The DRIFTERS

The Drifters were originally formed in 1953 by Clyde McPhatter, one of the most influential of ‘50s R&B vocalists.

By 1958 the group had been replaced by another group by their manager and this group featured Ben E King as lead singer for a short time. Lead singers on the ‘Soul Years’ sessions are mainly Rudy Lewis or Johnny Moore. By 1962 the group moved on from their early ‘50s R&B roots and late ‘50s symphonic pop sounds to embrace the coming of Soul music. Their journey through this genre was helped by renowned songwriters like Carole King, Gerry Goffin, Ellie Greenwich, Doc Pomus, Mort Shuman, Burt Bacharach, Hal David, Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil and producers like Bert Berns, Jerry Wexler and Jerry Leiber & Mike Stoller.