Artists & Bands

The Drifters | Tunes + Guitar Lessons

The Drifters’ story is one of constant reinvention, with over 60 members and a catalogue of classics that helped define American soul. Their hits have stood the test of time—even if the line-ups haven’t!

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The Drifters: Still Drifting After 70 Years

In 1953, Clyde McPhatter formed The Drifters at the request of Atlantic Records, who had noticed that he had left his previous group, Billy Ward and His Dominoes, where he was swiftly replaced by Jackie Wilson.

Keen to snap up McPhatter’s talent, the label asked him to assemble a new vocal group. Clyde brought in Gerhart and Andrew Thrasher, Bill Pickney, and Jimmy Oliver.

Since that original line-up, over 60 members have passed through The Drifters, and incredibly, the band is still going today—albeit in two versions, without a single original member. These days, it’s their children who are suing each other over rights to the name—but more on that later!

The Drifters’ classic run began with their very first release, Money Honey, which reached #1 with Clyde on lead vocals. Just three years later, Money Honey appeared on Elvis Presley’s debut album—setting a precedent for future covers of their material.

Following their debut, The Drifters had a few more hits, although none would have the lasting legacy of Money Honey. It would take several new lead singers before more timeless classics emerged.

In 1960, with Ben E. King now fronting the group, they released This Magic Moment, a song that would later be covered by Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross, and even Lou Reed.

That same year, still with Ben on lead, they scored one of their biggest hits with Save the Last Dance for Me, which went to #1 and was later covered by Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris, and, decades later, Michael Bublé.

In 1961, Sweets for My Sweet became their next big tune. It was famously reworked just two years later by The Searchers, and again in 1994 by C.J. Lewis in a reggae club version.

Interestingly, just as Ben E. King was leaving the group to go solo, he wrote Stand by Me—and offered it to The Drifters. They turned it down.

How The Drifters Kept Going Long After the Hits Stopped

With Ben gone, the group’s next standout tune came in 1963 with On Broadway. Although not a huge hit at the time, it featured a guitar solo by none other than Phil Spector, who had already seen success with The Crystals and would soon become a household name thanks to Be My Baby by The Ronettes.

On Broadway’s real legacy came later—George Benson’s 1978 live version on Weekend In L.A. became legendary and has terrified guitar players ever since.

In 1964, The Drifters released Under The Boardwalk. Tragedy struck the night before the recording session when lead singer Rudy Lewis passed away. Rather than cancel, fellow member Johnny Moore stepped in and delivered what would become one of the group’s most iconic performances.

The song has been covered by The Rolling Stones, Bette Midler, and—somewhat unbelievably—Bruce Willis. It also became a staple for cover bands around the world.

This would be the last major hit for The Drifters, but they continued to tour in various line-ups. One version, The Original Drifters, was led by founding member Bill Pinkney. Another version, Charlie Thomas’ Drifters, featured the lead singer from Sweets For My Sweet.

Strangely, the most visible version today operates mainly in the U.K., managed by Tina Treadwell, daughter of the group’s original manager, George Treadwell. After George’s death, his widow bought the rights to the band. When she passed, Tina inherited them.

She’s reportedly developing a Broadway show about the group’s history—perhaps inspired by the success of Jersey Boys.

Meanwhile, the descendants of the original members continue to feud over the band’s legacy. Bill Pinkney died in 2007, but the legal and musical battles carry on.