The Drifters & The Drifters Legends on the Road/The charting Years

After many years now the Drifters are back in the UK
charts and have been holding there for fourteen weeks.

Sony music who now holds the Bell/Arista recording
that were popular back in the 70s and 80s has released
a new CD Album titled "up On The Roof" The very best
of the Drifters which includes early 60s tracks along
with the popular Bell/Arista cuts to include two new
tracks featuring the current Drifters lineup.

The Drifters for the most part have been a hit makeing
machine for better than a half century now and seem
to be getting stronger even in this current time
of new age music, Hip Hop and R&B/Pop styles.

The new lineup comes with a much lighter sound which
is more in line with todays younger generation with
a little luck should catapulte the act into the future.

Below we compare the hit making years.

Top ten hits of The Drifters on Billboard's Rhythm &
Blues Charts during the Clyde McPhatter era include:

Atlantic Discography

Money Honey.................... 1953 #1

Lucille............................... 1954 #7

Such a Night...................... 1954 #5

Honey Love........................ 1954 #1

White Christmas................ 1955 #3

What'cha Gonna Do........... 1955 #8


Billboard's pop music chart shows the following Drifters
singles ranked in the top thirty hits from 59/64

There Goes My Baby........ 1959 #2

Dance With Me................ 1959 #15

This Magic Moment......... 1959 #16

Save The Last Dance........ 1960 #1
For Me

I Count The Tears............. 1960 #17

Please Stay........................ 1961 #14

Sweets for My.................... 1961 #16
Sweets

When My Little Girl.......... 1961 #28
Is Smiling

Up on the Roof.................. 1962 #5

On Broadway..................... 1963 #9

I'll Take You Home............. 1963 #25

Under The Boardwalk........ 1964 #4

Saturday Night At.............. 1964 #18
The Movies

UK Pop music chart show the following Drifters
singles ranked in the top thirty hits 74/75/76

Bell/Arista Discography

I'm Feeling Oh So................ 1974 #2
Sad

Like Sister and..................... 1973 #2
Brother

Kissin In The Back............... 1974 #2
Row

Love Games.......................... 1975 #33

Down On The Beach............ 1974 #7

Say Goodby To..................... 1974 #7
Angelina

The Cut Is Deep................... 1975 #33

The Songs We Use............... 1975 #7

Your more than a number.....1976 #5

in My Little Red Book

There Goes My First Love.......1975 #3

For more information you can log into http://theofficialdrifters.com

Be sure to keep up with our latest blog info here at Corner Talk Report

and for further info log into C.T.R. Network info over on facebook

(CORNER TALK REPORT)

The Drifters & The Drifters Legends on the Road/Life Under The Brand

It should be clear by this day in time to those who have
followed the Drifters over the years that we are working
with a brand name which in many ways is like any other
name that has become synonymous with what the product is about.


Re-branding is the creation of a new name, term, symbol,
design, or a combination of them for an established brand with the intention of developing a differentiated (new) position in the mind of stakeholders and competitors.

However, the main reason for a re-brand is to communicate
a new message for a company, something that has evolved,
or the new board of directors wish to communicate.

Prism Music Group who now holds the worldwide licensing
and management of the group has worked tirelessly in
re-branding the name after much abuse and misuse by former
members, fake groups and even the original management over
the years.

Yet most fail to realize that the Drifters for the most
part started with much of that concept in mind from the
very start.

Back in the early year of 1954 when the name was acquired by
then the Legendary George Treadwell who at that time managed
such great stars as Sammy Davis Jr., Billie Holiday and
Sarah Vaughn the group was managed then through a New York
corporation Drifters Inc.that he formed that same year.

Though Mr. Treadwell owned all the stock in the company,
he managed the company with his two partners, Irving
Nahan and Louis Lebish. Mr Lebish acted as accountant
and bookkeeper for The Drifters Incorporated.

The Entertainment side of the business was handled
by Treadwell and was assisted by his wife Fayrene
and Irving Nahan.

Working together they exercise complete artistic
control over the group. They hired and fired singers who
performed under the name, paid them salaries, selected all
the music and arrangement and over all made the musical
and business decisions relating to live performances and
recording contracts.

In 1959, The Drifters inc. amended it's Certificate of
incorporation whereas George Treadwell, Lewish Lebish and
Irving Nahan became equal owners of the corporation.

Fay Treadwell inherited her husband's stock in the company
in 1967. She later brought out Nahan and Lebish shares and
around 1970, she became the sole shareholder of the
Drifters incorporated.

Though much of this concept still exist on and into this
day and time, it had fostered many problems with it's
members over mismanagement, payment issues and the right
to be called a Drifter.

Members found themselves forced to form hybrid groups
under the trade name even though they signed agreements
barring them from doing so.

This in turn created more fake groups over the years and
pirate promoters who jumped in to capitalize on the goodwill
of the name.

For more information you can log into http://www.theofficialdrifters.com

(CORNER TALK REPORT)

The Drifters & The Drifters Legends on the Road/The Generation Gap....

As you know the Drifters is an on going success story and they are
now performing to thousands of new generation fans across the UK.
Non like yesteryear of cost they are attracting a much younger
fan base and this is by design to secure the future of the group
for years to come.

Not all is happy with this particularly from the earlier generations
who remember the group as it was from the 80s on backward through
the earlier years.

The United Kingdom for the most part has been the home for the group since
the early 70s. It has always maintained a solid fan base which has supported
the act over the years and continues to do so today.

One might argue is the quality the same and there seems to be a lot of mixed
opinion about that.Surely the Drifters of old had those solid strong voices
with that signature base voice and lead sound which became the hallmark of
the groups success over the many hit songs that we loved.

The young generation of today have been brought up on a much lighter sound
of music than the days when the Atlantic, Motown,Philly and Bell Records
ruled the air waves.

The Drifters of yesterday some how managed to cross most music categories
from Gospel, R&B on into Popular, yet always maintained that signature
sound that it was noted for.

In my belief the mixed opinion or might one say the generation gap will
always exist.

Back in the US former members of the group The Original Recording Artist
The Drifters Legends are set to return to the stage in 2012. This should
be an interesting contrast between old and new and may turn out to be a
good thing as far as history goes.

Foundation must be present to build into the future. Without it you can
find yourself with a crumbling house without leg to stande on. Jazz,
Country, Blues, Rock n Roll, R&B no matter what musical innovation
you come up with (is what it is) "The Root"

After a half of century or more The Drifters is a brand name now with more
than 60 or more singers coming through it's lineup. Some who were very
significant and those who are just a short foot note in it's history.
All in all the Drifters have a very lush history that will go down in
the annuals of history for all time.

Currently The Drifters Legends are Rick Sheppard, Butch Leake, Joe Blunt,
and Clyde Brown all of which are the original Recording Artist who along
with the Legendary Johnny Moore sang on some of the Drifters greatest hits
from the Atlantic years through Bell/Arista period.

The Drifters now are Michael Williams, Damion Charles, Ryan King and
Carlton Powell.

In the United States two more former Drifter members still perform with
there Drifters shows Charlie Thomas an Bobby Hendricks.
To include a number of fake groups who trade on the name illegally.

The Drifters and The Drifters Legends are currently managed by PMG
(Prism Music Group) Who whole the worldwide license for acts and
the Drifters name is still owned by the Treadwell family.

For more information on the Drifters and the Drifters Legends you can
log into http://theofficialdrifters.com Over on facebook there are the
Drifters and Drifters Legends pages and my notes a definitive history
on the Drifters Legends on the Butch Leake facebook page.

(CORNER TALK REPORT)

The Drifters & The Drifters Legends on the Road

Well how are you guys out there sorry for being away for
so long. Been busy restructuring my online activities...

This writing begins my series of articles titled
The Drifters & The Drifters Legends on the Road.

In any respect many of you out there have been asking
me what is the on going situation with the Drifters Legends
as far as debut and up and coming tour dates.

Well it looks as if 2012 will be the launch period for Legends
tours. That will be kick off with a tour with the current lineup
of Drifters..... Which will repeat the success of the London
02 Arena show back in 2009.

There had been speculation that The Original Recording Artist
The Drifters Legends were coming to Las Vegas this year but
as of date that has been put on hold until political issues are
resolved, well that's the way things go in show business sometime.

A bit of good news as of this blog the CD Album "up On The Roof"
The Very Best of The Drifters has gone gold and has remained 14
weeks on the chart...

Recently myself and the rest of the Legends group have been
discussing strategies for the future to include New Photo sessions
and public relation options. So you should see more activity from
us soon...

As far as the official Drifter group in Europe they continue to perform
to sellout audiences throughout the UK and have worked hard at promoting
the current CD Album. For more on the great work they are doing log
into facebook and visit there page. You also can log into the official drifters
website at http://www.theofficialdrifters.com

Here in the US the pirate groups continue to do there thing so what you
see is not what you get at the best. We will continue to expose those who
claim to be and are not.

Above a mini documentary outlining where things are to date and some
of the plans for 2012 presented by Treadwell & PMG (Prism Music Group)
Produced by Bomark Studios UK.

Don't forget you can log into C.T.R. Network information for other news
and updates over on facebook and other activities in my online Network
at http://facebook.com/BUTCHLEAKE

(CORNER TALK REPORT)

IN THE NEWS

Well as you all might know actress Lynsey Lohan has pleaded
no contest to misdemeanor theft of a 2500 dollar necklace.
She didn't appear in court but through her lawyer she made
her statement. She is to spend four month in prison and
go through rehabilitation and sessions with court appointed
Psychiatrist.

In other news recently Entertainer Prince has band the songbird
Whitney Houston from attending his concerts. It seems as if Miss
Houston was acting somewhat out of line at a recent performance
and the report said it was due to erratic behavior etc.
Let wish that Whitney wins the battle with her demons
God be willing.

New York- It is reported that Mary Tyler Moore has
been admitted into a facility for surgery to remove a benign tumor
on the lining of her brain.
The 74-year-old Moore gained stardom as a modern suburban housewife
on the 1960s comedy "The Dick Van Dyke Show," and went on to star in
her own series as a single woman woman pursuing a career.

Fox TV is to cancel all five of it's on the fence series, the network
has confirmed. The are to include Human Target, Lie to Me and The Chicago
code are to go, along with comedies Traffic Light and Breaking In Staring
Christian Slater. Monday they will unveil the new fall schedule.

Beyonce who looked stunning last night at the Met Ball managed to tick
off photographers who were covering the event and felt they were being
snub got booed by surrounding onlookers....

(CORNER TALK REPORT)

NubiToonz /A POLITICAL DILEMMA

TV A NO BRAINER!

At a time when when life in America was a harsh reality
do to gross poverty, racism, educational and work
opportunities were all but a small footnote in the life of the
average African American. Television was one of the
only escapes from the many social evils drugs, alcoholism,
prison and death...
Ironic in 50 years how times have changed and yet there is
still a deficit in education on the whole as the average
black American spends more than 7 hours in front of the
television, 2 hours over the national average rate of 5 hours
and 11 minutes, and just shy of four hours per day more
than the average Asian who clocks in at 3 hours 14 minutes
of TV viewing. What the math points to is 50 hours of TV
weekly and 200 hours a month.
A drain on the brain as content is for the most part dictated
by overwhelming commercial appeal, and not by the qualities
of ideas.Kids today seem to be heading toward a zombie illusion
zone where there is nothing worth learning.
Some would say this is by design as the media racks up dollars
in it's quest for advertising revenue. For sure much time and
money is directed towards the study of the social habits
and behaviors of the African American communities as well as
any other community but owing to the African American acute
attraction to trends and fads this can lead to an alarming
destruction within the social structure as a whole.
Yes many of us and very vocally point to the state of our
still separate and unequal public education system which
is in need of much improving, but there is much that we
can do in the home to balance out this deficit of learning.

(C0RNER TALK REPORT)

THE CONSPIRATOR

Well last night as I said decided to take in a movie. Was not sure
what was playing but with luck I stumbled upon a nice period piece
entitled Conspirator.
My report, this is an excellent movie and a must see if you are into
historical films.

The Conspirator is a historical drama film directed by
Robert Redford. It is the debut film of the American Film Company.
The film tells the story of Mary Surratt, the only female co-conspirator
charged in the Abraham Lincoln assassination and the first woman to
be executed by the United States federal government. The movie
stars Robin Wright, James McAvoy, Justin Long, Evan Rachel Wood, Jonathan Groff, Tom Wilkinson, Alexis Bledel, Kevin Kline and Toby Kebbell.

Against the ominous back-drop of post-Civil War Washington and the wake of Abraham Lincoln's assassination, seven men and one woman are arrested and charged with conspiring to kill the President, Vice President, and Secretary of State. The lone woman charged, Mary Surratt (Wright) owns a boarding house where John Wilkes Booth (Toby Kebbell) and others met and planned the simultaneous attacks.

Frederick Aiken lawyer (McAvoy), a 28-year-old Union war-hero, reluctantly agrees to defend Surratt before a military tribunal. Aiken realizes his client may be innocent and that she is being used as bait and hostage in order to capture the only conspirator to have escaped a massive manhunt, her own son, John (Johnny Simmons).

As the nation turns against Mary she is forced to rely on Aiken for her defense as the drama which unfolds leads to her ultimate date with the hangman.

The official movie site/go to title link above....

(CORNER TALK REPORT)

THAT'S ENTERTAINMENT

Lady Gaga
Saturday the 16th April........

Here chilling in Starbucks listening to Whitney Houston's "Call me Tonight" from the Album "I Look To You". What a great song! It's just what I needed to
get through this wet and dreary night in New York's big apple.

Yes I'm a big Whitney Houston fan, and must admit I'm in love with this woman's voice. Trust me when Whitney sings, she knows what she is singing about.

On another note as you know the Drifters are back in the charts after 35yrs.
The new lads in Europe are currently holding at #12 on the official UK chart and with a little luck they will move up a notch in the coming week.

Most of you know the group has gone through some personnel changes, like what's new with the Drifters! that's been part of of it style since it's inception.

Spoke to Reese Cannon the other day, he's doing well for you UK fans who miss
him in the groups lineup. What of the Legends? that is the Drifters Legends myself and the guys speak frequently with each other and currently planning on getting together in the coming weeks to discuss music matters...... For updates you can log in here at Corner Talk Report or jump over to the Legends page over on Facebook.

The Drifters official web site over all keeps things in perspective. The address there http://theofficialdrifters.com/.

Rolling Stones recent special collectors edition has named The Drifters in the 100 greatest artist of all times category.

In other news Actor Samuel L. Jackson is gearing up to play the role of Martin
Luther King here on Broadway. He's played many memorable characters on screen, but now Samuel L. Jackson will portray a legend on stage.

It has been noted that Lady Gaga lately has been looking a little different but the pop superstar wants to let everyone know it's not because of any plastic surgery.

The Bieber has called it quits for a little while as far as Twitterverse goes.
The young star says he needs a little time to him self. It seems the social network has taken it's tole on him for the moment.....

Well that's it! need to get out of here and go and check out the movie scene. Will let you know what's looking promising in the coming weeks......

(CORNER TALK REPORT)

CINDY & HARRY/A NIGHT WITH THE DRIFTERS

THE LEGENDS COLLECTION STORE

Coming Soon!
The Legends Collection Store......

(CORNER TALK REPORT)

UP ON THE ROOF/The very best of The Drifters

CTR News Flash....

In the UK after 35years The Drifters are in the charts again. With the release by Sony Music the CD titled "Up On The Roof" The very best of The Drifters Entered the UK charts at No. 19 and now has moved to No 17. The CD Features two new tracks titled "Dream Of Me" and "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" along with classic hits from the 60s and 70s of the group. The Drifters after many years of declining popularity due to misrepresentation of the name and pirate groups have begun the climb back to superiority that the group was once noted for.

For info click on the title link above or log into www.theofficialdrifters.com

(CORNER TALK REPORT)

SACERED FIRE

The No.1 National Best Seller written by Peter A Lillback with Jerry Newcomb...

This book is a must read for those who question weather the founding
father of our nation George Washington was a man who lived by strong
unwavering christian values.....

For the most part the founders of this nation have become mere
bookmarks in history as we tend to focus more on the present historical
data of today's leaders.

The book a rebut of arguments made by current scholars in today's
academia that George Washington had long stepped away from
the values of this country and traveled along the lines of a deist.

It questions with detailed research over a period of 15 years or more
every aspect of Washington's life from friends who knew him, through
his writing, journals, manuscripts, and letters....

This book is long overdue in correcting the many falsehoods that
Washington lacked pure christian faith.....

The mountain of evidence speaks for itself from beginning to end
that his character lent to absolute patriotism with a strong belief
in God......

For Sacred Fire click on title link above......

(CORNER TALK REPORT)

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)

BUTCH LEAKE PHOTOGRAPHY

You can now visit my new photographic business page over on facebook........

Butch Leake Photography.... special events, documentary, port folio, head shots, portrait, and Digital imaging specialist...

Currently highlighted are photos depicting the cultural, ethnic people
who frequent the city and the Times Square area of Manhattan....Street Life

Recently uploaded.... Memorial Day photos 2010 on the Iwo Jima Aircraft
Carrier over on the Hudson River......

(CORNER TALK REPORT)

NEW ALBUM FROM STEPHANIE MILLS

C.T.R. update......from sources

A new album soon to be released from the beautiful song stylist
Stephanie Mills titled "Breathless"

Stephanie Mills who gave you such classics as "Home", "Secret Lady", and
"Never New Love Like This before" is set to grace the air waves once again...

A new Fan Page is currently up and running over on Facebook so
that she may stay closer to her fans who have supported her over the years.

There is also a new tribute song to the late great Michael Jackson which can be
downloaded over on Itunes...

What can be said this is one of the most dynamic singers to ever grace the
entertainment world of the likes that has not been seen for a long while.....

(CORNER TALK REPORT)

PROJECT MIDAS

It is called Project Midas a new device which allows city police
to take finger prints in the street..

The device has been use in the UK and is now being widely distributed
there.

It will be soon be operational on the streets of New York....

The technology will allow police to check identity, receive thousands
of picture downloads, scan passports, DNA etc. cross federal and
state data bases throughout the country...

To address fears about mass surveillance and random searches, the police insist fingerprints taken by the scanners will not be stored or added to databases.

The police claim that the technology will speed up and make criminal
investigation more efficient.

Civil rights group are currently cautioning on what the use of these devices could
mean to the ordinary citizen if used in an improper manner. Such as collecting
data of an individual on random checks and searches...

For more information log into http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2008/oct/27/project-midas-fingerprint-scanner-liberty or click on title link above....

(CORNER TALK REPORT)

BORN ON THE 4TH OF JULY

Just wishing everyone a Happy belated 4th of July.......

For those of you who are skaters, we here in New York brought in the countries
birthday with our skating bash at the city's Central Park......

Hosted by the Central Park Dance Skaters Association.....

The weather was hot and the turn out was great....

The music was to the sounds of DJ Ricky Rivera.....

For a peek in at the weekends event log into http://www.facebook.com/BUTCHLEAKE
or click on the title link above..

(CORNER TALK REPORT)

BIBLE/ASTROLOGICAL TEXT

DENDERA ZODIAC

Both Egyptian and Sumerian/Babylonian cultures were star gazers,astrologer, Mystic and priest etc. There cultures were based on the study of nature and the order of the heavens. These observations went on for thousands of years much longer than what modern science and today's organized religious bodies would like to reveal..

So the phrase as you might read in these text: (as above so below, On earth as in heaven) there culture,edifices, temples, monument, pyramids etc. embodied the reflection of the natural order of things....

The people who fashioned both the old testament and The Koran were the Hyksos Shepherd Kings pharaohs who lived in the delta area of Egypt in and around the 18th dynasty under the pharaoh Akhenaton who started monotheism...These were your so called Jews of the bible who came out of Egyptian captivity. They migrated to both the Sinai region and into Yemen. These people were the authors of both eventual text....

For the most part there is no real record that there was any migration of people under the tyranny of pharaoh that fit a true time line under the biblical record reported in the bible.

According to historians, Egyptologists place the exodus at the time of Ramesses II (c. 1280 BC),
which is some 400 years later than the era which Jacob decribes..

There is very persuasive arguments that the biblical Moses was, in fact the Egyptian pharaoh
Akhenaton...

Akhenaton reign was still 300 years later than the reign of pharaoh Jacob..

In looking at the era of Jacob we can see there is a documented historical biblical exodus,
but also a documented Hyksos exodus from Egypt... A very large event with some 24,000
families fleeing Egypt according to the historian Manetho who gave one of the most accurate
records of the Egyptian dynastic kings list...

Genesis of which most think is the creation of the heavens and earth story is really "the coming forth by day" wrongly call the Egyptian Book Of the Dead.

It is the story which depics the rising of the (Sun) not the (Son) that Christians try to propagate which the Egyptian observed daily.

This rising of the Sun is the central mystery in all what you read in these text that they try to hide.... It was the Egyptians and Sumerian/Babylonian who invented the calendar based on the Zodiac the 12 houses in astrology.... So the symbolism of the 12 deciples that you see in the Jesus stories and much more throughout both the old and new testament, Koran and many of the other religious text weather in India, China etc....

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time born, and a time to die; a time to plant and time to pluck up what is planted,,,(Ecclesiastes 3:1-2)

The Gnostics knew the allegorical and astrotheological nature of the life of Christ" as admitted by Christian father Irenaeus which was at the root of their denial of the "historical" Christ Irenaeus said:

"The Gnostic truly declared that all the supernatural transactions asserted in the gospels were counterparts of what took place above." The bible is the greatest astrological/astronomical text and story ever told. The worship of the Creators heaven.....

(CORNER TALK REPORT)

THE ART OF BUTCH LEAKE

Here is a brief collection of some of the paintings by the Artist....

Fine illustrations in pastels done over the years featuring the
many looks of The Drifters as they evolve over the years
since 1953....

Most of these art samples, paintings and photography's by the artist
can be downloaded over at Payloadz by clicking on the Payloadz
link to the right.....

(CORNER TALK REPORT)