This article is about the American vocal group. British group The Shadows briefly shared the same name. There is also a James A. Michener novel of the same name, as well as a Japanese comedic group.
The Drifters were a long-lived American doo wop/ R&B band, originally formed by Clyde McPhatter (of Billy Ward & the Dominoes) in 1953.
Ahmet Ertegun of Atlantic Records approached McPhatter after he left the Dominoes and signed him. McPhatter recruited several members of his former group, the Mount Lebanon Singers, and finally settled on Gerhart and Andrew Thrasher on tenor and baritone, respectively, Bill Pinkney on second tenor, Willie Ferbee, bass, and Walter Adams on guitar. Adams' presence on guitar made the group unusual among R&B groups of the time. He was soon replaced by Jimmy Oliver. This line-up released the group's first major hit, "Money Honey", occasionally considered the first rock and roll record. By this time, Bill Pinkney had taken over on bass, and the group released several more hits before McPhatter left in 1954 to enter military service and then pursued a solo career. McPhatter had demanded a large share of the group's profits, which he had been denied in the Dominoes, but, upon his departure, did not ensure that this would continue for his successor. He sold his share of the group to George Treadwell, manager, former jazz musician and husband of legendary singer Sarah Vaughan. As a result, the Drifters' cycled through copious members, none of whom made much money. McPhatter later expressed regret at this action, recognizing that it doomed his fellow musicians to unprofitability.
