The Drifters (Misinformation)

Much is spoken on the Drifters in various circles relating

to who is or was a Drifter, the music etc. Depending on 

who's telling the story or reporting all the mis-

information, you hear such comments as The current lineup of 

Drifters under the Treadwell PMG management are phonies and 

imposter's. The former Bell / Arista group were know more 

than a Disco outfit. Many of these comments come from so 

called critics in the industry, period fans, former Drifter 

members and I mean former cause if you are not currently 

working under the trademark license you are former. I've 

even read where someone posted on youtube that Charlie 

Thomas has warrants out for the Treadwell impostor group as 

if he is the only legitimate Drifter that has come along 

over the years that has the right to be called a Drifter. 

Give us a break with such nonsense! the Drifters is a brand 

and has been that way since it's offset. With 60 or more 

members Drifting in and out, it truly lives up to it's name 

Drifters. Yes some more significant than others. The brand 

can truly only be categorized through it's golden age 

periods and there are three. The Clyde McPhatter era, The 

Ben E. King era and The Bell / Arista era headed by Johnny 

Moore and The fact is Johnny Moore sang with the group in 

all those eras and on more songs and hits than anyone. After 

the Atlantic era the group was dead so to speak and was 

resurrected in the 70's with the producer and song writer 

Roger Greenway. It was the Greenway team along with the 

signing to Bell Records headed by It's president Dick Leahy 

which helped bring the group back in to vogue during the 

70's with a string of hits throughout that period. So it was 

the Johnny Moore group of the 70's along with Bill 

Fredricks, Grant Kitchings and yours truly Butch Leake that 

brought the brand from the grave in the early 70's era.

That is a fact which you can try and deny but the data is 

there to prove it. Though the Atlantic period of songs were 

great and I will be the first to acknowledge they were some 

of my favorites. The Bell Record era had it's songs which 

were conducive for it's time.

Above some negative YouTube post...