THE ORIGINAL DRIFTERS

Join us this pre-4th of July weekend as we welcome The Original Drifters to Yoshi's Oakland for the very first time. Performing all their classic hits like, "Up On The Roof", Under The Boardwalk", Save the Last Dance for Me", "There Goes My Baby", and "This Magic Moment". The Drifter's will be celebrating 63 years of magical musical moments as the take you on a trip the memory lane.

Presented by Leo Wilson & Mark Elliott and the A-List Musiq Circle.
(Your Bay Area's Who's Who Entertainment Network)

Music’s Drifters represent more than the story of a single group’s success. Changes in personnel and management have led over the years to the sprouting of many Drifters permutations, but BILL PINKNEY used the name / mark THE ORIGINAL DRIFTERS® since the 1950s, and his legacy continues. Organizer Clyde McPhatter, BILL PINKNEY ), and Gerhart and Andrew Thrasher met while singing gospel. When Atlantic Records rejected McPhatter’s first group, these men joined forces, signed with the company, and established in 1953 the foundation upon which a music legacy was subsequently built.

Thirty five years later in 1988, originals MCPHATTER, PINKNEY, GERHART THRASHER and four later Drifters were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, which filmed PINKNEY’s oral history in 2001 for its Legends Series.

Music Icon BILL PINKNEY was a Negro Baseball League sandlot pitcher, a World War II Presidential Citation recipient with five Bronze Stars, a Rhythm & Blues Foundation Pioneer Award recipient, a member of the United Group Harmony Hall of Fame, Vocal Group Hall of Fame, Beach Music Hall of Fame, and a Gospel Hall of Fame Stellar Award recipient.

South Carolina dedicated Bill Pinkney Highway, a park near his Dalzell, Sumter County birthplace, bestowed the Order of the Palmetto, its highest civilian honor, and commissioned him the State’s “Ambassador of Music and Entertainment”. Coastal Carolina University bestowed an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree.

“Drifters1: Bill Pinkney”, his autobiography, is available at www.Drifters1.com .

We continue the great legacy of Ambassador BILL PINKNEY, D.F.A.Hon. with dignity, pride, and respect. Hope to see you there!