FIRST LOVES

New CD release First Loves featuring The Bell/Arista Drifters..

It was the early 70s when the Drifters left there original recording home Atlantic Record and signed with Bell/Arista in the UK and created these classics......

To purchase these great classics log into the title link above....

(CORNER TALK REPORT)

WHO'S WHO WITH THE DRIFTERS

The Legendary Atlantic Bell/Arista group is currently in it's 55th year as an
entity. A dynasty which started in early 1953 an has endured these many years
as one of the most unusual music stories in the history of musical entertainment.

Spawned by the vision of George Treadwell an Ahmet Ertegun and the 1953
original lineup of Clyde McPhatter, Bill Pickney, Andrew (Bubba) and Gerhart Thrasher.

The Drifters have had over 60 or more members who have grace it's lineup
over the past 55 years. Some more significant than others, those that made it
to records, books, television an other media and those who never saw the light
of day pass one show or so.

The Drifters an it's organization have had three golden periods and 5 significant
lineups throughout it's history.

Currently there are a handful of Original members respective of the eras they
came in who are still around.

Bobby Hendricks, Johnny Terry, Ben E King, Charlie Thomas, Rick Sheppard
Butch Leake, Clyde Brown, Joe Blunt and Billy Lewis.

These men are some of the Legends that are still with us....

In the UK a new group which you can say will bring in with success, the forth
golden period under the Treadwell family name who owns the service mark,
are performing to sell out audiences and are set to release some new songs
for this period....

It was during the early 70s that Faye Treadwell the Widow of the Legendary
George Treadwell brought then the line up of Johnny Moore, Butch Leake, Bill
Fredricks and Grant Kitchings to the UK and signed with the Bell/Arista label.

That signing spawned the Hits "Kissin in the Backrow of the Movies, "There
Goes My First Love" "Love Games" "Like Sister And Brother" Which topped
the British and European charts throughout the 70s.

After 1974, there were to be replacements for the original Bell group with
Clyde Brown replacing Bill Fredricks and Billy Lewis replacing Grant Kitchings.

At the end of 1975, Butch Leake is replaced by Joe blunt.

It was the linup of Johnny Moore, Clyde brown, Joe Blunt and Billy Lewis
that are noted for "More Than A Number In My Little Red Book"

After this period a number of replacement were in an out up through the 90s
with Johnny at one period attempting a new solo career which was short lived.

Both Bill Fredricks an Butch Leake went on to solo careers in the UK and Europe.

Grant Kitchings returned to the United States an joined the Legendary Ink Spots.

After a number of legal battles in the USA & UK. The Drifters LLC is owned by the original Treadwell family Headed By Tina Treadwell the daughter of Faye and George Treadwell.

The World wide Licensing right is controled by PMG Music & Entertainment UK.

For more information go to www.theofficialdrifters.com or click on the title above
who's who with The Drifters.........

Butch Leake.........

(CORNER TALK REPORT)

THE GOLDEN YEARS (The Drifters1953/1975

For Drifter fans worldwide it must be frustrating with all the confusing arguments on
ownership of names an who has a right to be called a drifter. The remaining fact is
the groups legacy is one of historical value for future generations to come.....
I for one grew up as a fan an lover of Drifter music an was very fortunate to have been
able perform with the legendary organization. As an insider I can say my love for all
the players in this saga of American music history is profoundly sincere. The principal
players that particularly of the artist that truly made the legend what it is today are
the benefactors as that of the public who loved an supported the music over the
Golden periods of the groups history. For some Clyde Mcphatter, Johnny Moore,
Ben E King, Rudy Lewis, Bill Pickney and Charlie Thomas symbolized what the
group was all about, yet all came in different eras of the history of it's music. As of
myself along with Johnny Moore, Bill Fredricks and Grant Kitchings who symbolized
the third Golden period under the guidance of the Treadwell Family who have been
significant custodians of this tradition in the many years of it's existence. Now not
being particularly fond of the inside issues that surrounded the running of this
organization and we all had our issues an ego problems unto today. Its non the less
important for the fans to understand know matter what part of the Golden years you
embrace an there are three that are significant at this day in time, each period supported
an perpetuated the on going life and the history for decades to come.

Currently at this moment the Drifters name is being re-branded for future generations
as the name has somewhat been tarnished by the spawning of hybrid groups here an
abroad. Leading this effort is PMG (Prism Music Group) out of London.

For more information on this effort go to www.theofficialdrifters.com

(CORNER TALK REPORT)

SPOTLIGHT ON THE 70s/Interview with Butch Leake

Why the 70s? In my opinion was one of the great periods for music which
inspired the heart an soul. The songs that were written had great substance non
like to days music which consist of beats with no solid story line...

They are not producing any great songwriters like yesteryear. We were very fortunate
back then to have songwriters like Roger Greenway who in my opinion is one of the
best writers who came out of the period...

God only knows where the Drifters would have been if it wasn't for the Greenway
writing team. Greenway was a big fan of the Drifters. So a marriage was made in heaven
teaming up with Greenway Productions......

You might say I personally became a Greenway fan as far as the songs go....
So this is why I chose to cover some of those great songs which the group recorded.

You might ask do I have issues about the politics of that time, the answer to that is yes,
but I will stop short of being bitter. Those matters will be addressed most likely in time.

At this time life moves on, an yes I'm in control and prepared to deal with what ever
challenges come my way. So all of those out there who have any negative plans read
this line again......

Will you be returning to great Britain? Most definitely, England is like home to me
I lived there for many years. My former wife is buried there, an if for only that reason
I will visit.

I will be going there to lay the ground work for returning to the stage after completing
entertaining matters here in the US.

What of the the new Treadwell Drifter group over there now. Well! They do what they
do I do what i have to do.... Remember I am the only original member out of the Bell
Record group who is alive. Know one can erase that fact.

The rest of the members were replacements.........

In any respect I'm not trying to be the Drifters or a tribute act. The reality once a
Drifter the stigma is forever attached to you........ (CORNER TALK REPORT)

THE BELL SONGS/LEGACY OF THE 70s

For the many USA fans of The Drifters now is a good chance to
checkout an purchase the hit songs of the 70s featuring the Original
Bell Record group headed by the late Johnny Moore an featuring
Butch Leake, Bill Fredricks and Grant Kitchings.

All these timeless songs were written and produced by the the
legendary UK writer Roger Greenway / Roger Cook / Billy Davis
and Tony MaCauley.

There are also tracks written by Neil Diamond / Burt Bacharach & Hal David /
Pomus & shuman / Paul McCartney and Stephens.

The CD "The Drifters Now & Love Games feature both albums from the
early 70s with an insert booklet with history and pictures of the group.....

A must buy for Drifter buffs at Virgin Record Stores........ (CORNER TALK REPORT)

EXPLOITATION/TRUTH IN MUSIC

Someone asked me the other day aren't you to young to have been with
The Drifters and why are there so many drifter groups around?

Obvious they all could not have really been The Drifters or that of the original
group from the 50s.
Now of cost the answer to that is yes, but you must ask what period are you talking
about and which songs are you referring to. As there are many......
Songs like Steamboat and Money Honey, you have to leave to the early 50s era.
Yet some of the greatest songs of the group were in the latter 50s through 60s
into the 70s.

By the 70s the lineup had changed a few times, an over the years as many as fifty or
more members had entered to it's roster some more prominent that others.
There were those who were there for only one or two shows and then let go.

Many never made it to photo sessions, books and media in general.....

The 50s you didn't see black faces on album covers as that was taboo during the
racially charged period.

The question here why so many groups? The Drifters resemble the 70s group Menudo
in many respects with the ever changing lineup. The only difference Menudo
were young kids an only represented a certain age status with there fans which
were teen boppers. But the concept a method of exploitation....

The Drifters on the other hand much older yet the same concept exploitation...

Management not only represented the group but looked at itself as the group
with no distinction. Members were know more than payed employees with know
say so in there current future and were bound by there agreements with the
organization to be nothing after leaving.....

Yes there were exceptions like Ben E, King who went on to create a career of his own.

Out of all of this started the spiral of many groups with former members struggling
to survive in the music industry......as with so many other acts of the period.

It also created another industry of wannabe groups who's members had never had
any connection with the group and it's history at all....

The truth in music bill which has been circulating in the USA is a product of these
phony acts which are being produced.

But the real truth is the industry an it's federations really need to look at the root
causes of these problems an seek to lobby for legislation to protect artist from
such exploitation which everyone seems to turn a blind eye to. (CORNER TALK REPORT)

BUTCH LEAKE/THE LEGACY OF THE 70s

The Legacy of the 70s featurings the songs of Roger Greenway, Barry
Mason & Tony MaCauley. Soon to be repackaged under the banner of
Butch Leake, formally of the Bell Record Recording group The Drifters
which topped the British music charts during the 70s.

Butch is currently in the studio rehearsing a new musical extravaganza
featuring the songs of the period.

A CD is also in the works to be release to coincide with
the show.

Butch as you know is the only surviving member out of the
original transatlantic group which featured the late great Johnny Moore,
Grant Kitchings and Bill Fredricks. The show will also be designated
as a tribute to the late singers he worked with over those years.

Watch for schedules an forth coming dates and releases to be posted
here at Corner Talk Report. Send enquire's to butchleake@mac.com/

ENTERTAINMENT CO. BLINKS

The word has been unofficially circulating that the Drifters UK limited
has blinked in its on going battle with Treadwells Original Drifters LLC
over a Trademark dispute between the two parties.

Treadwell had filed a suit In the British High Court against The Drifters UK limited for Trademark infringement seeking to stop the use of the
name The Drifters, a group performing as The drifters and a website
used for it's promotion. The hearing were to take place sometime in march of 2008. Treadwell has argued the legal ownership of The Drifters
Trademark since the early 50s. (CORNER TALK REPORT)

VINTAGE PHOTO'S THE DRIFTERS 50s & 60s

For all you Drifter fans an group buffs out there. Here are a small collection of the
many photo's from a bygone era.....
It has been pointed out before there have been over 50 or more singers who have sang
with The Drifter's some never making it on photo sessions. NOTE: Photo of Billy Ward
and the Dominoes 3rd from top.........Butch Leake

CLASSIC PHOTOs THE 70s CONT.......

Here we have more classic photo's from the 70s featuring the original
Bell Recording group The Drifter's. In late 1974, Bill Fredrick's resigns to pursue
a solo career. He is to be replaced by Clyde Brown who's vocals are on the
THERE GO'S MY FIRST LOVE ALBUM an later to be featured on lead with
Johnny Moore on the titled track:
YOUR MORE THAN A NUMBER IN MY LITTLE RED BOOK....... Shortly after Grant Kitching's departs and is replaced by Billy Lewis........

INTERVIEW WITH BUTCH LEAKE

Hello Butch, Hi there....
What is happening on the on going saga with The Drifter's.
There is a current battle posturing for march this year in The British High Court
over the Trademark rights between Treadwell Drifter's and The Drifter's UK Ltd.
It seems that The Drifter's UK Ltd., who for a period of time was Treadwell UK
representative sort the rights to ownership of the mark after the original management
left the country. For me it's another sad chapter to the on going Drifter story that
shouldn't be happening. It's a replay of the same madness that took place in the
United States with other pirates who sort ownership of the lucrative mark.....
and the cloning of the many would be Drifter groups into the market place that
never were with the official Drifter family. Let me clarify what I'm saying here....
Many argue the pros an cons of what group was original and who were the
imposter's. We can never deny the first incarnation with Clyde Mcphatter,
Bill Pickney, and the Thrasher brothers. But The Drifter's hit records came over
many years with other members involved and so there were five to six groups
over that period of time who were significant as far as records, film, television
books etc. The seventies group came on the heels of the Atlantic Record era at
a time when the group had faded out of the limelight as an old oldies but goody
group.
Butch... how long were you with the Bell Record group?
Contrary to what has been distorted in the so called family tree listing you
find on the contesting websites and books published. I joined The Drifter's in
early 1970, replacing then Rick Sheppard and i resigned on Christmas of 1975.
I am the last member of that transatlantic group that is alive. One interesting
factor I'm a member who has never sort to form a New Drifter's group and has
always believed if ones own name is cultivated right it would carry on in the Drifter's
tradition......For one thing i realized long ago once a Drifter always a Drifter in
one way or the other as my name and likeness continues to be promoted through
the media. In that i will always be a significant player in the groups history no matter
who tries to play that down......I'm here to stay and they better know that.
Now on the trademark issue I would hope The British High Court would take
the high road an not award the mark to anyone but take into consideration the artist
who contributed to the name.....it is they who would be the big looser along with
the many fans who have supported the act and it's members over the years.
Treadwell in any respect has the distinction of controlling the revenue that has
come in for Drifter music over the years through it's companies Drifter's Inc. and
Treadwell Original Drifter's LLC.
Butch....Do you have any new career moves in the wings?
Yes I do... I'm currently researching for new material this year for a new CD an concept
for music video. Also i will be looking for a good production staff to work along
with my company and rehearsing a new show.........
Butch keep us informed on your moves this year, we will be looking forward to
hearing from you soon. (CORNER TALK)

THE CLASSIC PHOTOS OF THE 70s

The Drifter's were one of the most photographed groups through out the 70s.
Here we present some of the many classic photographs from the period for our loyal fans........
This is also a picture portal for the new fans who never saw the original lineup as they were during the 70s era.....