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Thursday, August 9, 2012

The Drifter Wars/American Or British Brand


There has been much confusion around what writers and media
coined as the British Drifters even down to characterizing the entity
as a disco act.

In fact by the late 60s The Drifters ceased to be a charting entity
with maybe one song release in a year from 1967 to 1971 none
reaching to the top 100 in the charts.

Atlantic Records the home company of the Brand ceased much of 
the promotion on the group except for earlier songs which continued
to be packaged and sold through the existing media outlets.

Group members by this time had begun to resign for various reason
due to internal disputes with the then Drifters Incorporate the
management arm of the organization.

The final breakup was in early 1970, the group member then were
Johnny Moore, Bill Fredrick's, Rick Sheppard and Don Thomas.

Moore, Sheppard and Thomas attempted to go it alone but nothing
came of it. Fredrick's stayed on with management.

Shortly after Moore and Thomas returned and Sheppard joined
the police dept. but continued performing with his own review.

Early 1970 Butch Leake was drafted into the brand to replace
Sheppard.

On the Contrary through most of the early 70s it was Treadwells
Drifters who were playing most of the venues along the Eastern
seaboard from New York to Florida, playing such  prestigious
venues as the Waldorf Astoria in New York City and the Fountain
Blu in Miami Florida.

On the west coast, Treadwells  Drifters were regulars at hot spots
like Art Laboes in Hollywood and played yearly at the Sahara Hotel
in Las Vegas Nevada.

Again the fact is it was Treadwells Drifters who were The official
Drifters of the period and though the Group were making 
appearances abroad in the far east and in Europe they were and
American Brand.

1972, back in the studios with a new record company The Drifters
saw new life with a string of  hits under the British writing team
of Roger Greenway, Tony McCauley, Roger Cook and Barry Mason
which propelled the group back into the charts throughout the 
70s era.

Though the songs for the most part never were released in the 
United States. They found their way here through imports
and became popular in the southern part of the United States
and became part of what is characterized as beach music.

For continued happenings in the Drifter Wars Log in here
at Corner Talk Report.

For info on the Bell Record Era music here in the United States
Log into: Beach Music Hall Of Fame/
http://beachmusichof.com/drifters

Visit and join us at The Drifters Legends Club House over at facebook
https://www.facebook.com/groups/thedrifterslegendsclubhouse/

For info on The Drifters Legends and it's history log into
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=162862227105852

The Drifters Legends are exclusively licensed through Prism Music Group
(PMG) UK