The Drifters Charlie Thomas Dead at 85, Know More Details About The Drifters Charlie Thomas Death
by Rajalaxmi | Updated Feb 11, 2023
The Drifters' Charlie Thomas Dead at 85
Legendary R&B singer Charlie Thomas, best known for his work with the iconic vocal group The Drifters, The Drifters formed in the 1950s and became one of the most influential groups in the history of R&B music. With hits such as "Save the Last Dance for Me," "Up on the Roof," and "Under the Boardwalk," The Drifters helped define the sound of early R&B and established themselves as one of the most successful groups of their era.
Thomas joined The Drifters in the late 1950s and remained with the group for more than five decades, becoming a cornerstone of their sound and style. He was known for his powerful voice and dynamic stage presence, which helped cement The Drifters' place in music history.
In a statement, Thomas's family said, "Charlie was a kind and gentle soul who devoted his life to music. He will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him, but his legacy will live on through the music he helped create."
The Drifters' music continues to be beloved by fans around the world, and Thomas's contributions to the group's sound and style will be remembered for generations to come. He was a true icon of R&B music and a pioneer in the genre, leaving behind a legacy that will inspire and influence musicians for years to come.
Charlie Thomas, a singer and longtime member of the R&B group the Drifters, has died. He was 85. The veteran vocalist died on Jan 31 at his home in Bowie, Maryland, after a battle with liver cancer.
The Drifters' Charlie Thomas Dead
The Drifters' Charlie Thomas Dead on 31 January 2023 at the age of 85. The story of the Drifters, a classic vocal group, is one of the legal battles and ownership disputes. In 1969, magazine editor Larry Marshak attempted to put together a series of concerts featuring the Drifters and other classic vocal groups. He found Dock Green, Charlie Thomas, and Elsbeary Hobbs and began promoting them as the Drifters. This quickly led to legal action from Faye Treadwell, wife of George Treadwell, who was managing the Drifters at the time. In order to grant his group the sole rights to the name, Marshak convinced Hobbs, Thomas, and Green to apply for a trademark on the Drifter's name in 1976. However, due to Treadwell's legal action, the trademark was revoked in 2000 by a U.S. federal court.
In response to this and similar cases, 34 of the 50 U.S. states enacted the Truth in Music Advertising laws between 2005 and 2014 to prevent promoters like Marshak from creating new groups and marketing them as established groups such as the Drifters.
In 2006, Tina Treadwell, George Treadwell's daughter, served writs in the London high court against Drifters UK Ltd, claiming that they were not the rightful controllers of the Drifters name. In 2008, the Treadwell family and Prism Music Group Ltd won their legal battle, and the court order prohibited several individuals from using the Drifters name.
Currently, the Drifters name is owned by the Treadwell family through Tina Treadwell and the UK-based company, Prism Music Group Ltd. The current lineup features Michael Williams, Pierre Herelle, Ryan King, and Carlton Powell.
In 2009, the Drifters performed at the London IndigoO2 Arena with special guests, the Drifter Legends, made up of some of the most prestigious former members of the group. At the concert, lifetime achievement awards were presented to Joe Blunt and Butch Leake by Neil Martin from Sony Music and songwriter Roger Greenway. In 2012, Sony Music awarded gold discs for the sale of 100,000 units of "Up on the Roof" and "The Very Best Of" to Butch Leake, Joe Blunt, and Clyde Brown.
Charlie Thomas Wiki
Charlie Thomas was an American singer. The Vocal Group Hall of Fame has honored two distinct lineups of the legendary R&B group, "The Drifters". In 1998, "The Original Drifters" were inducted and in 2000, "Ben E. King and the Drifters" were recognized. The group has been widely recognized for their contributions to the music industry and their lasting impact on popular culture.
In 2004, Rolling Stone magazine placed the Drifters at number 81 on their list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time. This recognition further cements their place in musical history and highlights their lasting impact on the industry.
In 1988, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame honored the Drifters by inducting members Clyde McPhatter, Bill Pinkney, Gerhart Thrasher, Johnny Moore, Ben E. King, Charlie Thomas, and Rudy Lewis. This honor acknowledges the impact the Drifters had on the rock and roll genre and their place in music history.
Bill Pinkney, Charlie Thomas, and Johnny Moore (posthumously) were also honored with Pioneer Awards from the Rhythm & Blues Foundation in 1999. These awards recognize their significant contributions to the R&B genre and their lasting impact on music.
The Songwriters Hall of Fame has also recognized the Drifters by including them among their "Songwriters Friends." This distinction acknowledges the role the Drifters played in popularizing the songs written by inductees.
Finally, in 2018, the Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame honored the Drifters for their contributions to the genre and their lasting impact on the music industry. These honors demonstrate the Drifters' significance to the music world and their enduring legacy.
Singer for The Drifters
The Drifters are a legendary American vocal group known for their doo-wop and R&B/soul style of music. The group was first formed in 1953 as a backing group for Clyde McPhatter, the former lead tenor of Billy Ward and his Dominoes. In 1959, another group of Drifters, led by Ben E. King, was formed, which was originally known as The Five Crowns. Over the years, members of the group drifted in and out, resulting in several splinter groups, each tracing its roots back to the original groups, but with few original members.
The instability of the group was due to their low pay, as they were hired musicians managed by George Treadwell, who owned the Drifters' name from 1955. The Treadwell Drifters line has had 60 musicians, including splinter groups formed by former Drifters members. These splinter groups are usually identified with a possessive credit, such as "Bill Pinkney's Original Drifters" or "Charlie Thomas' Drifters".
The Drifters have had three golden eras, the early 1950s, the 1960s, and the early 1970s (post-Atlantic period). The first Drifters, formed by Clyde McPhatter, were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame as "The Drifters". The second Drifters, featuring Ben E. King, were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame as "Ben E. King and the Drifters". The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame selected members from both groups for induction.
The original Drifters recorded 13 chart hits and set musical trends, according to the Vocal Group Hall of Fame. Subsequent formations of the Drifters recorded 13 top-30 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, including six number-one R&B hits, such as "Money Honey" (1953), "There Goes My Baby" (1959), and "Under The Boardwalk" (1964). Although the group had their biggest success on the UK singles chart, peaking with the number-two hit "Kissin' in the Back Row of the Movies", they were not as successful in the United States during their 1970s revival.
The Drifters' Charlie Thomas Dead at 85 - FAQs
Charlie Thomas is an American R&B singer and one of the original members of the legendary group, "The Drifters". He was part of the group during their most successful years and is widely recognized for his contributions to the music industry.
Charlie Thomas was born on December 25, 1936, in Savannah, Georgia.
Charlie Thomas became a member of The Drifters in 1954 and remained with the group until 1965.
Charlie Thomas is best known for his contributions as a singer and performer with The Drifters. He was part of the group during their most successful years and is widely recognized for his smooth and soulful vocal style.
Yes, Charlie Thomas was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of The Drifters in 1988. This recognition acknowledges his significant contributions to the music industry and his place in musical history.