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Artist or Band

Artist or Band

The Drifters 1953: (L-R) Bill Pinkney, Gerhart Thrasher, Clyde McPhatter, (back row), Willie Ferbee, Andrew Thrasher.

Artist or Band

Artist or Band

Vocal group "The Drifters" pose for a portrait in August 1953 in New York City, NY. (L-R) Bill Pinkney, Willie Ferber, Clyde McPhatter, Andrew Thrasher, Gerhart Thrasher. Photo by Michael Ochs.

Artist or Band

Artist or Band

The Drifters 1954: (L-R) Gerhart Thrasher, Jimmy Oliver, Bill Pinkney, David Baughan and Andrew Thrasher. Photo by Gilles Petard/Redferns

Artist or Band

Artist or Band

The Drifters performing live 1954: (L-R) Little David Baughan, Gerhart Thrasher, Bill Pinkney, Andrew "Bubba" Thrasher, Jimmy Oliver. Photo from Marv Goldberg.

Artist or Band

Artist or Band

The Drifters 1955: (Top to bottom) Andrew Thrasher, Bill Pinkney, Jimmy Oliver, David Baughan, Gerhart Thrasher.

Artist or Band

Artist or Band

The Drifters 1955: (L-R) Andrew Thrasher, Gerhart Thrasher, Bill Pinkney, David Baughan, Jimmy Oliver (back row). Photo from Marv Goldberg.

Artist or Band

Artist or Band

The Drifters 1955: (L-R) Gerhart Thrasher, Bill Pinkney, Andrew Thrasher, Jimmy Oliver, David Baughan. Photo from Marv Goldberg.

Artist or Band

Artist or Band

The Drifters 1955: Perform live in Dallas TX. (L-R) Johnny Moore, Gerhart Thrasher, Bill Pinkney, Andrew Thrasher, Jimmy Oliver. Photo from Marv Goldberg.

Artist or Band

Artist or Band

The Drifters 1956: (L-R) Bill Pinkney, Gerhart Thrasher, Johnny Moore, Andrew Thrasher, Jimmy Oliver (back row). Photo from Marv Goldberg.

Artist or Band

Artist or Band

The Drifters 1957: Perform live in Atlanta GA. (L-R) Bobby Hendricks, Jimmy Oliver, Gerhart Thrasher, Bill Pinkney, Carnation Charlie Hughes.

Artist or Band

Artist or Band

The Flyers 1957: (L-R) Bobby Hendricks, Bill Pinkney.

Artist or Band

Artist or Band

Bill Pinkney & The Turks 1958: Bill Pinkney performs live.

Artist or Band

Artist or Band

The Original Drifters 1963: (L-R) Bobby Lee Hollis, Andrew Thrasher, Bobby Hendricks (front row), Bill Pinkney, Gerhart Thrasher. Photo from Marv Goldberg.

Artist or Band

Artist or Band

The Original Drifters 1963: (Back to front) Bill Pinkney, Andrew Thrasher, Gerhart Thrasher, Bobby Lee Hollis. Photo from Marv Goldberg.

Artist or Band

Artist or Band

The Original Drifters 1963: (L-R) Bobby Lee Hollis, Gerhart Thrasher, Andrew Thrasher, Bill Pinkney.

Artist or Band

Artist or Band

The Original Drifters 1965: (L-R) Gerhart Thrasher, Bobby Hendricks, Bobby Lee Hollis, Bill Pinkney. Photo from Marv Goldberg.

Artist or Band

Artist or Band

Bill Pinkney and The Originals 1966: (L-R) Bobby Lee Hollis, Bill Pinkney, Bobby Hendricks, Gerhart Thrasher.

Artist or Band

Artist or Band

The Original Drifters 1968: Benny Anderson (tenor), Wallace Ezzard (tenor; aka George Wallace), Albert Fortson (baritone), and Mark Williams (guitar). Photo from Marv Goldberg.

Artist or Band

Artist or Band

1988 Rock N Roll Hall of Fame inductees.

Artist or Band

Artist or Band

The Drifters honored at 3rd Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Ceremony 1988: (L-R) Betty King and Drifters singer Ben E King, presenter and Pop & Rock musician Billy Joel, fellow Drifters Charlie Thomas and Bill Pinkney, and record executive and Atlantic Records co-founder/president Ahmet Ertegun (1923 - 2006). Photo by Gary Gershoff.

Artist or Band

Artist or Band

Members of the Rock Hall Jam Band perform onstage during the Third Annual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Awards ceremony 1988: (L-R) Dave Edmunds, Mick Jagger, Bill Pinkney, George Harrison, and Bob Dylan. Photo by Gary Gershoff.

Artist or Band

Artist or Band

1988: Bill Pinkney and Maxine Porter pointing out his signature at the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame.

Artist or Band

Artist or Band

2006: Bill Pinkney at home.

Artist or Band

Artist or Band

2006: Joe McElveen, Mayor of Sumter, SC, honoring Bill Pinkney at his 80th birthday party in Columbia, SC.

Artist or Band

Artist or Band

Bill Pinkney, backstage at a show in South Carolina, May of 2007.

Artist or Band

Artist or Band

(L-R) Carl Gardner (Coasters), Bill Pinkney (Drifters), and Herb Reed (Platters) at the Alabama Theatre in Myrtle Beach, SC, 2007.

Artist or Band

Artist or Band

Performing live in 2007.

Artist or Band

Artist or Band

Ben E. King, Charlie Thomas and Bill Pinkney, all lead singers of the original "Drifters," reunite for a concert, one of Pinkney's last performances before passing in July 2007.

Artist or Band

Artist or Band

Bill Pinkney in 2007.

Artist or Band

Artist or Band

Bill Pinkney in 2007.

Promo Materials

Promo Materials

1968: The Original Drifters promo sheet.

Promo Materials

Promo Materials

1970: Insight Agency promo photo.

Promo Materials

Promo Materials

1980: Metropolitan Talent Agency, Inc. promo sheet.

Promo Materials

Promo Materials

1988: Insight Talent, Inc. promo sheet.

Promo Materials

Promo Materials

1993: promo sheet.

Promo Materials

Promo Materials

Elbert Talents, Inc. promo sheet.

Promo Materials

Promo Materials

1994: Superstar Unlimited Agency promo sheet.

Promo Materials

Promo Materials

Promo sheet.

Articles and Write-ups

Articles and Write-ups

Promo sheet.

40_The Drifters 1955

40_The Drifters 1955

1955: The Drifters welcome new member, John Moore. (L-R) Jimmy Oliver, Andrew Thrasher, Bill Pinkney, Johnny Moore, Gerhart Thrasher. Photo from Marv Goldberg.

Articles and Write-ups

Articles and Write-ups

1988 Rock N Roll Hall of Fame inductees program book page 6.

Articles and Write-ups

Articles and Write-ups

1988 Rock N Roll Hall of Fame inductees program book page 7.

Articles and Write-ups

Articles and Write-ups

Drifters 1: Bill Pinkney. Written by Bill Pinkney and Maxine Porter. Published by BillMax Publishing (January 20, 2013). Front cover.

43b_Book rear cover

43b_Book rear cover

Drifters 1: Bill Pinkney. Written by Bill Pinkney and Maxine Porter. Published by BillMax Publishing (January 20, 2013). Rear cover.

Articles and Write-ups

Articles and Write-ups

City of Sumter, SC proclamation for "Bill Pinkney Remembrance Day" Ambassador Bill Pinkney, D.F.A.H. August 15, 1925 - July 4, 2007

Flyers-Posters-Calendars

Flyers-Posters-Calendars

1953: Atlantic Recording release announcement.

Flyers-Posters-Calendars

Flyers-Posters-Calendars

1954: Atlantic Recording release announcement.

Flyers-Posters-Calendars

Flyers-Posters-Calendars

1961: Show poster for Irving Theatre performance in Grand Prairie, TX. (Using a 1954 photo).

Flyers-Posters-Calendars

Flyers-Posters-Calendars

1967: Advertisement for The Grov-A-Go-Go show in Charlotte, NC.

Flyers-Posters-Calendars

Flyers-Posters-Calendars

Show poster for The Original Drifters at the New Latin Quarter in Tokyo, Japan. (L-R) Bobby Lee Hollis, Bobby Hendricks, Gerhart Thrasher, Bill Pinkney, Andrew Thrasher (in front).

Flyers-Posters-Calendarshow poster

Flyers-Posters-Calendarshow poster

Show poster for concert at the Waco Coliseum in Texas.

Releases

Releases

The Drifters: 1954 release "Honey Love" sleeve Side 1.

Releases

Releases

The Drifters: 1954 release "Warm Your Heart" sleeve Side 2.

Releases

Releases

The Drifters: 1954 release "Honey Love" Side 1.

Releases

Releases

The Drifters: 1954 release "Warm Your Heart" Side 2.

Releases

Releases

The Drifters: 1954 release "Bip Bam" Side 1.

Releases

Releases

The Drifters: 1954 release "Someday You'll Want Me To Want You" Side 2.

Releases

Releases

The Drifters: 1954 release "White Christmas" sleeve Side 1.

Releases

Releases

The Drifters: 1954 release "The Bells Of St. Mary's" sleeve Side 2.

Releases

Releases

The Drifters: 1954 release "White Christmas" Side 1.

Releases

Releases

The Drifters: 1954 release "The Bells Of St. Mary's" Side 2.

Releases

Releases

The Drifters: 1955 release "Adorable" Side 1

Releases

Releases

The Drifters: 1955 release "Steamboat" Side 2.

Releases

Releases

The Drifters: 1956 release "Ruby Baby" Side 1.

Releases

Releases

The Drifters: 1956 release "Your Promise To Be Mine" Side 2.

Releases

Releases

The Drifters: 1956 release "Soldier Of Fortune" Side 1.

Releases

Releases

The Drifters: 1956 release "I Gotta Get Myself A Woman" Side 2.

Releases

Releases

The Drifters: 1957 release "The Drifters Extended Play" Front cover.

Releases

Releases

The Drifters: 1957 release "The Drifters Extended Play" Side 1.

Releases

Releases

The Drifters: 1957 release "The Drifters Extended Play" Side 2.

Releases

Releases

The Flyers: 1957 release "On Bended Knee" Side 1.

Releases

Releases

The Flyers: 1957 release "My Only Desire" Side 2.

Releases

Releases

Bill Pinky and The Turks: 1958 release "After The Hop" Side 1.

Releases

Releases

Bill Pinky and The Turks: 1958 release "Sally’s Got A Sister" Side 2.

Releases

Releases

Bill Pinkney: 1964 release "I Do The Jerk" Side 1.

Releases

Releases

Bill Pinkney: 1964 release "Don’t Call Me" Side 2.

Releases

Releases

Bill Pinkney and The Originals: 1967 release "The Masquerade Is Over" Side 1.

Releases

Releases

Bill Pinkney and The Originals: 1967 release "I Found Some Lovin’" Side 2.

Releases

Releases

Bill Pinkney & The O.D.'s: 1968 release "Can You Forgive (If You Can’t Forget)" Side 1.

Releases

Releases

Bill Pinkney & The O.D.'s: 1968 release "Ol’ Man River" Side 2.

Releases

Releases

Bill Pinkney and The Original Drifters': 1969 release "Millionaire" Side 1.

Releases

Releases

Bill Pinkney and The Original Drifters': 1969 release "Ol’ Man River (with The Original Drifters)" Side 2.

Releases

Releases

Bill Pinkney and his Original Drifters: 1980 release "(More Than A Number In My) Little Red Book" Side 1.

Releases

Releases

Bill Pinkney and his Original Drifters: 1980 release "I Count The Tears" Side 2.

Releases

Releases

Bill Pinkney & the Original Drifters: 1982 release "Live In Concert" Front cover.

Releases

Releases

Bill Pinkney & the Original Drifters: 1982 release "Live In Concert" Rear cover.

Releases

Releases

Bill Pinkney & the Original Drifters: 1982 release "Live In Concert" Side 1.

Releases

Releases

Bill Pinkney & the Original Drifters: 1982 release "Live In Concert" Side 2.

Releases

Releases

Bill Pinkney & the Original Drifters: 1989 release "Just Drifting Along" Front cover.

Releases

Releases

Bill Pinkney & the Original Drifters: 1989 release "Just Drifting Along" Rear cover.

Releases

Releases

Bill Pinkney & the Original Drifters: 1989 release "W-P-L-J (White Port Lemon Juice)" Side 1.

Releases

Releases

Bill Pinkney & the Original Drifters: 1989 release "Gonna' Move Across The River" Side 2.

Releases

Releases

Bill Pinkney & the Original Drifters: 1996 release "Peace In The Valley" Front cover.

Releases

Releases

Bill Pinkney & the Original Drifters: 1996 release "Peace In The Valley" Rear cover.

Releases

Releases

Bill Pinkney & the Original Drifters: 1999 release "Fire Is Coming" Front cover.

Releases

Releases

Bill Pinkney & the Original Drifters: 1999 release "Fire Is Coming" Rear cover.

One of the most satisfying things for me about building an artist showcase is discovering the hidden history, the true-life events that make the person. Beyond just the music Bill Pinkney lived a fascinating and event filled life before he ever recorded his first vocal on a studio microphone. He was part of not one, but three major offensives during WWII serving under George Patton for which he received a presidential citation and four bronze stars for his courage and valor. Not stopping there, he returned home and pitched for two of the first all-black baseball leagues out of New York before finally starting his nearly 6-decade journey to becoming a singing and entertainment legend.

Whew!

Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Bill Pinkney…

Willie "Bill" Pinkney was born in Dalzell, South Carolina on August 15, 1925, he was the son of Murray Pinkney Sr. and Katie Smith Pinkney. He was educated in the public schools of Sumter County South Carolina. He was raised in a Christian home and at an early age accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Savior and joined Mount Olive AME Church. Later in life he joined St. Luke AME Church, where he remained a member until his passing.

 

He voluntarily enlisted in the United States Army at age 17 in April 1943, during World War II. He received numerous awards, including a presidential citation with four Bronze Stars for the battles of Normandy, Saint Lo, Rhine River and Bastogne under General George S. Patton. Returning from the war, Pinkney moved to New York where he pitched for the the Negro Baseball League's New York Blue Sox and New York Pelicans sandlot teams. He also began to sing again in various gospel choirs. It was there that he would meet and join with the men who became the original members of the Drifters.

 

Pinkney, brothers Andrew and Gerhart Thrasher, and bass singer, Willie Ferbie, were approached by Clyde McPhatter, who had just quit as the lead tenor of the popular R&B group, Billy Ward & the Dominoes. McPhatter proposed they create a new group to record for Atlantic Records. On their first record, "Money Honey," Pinkney, a natural bass-baritone with a multi-octave range, actually sang first tenor. After Ferbie left, Pinkney switched to the bass part, in which he was heard on "Honey Love," "White Christmas," "Adorable," "Ruby Baby" and many other early Drifters recordings. In 1954, the Drifters recorded their version of "White Christmas" by Irving Berlin. That version was featured in the 1990 movie, Home Alone. Pinkney can also be heard singing lead on the 1956 recording, "I Should Have Done Right," and in 1955’s, "Steamboat.” Pinkney worked with the group from 1956 through 1958, when the manager fired all of the individual Drifters, including Pinkney, and hired an entire new group of singers. They were from the Crowns (formally known as the Five Crowns), and they were signed under the Drifters' name.

 

Pinkney quickly created a group called the Original Drifters, made up of key members of the first (1953–58) group. Pinkney's Original Drifters were consistently popular throughout the southeastern United States. For decades their music was a staple of the "beach music" scene. Leaders such as President Bill Clinton and President Nelson Mandela of South Africa recognized Pinkney's contributions. He received many musical awards, including the Rhythm and Blues Foundation Pioneer Award, and was inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the United Group Harmony Association, the South Carolina Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame, and the Beach Music Hall of Fame. He received many more awards and recognition's for services rendered to his community and the state of South Carolina. He was an honorary Sumter County sheriff's deputy; he received an honorary fine arts doctorate from Coastal Carolina University; he was awarded The Order Of The Palmetto, and South Carolina has established a state park at his Dalzell birthplace along with naming a stretch of highway “Bill Pinkney of the Original Drifters Memorial Highway” in his honor.

 

Bill Pinkney died the evening of July 4, 2007 from a heart attack while in Florida to perform with The Drifters at the annual Daytona Beach 4th of July celebration, “Red, White & Boom”.

The Drifters (Recorded 1956, previously unreleased)

Johnny Moore

Bill Pinkney

Gerhart Thrasher

Andrew Thrasher

Jimmy Oliver

The Flyers (Recorded 1957)

Bobby Hendricks - Lead vocal

Dee Ernie Bailey - Second Tenor vocal

Bill Pinkney - Bass vocal

Billy Kennedy - Baritone vocal

Bill Pinky & The Turks (Recorded 1958)

Bill Pinkney - Lead vocal

Willie Peppers

Gerald Hendrix

Tom Abston

James Curry

Bill Pinkney (Recorded 1964)

Bill Pinkney - Bass vocal

Gerhart Thrasher

Jimmy Lewis

Bobby Lee Hollis

Bill Pinkney and The Originals (Recorded 1967)

Bill Pinkney - Bass vocal

Benny Anderson - Tenor vocal

Wallace Ezzard, (aka George Wallace) - Tenor vocal

Albert Fortson - Baritone vocal

Mark Williams - Guitar

Bill Pinkney & the O.D.'s (Recorded 1968)

Bill Pinkney - Bass vocal

Bruce Caesar - Tenor vocal

Clarence Walker - Tenor/Baritone vocal

Tony "Duke" Richardson - Baritone vocal

Bill Pinkney and The Original Drifters' (Recorded 1969)

Bill Pinkney - Bass vocal

Bruce Caesar - Tenor vocal

Clarence Walker - Tenor/Baritone vocal

Tony "Duke" Richardson - Baritone vocal

Bill Pinkney and his Original Drifters (Recorded 1980)

Bill Pinkney - Bass vocal

Harriel Jackson - Tenor vocal

Andrew Lawyer - Tenor vocal

Chuck Cockerham - Tenor vocal

 Tony Cook - Baritone vocal

Bill Pinkney & the Original Drifters (Recorded 1989)

Bill Pinkney and various

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