The legacy of The Drifters is a long one but, as Tim Hughes discovers, their soulful brand of R&B remains as popular as ever

They are one of the world’s greatest vocal groups, with a string of hits and a history going back 60 years. And, amazingly, The Drifters are still going strong.

The group – one of the longest surviving in musical history – have an unbroken history going back to their early days as a backing band for Clyde McPhatter in the early 50s. Since then there have been more than 65 singers, with new generations of understudies waiting in the wings to take the place of retiring members.

There may be nostalgia in their soulful brand of rhythm and blues, but The Drifters are a young band who are anything but stuck in time.

Tonight they play the New Theatre Oxford as part of yet another transatlantic tour.

But with so many singers coming and going, can The Drifters really be considered the same band? “Most definitely!” says The Drifters’ longest- standing member, group leader Michael Williams.

“Drifters have always come and gone. The Drifters has always had a changing line-up, and each is part of that wonderful legacy. We are constantly bringing in new members.”

Alabama-born Michael has been a member since being spotted singing in New York with his former band The Falcons. Taken on as an understudy in 2006, he became a full member later that year, now leading current members Ryan King, Daniel Bowen-Smith, Damion Charles and Jerome Bucknor.

“The group was put together in 1953 by Clyde McPhatter, but he only stayed for a year himself and decided The Drifters would become a brand,” says Michael in a sing-song Southern accent. “The name would remain but members would come and go.”

Even the most famous Drifter, the late Ben E King, was only a member for two years – the band’s manager, the trumpeter George Treadwell (and husband of Sarah Vaughan) firing the original members, replacing them with King’s band the Five Crowns. Over that short time, however, he recorded 13 songs, including some of the group’s best-loved, among them There Goes My Baby, and sang staples Save the Last Dance for Me, This Magic Moment and I Count the Tears. Later solo songs, such as classics Stand By Me and Spanish Harlem, are also frequently performed by The Drifters in tribute to the singer, who died in April, aged 76.

“I still talk to guys who were in The Drifters and who are now in their 70s,” says Michael, 40. “They are all part of the story. Unfortunately some get old and die. We lost Ben E King the other day. He was only in The Drifters’ line-up for two years but he made such a massive impact and his name became synonymous with the group.

“We miss him so much but are grateful for all the great songs he has written and the hits he has given us.”

He adds: “People leave The Drifters for all sorts of reasons: they fall out with management, are fired or leave to pursue solo careers. Though some of the older guys still do a bit from time to time.”

Over the course of its evolving history, the group have achieved 13 Billboard Hot 100 top 30 hits in the States and 17 Top 40 hits in the UK – among them You’re More than a Number in My Little Red Book, There Goes My First Love, Kissin’ in the Back Row of the Movies and You’ve Got Your Troubles – all released in its golden era of the 19 70s.

The band is still managed and owned by George Treadwell’s daughter Tina.

The present tour finds the band with a new lease of life having re-aligned with its former label Sony and their first release for more than 30 years – the gold-selling Up on the Roof.

“Things are hectic but pretty good,” says Michael. “It’s fantastic, though; the best job in the world. It’s a lot of hard work but also loads of fun.”

And do the boys like to party? “Not really,” he confesses. “We have our moments, but try to chill out as much as we can. We don’t get up to much, but relax and get ready for the next show as we usually have back-to-back gigs.”

He admits to being a life-long fan of the group.

“There’s a code of ethics in keeping alive the essence of what The Drifters were back in the day,” he says. “What we are doing is keeping The Drifters’ name alive.

“I really love performing our big songs from the 60s and 70s. I used to play those records myself, and used to sing and dance along in the living room. It’s fantastic honour to be part of that now.

"I have gone on tour with The Temptations, Four Tops, Gloria Gaynor, Dionne Warwick, Mary Wilson & The Supremes and Roberta Flack.

“I started as an understudy and learnt everything from the other members. I’ve been chosen as leader, but we all take it in turn to sing lead.”

And what qualities does a singer need to be a Drifter? “We all have a certain look and style,” he says proudly.

“We all need to be smooth, look good, and have a great voice, to be able to sing harmony and have a knowledge of the group and its records.

"You can’t go wrong singing those old songs: Up on the Roof, On Broadway, Kissing in the Back Row of the Movies, Under the Boardwalk and Save the Last Dance for Me – everybody knows them and often the crowd will sing the songs for us!

“The songs seem to have a magical, mystical feel. They’ll never get old."

CHECK IT OUT
The Drifters play the New Theatre Oxford tonight. Tickets are £28.90-£75.90 from atgtickets.com