luck in the group for short whiles
Gene Pearson, baritone ca 1/63-9/66 (from the Rivileers, replaced Green; born 1935 - died on April 6, 2000)
Johnny Terry, bass 1/63-7/66  (replacing Evans) - this is not the James Brown Terry
William Brent, bass (6/67-11/67)
Rick Sheppard (10/66-ca 3/70) Replacing Pearson. Has his own Drifters-group today
Bill Fredericks, bass/baritone (12/67-74, 81-83) Replacing Brent
Dan Danbridge (66) and Charles Baskerville (67) shortly joined the group
Milton Turner, baritone during 1968-69
Don Thomas entered in 1969 as baritone/bass, left during 1970

Lineup 1970:
Moore, Sheppard, Don Thomas, Fredericks, Butch Mann (guitar up to 76).
Ronald Quinn sang with Moore and Fredericks on their last Atlantic recording in January, 1971 (a trio).

Moore’s group moved to England in 1972.
Lineup mid 1970s:
Moore, Clyde Brown, Butch Leake, and Grant Kitchings, soon replaced by Billy Lewis. Joe Blunt replaced Leake in the late 70s.
Lineup 1982: Ben E. King, Fredericks, Ray Lewis and Louis Price
Lineup 1983-1985: Moore, Ben E. King, Clyde Brown, Joe Blunt

Line-up mid 1980s:
Moore, Ray Lewis, Billy Lewis plus different fourth singers
The 1990s: Johnny Moore, Rohan Turner, Roy Hemmings, Joe Cofie
Early 2000s:  Peter Lamar (90,91 and from 96), Patrick Alan, Rohan Turney, Victor Bynoe.
UK Drifters today:
Maurice Cannon, Damion Charles, Michael Williams, Ryan King 


Essential CD:
The Definitive Drifters (2CD) - WEA WSMCD137 (UK , issued in 2003) - 58 tracks of whole career
or: The Definitive Soul Collection (2CD) - Rhino 77662 - 30 chronological tracks
or: The Very Best of …. WEA (UK) 029 (24 tracks)
or : Rockin´ & Driftin´ (3CD) - Rhino R2 72417
or: Let The Boogie Woogie Roll (2CD) - Atlantic 81927-2
and All-Time Greatest Hits And More (2CD) - Atlantic 81931-2):
Editor´s choise: The 7CD series: The Drifters Anthology - Sequel RSACD 803, 815, 817, 833, 834, 835, 836;
For Collectors: The Drifters: All the Singles 1953 - 1958 plus Bonus Tracks - Jasmine 2CD JASCD 526
(featuring  50 tracks incl alternates of Gone, Let The Boogie Woogie Roll, and Drip Drop, plus The Flyers and Ruth Brown)
Reading: Save the Last Dance for Me - The Musical Legacy of The Drifters by Tony Allan with Faye Treadwell
(Popular Culture Ink, 1993 - updated and republished 2005 in softback);
The Drifters by Bill Millar (UK 1971);
Drifters 1 by Bill Pinkney - 50 years 1953-2003 (US 2003)
 

Search on The Drifters | Clyde McPhatter & the Drifters Ben E. King The Drifters at Wikipedia |  The Story of The Drifters   Charlie Thomas' Drifters The Drifters at The Blues Database White Christmas video (with Bill Pinkney of today)   | The Drifters Story | The Drifters | The Drifters official web site (Europe) | | Rhino´s Drifters Box | Unoffical Drifters Shrine | Vocal Group Hall of Fame  | The Drifters after Clyde Discography and album covers | Charlie Thomas' Drifters | Charlie Thomas | | Thomas | | Bill Pinkney´s Original Drifters | | Rick Sheppard´s Drifters | | The Drifters (current UK group, identical to below) | | Treadwell's Official Drifters |   Great label shots and images (don't miss this one)

Court decision Thursday, August 19, 1999 8:39 AM
Drifters' Manager Wins Right to Continued Use of Name
NEWARK, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 6, 1999--The following is an announcement by the law firm of Epstein Becker & Green: U.S district court judge overturns jury verdict stating Drifters  had abandoned trademark; judge upholds fraud verdict in registration of name by subsequent promoter The widow of the Drifters' long-time manager won't have to sing "There Goes My Baby" after all, thanks to a district court decision overturning a jury verdict that found she had abandoned the name of the classic 1950's rock-n-roll vocal group. In a July 30, 1999 decision with far reaching implications for the entertainment industry, Judge Nicholas H. Politan of the U.S. District Court  in Newark, N.J. overturned a jury verdict that found that Faye Treadwell abandoned the Drifters after the group ceased performing regularly in the United States in the mid-1970's. Different groups managed by the plaintiff in the case, promoter Larry Marshak, have been staging performances using the Drifters' name since that time. Ms. Treadwell was represented by James P. Flynn of the law firm Epstein Becker & Green, P.C. In the same decision -- Larry Marshak v. Faye Treadwell, et. al. (Civ. No. 95-3794, July 30, 1999) -- Judge Politan emphatically upheld a jury finding that, in 1976, Marshak and three former Drifters group members filed a fraudulent trademark application with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, despite knowing that rights to the Drifters' name belonged to The Drifters, Inc., a corporation owned by Ms. Treadwell. The threat of suits based on that fraudulently obtained trademark had kept Ms. Treadwell's group from performing in the United States. Ms. Treadwell managed the group with her late husband, George Treadwell, the group's original manager, from their marriage in 1955 until his death in 1967. Ms. Treadwell has served as the group's manager since then. Together   they had made, in Judge Politan's words, "all final decisions relating to the performances, costumes, appearance bookings, musical content, . . . and personnel changes" in the period in which the classic Drifters' hits were first recorded. Indeed, the Treadwells had been responsible for creating the image and sound that made those songs chart-toppers. Judge Politan's decision reverses an August 1998 jury verdict, which found that although promoter Marshak filed his application for federal trademark protection fraudulently, he still held common law rights to the Drifters' trademark. The jury held that Marshak was able to obtain common law trademark protection because Ms. Treadwell had not actively used the Drifters' name in conjunction with performances in the United States for close to a decade. In overturning the jury's verdict, Judge Politan ruled that uninterrupted and continuing royalties from ongoing recording sales and airplay of original Drifters' songs -- including There Goes My Baby, Under the Boardwalk and Up On the Roof -- constituted continued commercial use of the Drifters' name in the United States, and therefore no abandonment had occurred.

The decision has widespread ramifications for the entertainment industry, which is fighting the promotion of music groups that perform under famous names, but with no relation to the original music pioneers behind the hit songs for which the groups are known. A bill introduced in Congress by Rep. Dennis Kuchinich (D-Ohio) and Rep. Charlie Norwood (R-Ga), entitled the "Truth in Rock Act," would help old chart-toppers defend their names and hit songs from being involuntarily "franchised" by unscrupulous promoters -- some of whom might be too young to even remember when the original songs were hits. Ms. Treadwell's attorney, James P. Flynn, of Epstein Becker & Green's Newark N.J. office said: "The oldies market has seen a boom over the past few years, but many of the industry's pioneers like Faye Treadwell have been left singing the blues. There's been a scramble to buy, or sometimes just take, the names of popular groups from the golden era of rock and roll. We see this ruling as a victory not only for our client, but for the many music pioneers who have become dispossessed through certain persons' clever use of lawsuits and loopholes in the existing laws governing trademarks." A copy of the complete decision is available upon request. About Epstein Becker & Green Epstein Becker & Green is a full-service law firm with more than 280 attorneys in 11 cities across the United States. The firm practices in the areas of commercial litigation, intellectual property, employment law, healthcare, corporate and securities law, government contracts and elder law. The firm is a founding member of the International Lawyers Network (ILN), a confederation of full-service law firms located in 67 countries on six continents.
CONTACT: The PR Consulting Group Liz Hall or Jim Haggerty 212/683-8100 TICKERS: KEYWORD:   NEW JERSEY
BW0027  AUG 06,1999 5:17 PACIFIC 8:17  EASTERN .
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www.soulsounds.com on the legal matters of
The Drifters, The Platters, The Coasters


Charlie Thomas' Drifters at Washington County Fair in August, 2012,

Ben E. King.
 

The true Drifters after
Ben E. King´s leave, with
Charlie Thomas and Rudy Lewis.
 

Charlie Thomas´ Drifters
of 1972, promoted by Larry Marshak.
 
 

Bill Pinkney and Charlie Thomas
- meeting in late 1999.

"The Flying Platters" - Manager and song-writer Buck Ram´s (died 1991) internationally famous balladeers and the world´s best known vocal group. Originated from a Los Angeles line-up of late 1952 comprising Cornell Gunter, Gaynell and Alex Hodge, and Joe Jefferson, who were called the Flamingoes - of Los Angeles (no recordings). Curtis Williams (later of The Hollywood Flames and The Penguins) was also a some-time member. In January 1953 bass singer Herb Reed entered (replacing Curtis) and the group changed its name to The Platters (Gaynell was still around but soon left). Reed and Gunter sang lead and soon David Lynch replaced Joe. Tony Williams joined as lead in June, 1953. Soon after Gunter left (although he joined them for a short tour in 1957). Gunter's new group the Flairs was managed by Buck Ram. Around January, 1954 Buck Ram became the Platters'  manager and soon decided that the group needed a female singer and they found Zola Taylor (14 years of age at that time) rehearsing at Alex Hodge´s house with Gunter´s sister Shirley (who led her group, the Queens). The Platters had already done some recordings with female guest lead by Linda Hayes (Tony´s sister). Zola entered in March, 1954. In August, 1954  Paul Robi (who later changed his name to Roby) replaced Alex Hodge. The group was contracted to Mercury when Buck Ram made a deal moving the Penguins to that label. They re-recorded a by then unissued Federal recording of May 20, 1964, "Only You" (which Ram had composed several years earlier), on April 26, 1955 in Los Angeles.

In the 1960s Tony Williams re-activated his own new Platters for some years, as his solo career didn't work out as hoped. Beyond the many phony groups sporadically acting as Platters, at least seven groups have evolved from Ram´s group: 1. Monroe Powell´s Ram-succession and qualitative group in Las Vegas (still active, mostly in Florida and no longer under the Ram-banner - touring as "Monroe Powell´s Platters Revue" - recently settling their legal matters with Herb Reed´s Platters out of court). 2. Williams´ revived group after several unsuccessful solo years (in the early ´90s featuring Herb Reed). 3. David Lynch's "Original Platters" formed in 1967 with Robi and Taylor joining. 4. Sonny Turner´s "new" Platters. 5. Herb Reed´s touring "The Five Platters" lineup (initially including Nate Nelson, nowadays called "Herb Reed's Platters" (stopped by the "Ram" Platters group to call themselves just "The Platters"). 6. Robi´s revival group (nowadays managed by Robi´s widow). 7. The Buck Ram Platters (the remnants from the original group - without any original Platter and with new management, Jean Bennett, Ram's former aid). Europe has its own fake Platters. The groups to check out live today are really Monroe Powell´s in Florida (Monroe also acts with a late lineup of Ink Spots) and Herb Reed's.

Recording debut: Los Angeles, California September, 1953 Give Thanks / Hey Now - Federal 12153, and I´ll Cry When You´re Gone / I Need You All The Time - Federal 12181 (The Platters'  final Federal session took place in January, 1955, again featuring Linda Hayes).
Records for: Federal 53-55, Mercury 55-64, Musicor 66-71.

The Platters Information Site
Marv Goldberg on The Platters
| The Platters | The Platters
Vocal Group Hall of Fame
Discography and album covers
Only You video

Great label shots and images (don't miss this one)

"The True Street Corners" - Cult group of New York´s Sugar Hill - formed 1953 in Harlem called the Carnations (no recordings). Discovered by Lover Patterson, who brought them to Jubilee´s subsidiary Josie, where they were managed by Esther Navarro coached by saxophonist Jesse Powell. The group were the first to choose a car name (breaking the tradition of birds giving names to vocal groups). The Cadillacs were also the first to extensively use professional choreography (Cholly Atkins and Honi Coles). They soon turned into two different groups for the same label. Today they have fans all over the world - revived and active, and touring extensively for the last couple of decades. Earl Carroll left the Coasters in late 1979 (after almost 20 years away from his originals) and revived his old group, back in business again with his old childhood friend  and original Cadillac Bobby Phillips.
Recording debut: New York July, 1954  with the classic Gloria / I Wonder Why - Josie 765.
Records for: Josie 54-60, Smash 1961, Capitol 62-63.

Second line-up 1960 (billed as The Original Cadillacs):
Wade, Martinez, Phillips, and Junior Glanton, bar
1961 for Smash:
Carroll, Ray "Bobby Ray" Brewster, ten; Curtis Williams, bar (both from a late line-up of Hollywood Flames; and Curtis from the original Penguins - singing the bridge on "Earth Angel"); Irving Lee Gail, bass

For Capitol 1962-64:
Bobby Ray, Roland Martinez, Bobby Spencer, and James Bailey
After these recordings the group also featured a.o Milton Love, Fred Barksdale, and Leroy Binns (although Spencer and Phillips stayed along for a while.

1970-72:
Bailey, Spencer, Leroy Binns, Steven Brown, and sometimes Phillips and Whade
1998 - on:
Earl Carroll, Bobby Phillips, Gary Lewis, John Brown (from 2003 a trio without Brown).
 
Essential CD: The Best of... - Rhino R2 70955
or: Rock - Bear Family BCD 16281 AB (34 tracks, 44-page booklet)
For Collectors: The Complete Josie Sessions (4CD) - Bear Family BCD 15648 DI
or: For Collectors Only (3CD) - Collectables COL-CD-8800
Reading: They All Sang on the Corner by Philip Groia (Edmond Publ, 1973)
Search on The Cadillacs
The Cadillacs at Wikipedia
| More on The Cadillacs | Speedo & The Cadillacs |
Discography and album covers

Bobby Phillips

"Those Hoodlum Friends"
- "The Clown Princes of Rock ´N´ Roll" - the pre-eminent vocal group of the original rock ´n´ roll era, and the first to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Originated from the Robins - an R&B vocal group from Los Angeles, who had conquered California since 1949 - and had worked with the young composing/producing team of Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller during 1954-55 -  when Leiber-Stoller together with manager Lester Sill in September of 1955 decided to launch a professional group in L.A. for Atlantic´s new subsidiary Atco. The two fore-most lead singers (tenor and bass) of the Robins were completed with two new hand-chosen vocalists on the first Coasters records. The remnants of the Robins continuted, unsuccessfull, in the Los Angeles area. Gardner's and Nunn's new group, the original Coasters only lasted for a couple of years until they re-formed (still with Californians) and moved to New York. They used the best musicians on recordings (especially King Curtis on sax from 1958) and reached international fame in 1959. The group was Leiber-Stoller´s favorite vehicle for their 2-minute play-lets and the group worked with them 1954 - 1963, 1966-1968 and 1971-1972.

Carl Gardner´s debut with the Robins:
Los Angeles, Febr-March, 1954   If Teardrops Were Kisses
- Spark 110, released in February, 1955.

The Coasters recording debut:
Los Angeles,  January 11, 1956   Down In Mexico / Turtle Dovin´
- Atco 6064, released in February, 1956.
Records for: Spark 54-55 (Robins), Atco 56-66, Date 66-68, King 71-73.

All of the early members
have launched their off-shoot Coasters’ recording groups during later years. There was Bobby Nunn´s Coasters, Mark II (formed in 1963) - nowadays acting as Billy Richards’ Coasters. Grady Chapman (of the Robins) toured with a "Coasters" group (often featuring Bobby Sheen). Cornell Gunter’s Fabulous Coasters (formed not long after Gunter’s leave from the originals) is still acting with off-spring members as the “Original” Cornell Gunter’s Coasters. Billy Guy has issued records as Billy Guy & The Coasters. Leon Hughes called a group The World Famous Coasters (both Bobby Nunn and later Will Jones have guested) and still leads his own group calling himself “The Original”. And if that isn't enough, former members of those off-shoots have embarked new bogus Coasters groups. There also was Will Jones’ World Famous Coasters (which often featured Billy Guy). Guy later semi-coached promoter Larry Marshak’s fake group, which now tours in several versions as yet another Cornell Gunter’s Coasters. The true Coasters, though, are still semi-coached by Carl Gardner and by manager Veta Gardner with Carl's son Jr as lead singer.

The Robins lineup on Spark 1954-55:
Carl Gardner, lead - debuting with the Robins in Los Angeles February-March, 1954 (Spark); Bobby Nunn, bass (who sang with Little Esther on the Robins’ "Double Crossing Blues" from December, 1949 and was lead of the Robins, with several recordings for Savoy, RPM/Modern/Crown and RCA); "Ty" Terrell Leonard, tenor; Billy and Roy Richard, baritones; and in early 1954 Grady Chapman, second lead.

Original Coasters lineup 1956-57:
Carl Gardner, lead and spokesman for 50 years - coaching the group in later years born in Tyler, Texas April 29, 1928, died in Port St. Lucie, Florida June 12, 2011); Leon Hughes, tenor (born in California August 26, 1932); Billy Guy, baritone and recording with the group up to 1972 (born June 20, 1936; died November 5, 2002 in Las Vegas); Bobby Nunn, bass (born September 20, 1925 in Birmingham, Alabama; died November 5, 1986 in L.A: ); and Adolph Jacobs, guitar up into early 1959 (born April 15, 1939).

Famous classic lineup 1958-1961: Gardner; Guy; Cornell Gunter, tenor up to mid 1961 (former lead with the Flairs; born November 14, 1936 in Coffeyville, Kansas. He died from an unknown gun shot in Las Vegas in his car February 26, 1990); Will "Dub" Jones, bass up to 1968 (former lead with the Cadets, born in Shreveport, Louisiana May 14, 1928; died in Long Beach, California on January 16, 2000).

Later recording members:
Earl "Speedo" Carroll, tenor 1961-1979 (born November 2, 1937; leaving from and to the Cadillacs), died November 25, 2012; Ronnie Bright, bass from 1968 to late 2009 (born October 18, 1938; formerly with the Valentines); Jimmy Norman, baritone, first substituting for Guy, then replacing him from 1973 (born August 12, 1937 - died November 8, 2011 ; formerly with Jesse Belvin and acting as solo artist in New York; Thomas "Curly" Palmer, guitar from 1962 (born in Texas August 15, 1929).

Lineup 1980-1997:
Carl Gardner, Ronnie Bright, Jimmy Norman, Thomas Palmer.
 
Current lineup from 1998:
Gardner, Bright (up to November, 2009 - replaced by "Fast" Eddie Whitfield), Palmer; and Alvin Morse, baritone (born February 1951, member up to September 2008 - in October 2008 Alvin Morse was replaced by Primo Candelara.); Carl Gardner Jr, tenor (born April 29, 1955 - absent July 2001 - November 2004); J.W. Lance (Lance Williams), tenor from 2001 and staying with the group since then - even when Carl Jr returned (born June 16, 1949). In November, 2005 Gardner Jr officially took over from his father as lead singer of the Coasters.

Essential CD:
The Very Best of... - Rhino R2 71597
or: The Ultimate Coasters - Warner SP 9-27604-2
For Collectors: 50 Coastin Classics (2CD) - Rhino  R2 71090
or: There's A Riot Goin' On, The Coasters On Atco (4CD) - Rhino RHM2 7740 (113 tracks)
and: Down Home - Varèse Sarabande (Vintage) 302 066 944-2 (featuring the group's twelve Date/King sides)
Reading: “Yakety Yak I Fought Back: My Life With The Coasters” by Carl Gardner with Veta Gardner (AuthorHouse 2007).
“The Coasters” by Bill Millar (Star Books, UK 1975).

THE COASTERS, vcl-group   "HI-FIVE"
1.  (Carl Gardner-lead, Billy Guy, Young Jessie, Bobby Nunn and Adolph Jacobs,gtr)
(featuring Gil Bernal or Plas Johnson,sax) - Hollywood, February 15, 1957:
57C-107     Young Blood - Atco 6087 (#1, 17w)
2.  (as above with Guy-lead, featuring Mike Stoller,pno) - same session:
57C-108     Searchin'  - Atco 6087 (#1, 21w)
3.  (Carl Gardner, Billy Guy, Cornell Gunter, Will "Dub" Jones, Jacobs)
(featuring King Curtis,sax) - New York, March 17, 1958:
58C-365     Yakety Yak - Atco 6116 (#1, 14w)
4.  (as above with Gardner and Guy-joint leads, Sonny Forriest,gtr)
(featuring George Barnes and Mickey Baker,gtrs) - New York, July 16, 1959:
59C-3607    Poison Ivy - Atco 6146 (#1, 16w)
5.  (as above with Guy and Jones-leads; featuring King Curtis,sax) - New York, July 29, 1960
60C-4754    Shoppin'  For Clothes - Atco 6178

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