The Drifters

Up on the Roof. Under the Boardwalk. This Magic Moment. There Goes My Baby. Dance with Me. Spanish Harlem. Stand by Me. The list of hits goes on and on.

Under the vocal direction of Bill Pickney’s protégé, Kingsley O’Brian McIntosh, The Classic Drifters as founded by Bill Pickney are all part of a historical journey, which included no less than five (5) legendary lead singers, including Rock & Roll Hall of Famers Clyde McPhatter and Ben E. King.

They were the first musical group to include string instruments into Rhythm & Blues music with their hauntingly beautiful song, “There Goes My Baby”. They were the first to sell 2 million records with their pop classic, “Up On The Roof”. Twenty (20) other million sellers followed.

Along with fellow inductees the Rolling Stones, the Beatles, Bob Dylan and the Supremes, the Drifters were in the first class of Rock & Roll legends to be initiated into the Hall of Fame and the first African American group to be inducted. Their classic tune “Under The Boardwalk” is the most played R & B record of all time.

Their songs have been penned by such historic songwriters as Jerry Leiber & Mike Stoller, Carol King, Jerry Goffen and Phil Spector. They have played at the White House on at least three (3) different occasions, gave a benefit concert in Berlin the day the wall fell, performed for the Pope, the Queen of England, Nelson Mandella and toured the world for the USO in 3 different war zones from Korea to Iraq. The group’s ongoing story has covered the entire spectrum of Rock & Roll.

With over 50 million records sold and 20 Top 40 hits, including:

• Save The Last Dance For Me
• There Goes My Baby
• Under The Boardwalk
• On Broadway
• Up On The Roof
• This Magic Moment
• I Count The Tears
• Some Kind Of Wonderful
• Please Stay
• Sweets For My Sweets