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The Drifter Wars/A House Divided

It's know wonder after 60 years of musical success with numerous
singles and albums sold around the world. The Drifters as a hold is
still a house divided with members still fighting for a title which is
illusive as it was when it was first conceived.

The illusion that it was Treadwell who should get all the accolade
for The Drifters when in reality it was Ahmet Ertegan who first
gave Clyde  McPhatter the impetus to form a group which later
became know as The Drifters. So the truth of the matter it was
the Atlantic Record executives who for the most part were the
spark for the original success of the group.

It was Clyde's bad judgement when he sold the name to Treadwell
which he later regretted that doomed his fellow group members and
all those who came along over the years to being just salaried
employees of  Drifters Inc.

Treadwell being a shrude businessman took advantage of a good
thing and exploited it to maximum. So as always the poor get
poorer and the rich get richer. The practice of of different pay
scales added much to the division between it's members. This
kept alliances from forming among the members.

As Rolling Stone magazine puts it The Drifters were just a bunch
of low paid singers.

Most have died poor and those that continue on today fight
over a trademark which they will never truly own. They still
continue to work for little of nothing in this business of music
for ever being exploited by those who in there self interest
use The Drifter service mark for there own dubious
exploitation of starving artist.

Can there ever be peace in the house that Treadwell built is
as illusive today as it was yesteryear. There has been a
re-branding of the name abroad by the current management
of The Drifters (PMG) Prism Music Group UK who holds
the worldwide licensing rights to The Drifters but for all the
good work they have done still hasn't changed matters on
the ground floor with the former members and the countless
fans who will never except any thing new in the way of current
Drifter lineup who have yet to come of age to fill the shoes of
those great Icons of the past.

Maybe rightfully so as wounded hearts never forget the
skulduggery of years gone by.

Butch Leake (CORNER TALK REPORT)

For comprehensive information and discussions on
The Drifters Legends Log into The Drifters Legends Clubhouse.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/thedrifterslegendsclubhouse/

Can The Drifters Survive The New Musical Trends

There are many Ideas on that very question weather a 60 year old
musical group or brand so to speak can survive the ever changing
musical trends in this progressive world of music as it is.

Now there's no doubt you can find a Drifters group somewhere
out there on any given day performing to audiences somewhere
on planet earth Owing to the continued amount of trademark
infringement that takes place on a daily basis both by would be
wannabes and former members alike.

All this in many ways keeps the brand name alive but also
weakens it on the bigger picture as serious investment by major
concerns might find it a risky business venture in placing capital
behind a product that is so out of control.

Turning to the musical aspect of the brand The Drifters has always
been know for it's rich sound as far as the wholesome strong voices
that was required by the record executives back in the 50s into the
60s and 70s which was the hallmark of all the the great acts out of
those periods.

The roots lie much in solid gospel background foundation on into
Rhythm and Blues, which for the most part has been a missing
element in some of the acts in this new generation of performers.

On the other end the new generation of music listeners are brought
up on this new light sound and electronic generated music that drifts
away from the universal heart beat which in itself lends to an
unnatural feel.

The Drifters in this day in time is currently being re-branded for
a new generation of music listeners who have know knowledge
of the glorious rich sounds of the the past. So the question remains
can the brand separate from it's true roots and survive in these new
musical trends.

History has always shone us that there is some danger in trying to
move to far from the center or that of your root. It has been tried
before under the label of (New Music) and has met a terrible fate.

"Drifter fans, historians and enthusiast I much would like to hear your
feed back on this."

Butch Leake (CORNER TALK REPORT)

For more info on The Drifter Legends log into the link below:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/thedrifterslegendsclubhouse/

Drifters Legend Performs Canada

Here's a recent performance from Canada featuring Drifters Legend
Rick Sheppard and his Drifters.

Rick as many of you fans out there know performed with the official
lineup back in the 60s along side of the legendary Johnny Moore,
Charlie Thomas, Bill Fredricks and Abdul Samad.

Ricks show is one of the better Drifters show in the current market
place, keeping close to the traditional format and sound that The
Drifters were noted for. An exciting fast moving slickly choreographed
outfit will surely get you dancing on your feet.

Butch Leake (CORNER TALK REPORT)

For more on the Drifters Legends log into the link below:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/thedrifterslegendsclubhouse/