The Drifters Legends History, Music and Photographic Legacy by Butch Leake
This is a historical Anthology dedicated to the body of work that has been left and the men who came through the ranks of the brand during different periods of its tumultuous history. Here you will find all that is authentic in the history of The Legends, the people and organizations that spawned the formation of this musical dynasty that has lasted over 6 decades
After a half century or more The Drifters have produced a cast of more than sixty or more singers through it's ever changing, lineup.
From the early 50's unto today, the group, for the most part, was visioned as a brand by it's founding members and this concept continues as a method to breath new life into the brand Idea. Though for those who owned and controlled the group this has been a most profitable venture over the years, it hasn't played out that way for most of the membership who filled its ranks. Yet the Drifters for all of it's historical value is a story within a story that exceeds much of what we come to know as a great success story in Black entertainment. Back in the early fifties when the first classical group of Drifters were first put together to compliment the then Legendary Clyde McPhatter. Who then would have known the story that was about to be written. With a catalog that is as impressive as any of the great bands of the era or after, The Drifters have managed to sell over two hundred and fourteen million singles and one hundred and fourteen million albums and as of late in 2012 has gone gold again with one hundred thousand CD's sold through Sony Music.