The Drifters

Formed in New York in 1953 around Clyde McPhatter, The Drifters began as a vocal rhythm-and-blues and doo-wop group before broadening their sound to include soul and orchestrated pop. The group's history is marked by frequent personnel changes: after the initial period led by McPhatter, a new lineup drawn from the Five Crowns took over in the late 1950s with Ben E. King, followed in turn by Charlie Thomas, Rudy Lewis and Johnny Moore as central figures. This succession of lineups partly accounts for the variety of their repertoire, which evolved from R&B with strong gospel roots to more arranged songs, many produced by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. The Drifters recorded several tracks that became landmarks of American pop and soul, including There Goes My Baby, Save the Last Dance for Me, Up on the Roof and Under the Boardwalk. From the 1970s onward The Drifters continued with other formations and experienced a revival in the United Kingdom, where the group established a lasting presence. Since then the name The Drifters has been used by several versions tied to this complex history, involving African‑American vocal heritage, touring circuits and disputes over the rights to the name.