909:
605:, the group manager fired all of the individual Drifters and hired all new singers, The Crowns (formally known as the Five Crowns), signing them under the Drifters' name. Pinkney was forced to leave. Pinkney quickly created a group called the Original Drifters, made up of key members of the first (1953–58) association. Pinkney's Original Drifters was consistently popular throughout the southeastern United States. For decades their music was a staple of the "
1293:
708:
505:
309:
29:
137:
460:. Pinkney can also be heard singing lead on the 1956 recording "I Should Have Done Right" and 1955's "Steamboat". Pinkney was in and out of the group from 1956 through 1958. He did not participate in the recording of later hits like "Fools Fall in Love" and "
271:, Pinkney grew up singing his favorite music, gospel, in his church choir. He was raised in a Christian home, and was a member of Mount Olive AME Church. He served in the
295:). Returning from the war, Pinkney began to sing again in various gospel choirs. There he met and joined with the men who became the original members of the Drifters.
1330:
1628:
1618:
243:, who achieved international fame with numerous hit records. He was chiefly responsible for its early sounds. The Drifters have had a strong influence on
1166:
418:
1608:
1444:
642:
He was selected for the South
Carolina Black Hall of Fame and given a "key to the state", which proclaimed May 14 as Bill Pinkney Day. The cities of
239:(August 15, 1925 – July 4, 2007) was an American performer and singer. Pinkney was often said to be the last surviving original member of
1323:
1343:
1613:
1623:
1588:
1201:
1316:
1264:
1138:
1236:
1603:
1583:
1222:
941:
687:
659:
480:
1568:
1117:
569:
373:
93:
829:
1187:
1096:
541:
461:
345:
65:
1573:
1180:
1131:
1089:
755:
588:
392:
112:
737:
548:
352:
72:
1593:
1082:
1578:
1558:
1271:
1103:
733:
613:
526:
330:
50:
555:
359:
79:
1563:
1208:
729:
522:
326:
46:
1057:
1159:
691:
628:
537:
410:
341:
256:
61:
1339:
1194:
1124:
934:
636:
476:
1440:
999:
405:
Bill
Pinkney, brothers Andrew and Gerhart Thrasher, and bass singer Willie Ferbee were approached by
1598:
1285:
718:
632:
1145:
722:
647:
515:
319:
268:
171:
39:
1026:
781:
769:
643:
441:
192:
440:", and many other early Drifters recordings. In 1954, the Drifters recorded their version of "
1432:
1308:
1296:
1250:
1013:
927:
773:
484:
17:
914:
1553:
1548:
1473:
1257:
683:
562:
366:
86:
8:
1243:
1215:
908:
663:
627:
recognized
Pinkney's contributions. Pinkney received many musical awards, including the
472:
802:
780:. Funeral services were held on July 9, 2007, at the Sumter County Exhibition Center in
1173:
488:
284:
272:
1229:
1110:
433:
288:
1465:
833:, "Bill Pinkney, 81; last original member of the Drifters vocal group" July 6, 2007
602:
456:
414:
292:
248:
207:
1428:
1394:
1075:
1018:
961:
877:, page 286 (also states that his name was spelled both as Pinckney and Pinkney);
406:
1402:
1358:
844:
655:
620:
175:
255:
music. As an original group member, Bill
Pinkney was a 1988 inductee into the
1542:
1492:
1380:
777:
679:
675:
445:
436:
part, in which he was heard on "Honey Love," "White
Christmas", "Adorable", "
422:
280:
252:
1459:
1414:
1372:
1152:
950:
671:
651:
624:
616:
468:
276:
240:
1526:
1420:
1406:
1398:
1388:
1376:
1034:
983:
900:
606:
211:
1499:
1469:
1424:
1364:
994:
529: in this section. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
450:
333: in this section. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
244:
639:, United Group Harmony Association, and the Beach Music Hall of Fame.
1452:
1368:
690:. In 2002, Pinkney received an Honorary Doctorate of Fine Music from
667:
437:
873:
According to the following sources
Pinkney was born in Sumter, SC:
707:
504:
409:, who had just quit as the lead tenor of the popular R&B group,
308:
28:
1506:
895:
682:, and other notable black South Carolinians. He was honored by the
225:
904:
658:), each presented its "key to the city" to Pinkney. In 2001, the
196:
919:
426:
136:
1338:
494:
837:
413:. McPhatter proposed they create a new group to record for
851:. South Carolina Department of Education. 11 December 2017
784:. Pinkney was buried at St. Luke's AME Church in Sumter.
53:. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
1540:
849:South Carolina African American History Calendar
279:. He earned a Presidential Citation with five
448:. That version was featured in the 1990 movie
1629:African-American United States Army personnel
1324:
935:
1619:United States Army personnel of World War II
736:. Unsourced material may be challenged and
495:Solo career and reformation of The Drifters
464:", which featured bass singer Tommy Evans.
432:After Ferbee left, Pinkney switched to the
1331:
1317:
942:
928:
907:
135:
1609:People from Sumter County, South Carolina
756:Learn how and when to remove this message
631:Pioneer Award, and was inducted into the
589:Learn how and when to remove this message
393:Learn how and when to remove this message
113:Learn how and when to remove this message
800:
1541:
825:
823:
688:United States House of Representatives
660:South Carolina Department of Education
1312:
1139:Kissin' in the Back Row of the Movies
923:
467:After Pinkney's permanent departure,
734:adding citations to reliable sources
701:
527:adding citations to reliable sources
498:
331:adding citations to reliable sources
302:
51:adding citations to reliable sources
22:
820:
13:
1614:20th-century American male singers
491:", with a completely new line-up.
429:range, actually sang first tenor.
14:
1640:
1624:African Americans in World War II
1589:American rhythm and blues singers
1132:(If You Cry) True Love, True Love
1118:I Don't Want to Go On Without You
889:
768:Pinkney died on July 4, 2007, in
1292:
1291:
949:
706:
503:
307:
27:
514:needs additional citations for
471:recorded hit classics such as "
318:needs additional citations for
298:
38:needs additional citations for
1272:When My Little Girl Is Smiling
794:
664:African-American History Month
1:
1604:African-American male singers
1584:20th-century American singers
875:Encyclopedia of Rock and Roll
787:
262:
16:For the American sailor, see
1188:Saturday Night at the Movies
915:Bill Pinkney at Find a Grave
454:, as well as the 1994 movie
257:Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
7:
1569:Singers from South Carolina
692:Coastal Carolina University
629:Rhythm and Blues Foundation
411:Billy Ward and his Dominoes
10:
1645:
1340:Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
1195:Save the Last Dance for Me
1125:I Gotta Get Myself a Woman
637:Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
477:Save the Last Dance for Me
417:. On their first record, "
15:
1516:
1484:
1350:
1281:
1067:
1058:The Drifters' Golden Hits
1049:
957:
221:
217:
203:
182:
158:
148:
143:
134:
127:
1574:Atlantic Records artists
801:Obituary (7 July 2007).
697:
633:Vocal Group Hall of Fame
1594:American bass-baritones
1146:Like Sister and Brother
879:Rock Movers and Shakers
776:, while staying at the
662:honored Pinkney in its
283:(for battles including
269:Dalzell, South Carolina
267:Born Willie Pinkney in
1202:Some Kind of Wonderful
782:Sumter, South Carolina
770:Daytona Beach, Florida
421:", Pinkney, a natural
144:Background information
1579:Smash Records artists
1559:American soul singers
1519:(Ahmet Ertegun Award)
1297:Category:The Drifters
237:Willie "Bill" Pinkney
18:Bill Pinkney (sailor)
1564:The Drifters members
883:Peoples Almanac 2000
778:Daytona Beach Hilton
730:improve this section
684:United States Senate
523:improve this article
327:improve this article
226:originaldrifters.com
47:improve this article
1244:Under the Boardwalk
1216:Sweets for My Sweet
666:calendar alongside
473:Under the Boardwalk
259:with The Drifters.
1223:There Goes My Baby
1050:Compilation albums
481:There Goes My Baby
273:United States Army
1536:
1535:
1306:
1305:
1265:What'cha Gonna Do
1230:This Magic Moment
1111:I Count the Tears
831:Los Angeles Times
766:
765:
758:
599:
598:
591:
573:
403:
402:
395:
377:
231:
230:
123:
122:
115:
97:
1636:
1485:Early influences
1466:Florence Ballard
1445:Gerhart Thrasher
1333:
1326:
1319:
1310:
1309:
1295:
1294:
1237:Treasure of Love
966:Gerhart Thrasher
944:
937:
930:
921:
920:
911:
861:
860:
858:
856:
841:
835:
827:
818:
817:
815:
813:
803:"Willie Pinkney"
798:
761:
754:
750:
747:
741:
710:
702:
612:Leaders such as
603:George Treadwell
594:
587:
583:
580:
574:
572:
531:
507:
499:
457:The Santa Clause
415:Atlantic Records
398:
391:
387:
384:
378:
376:
335:
311:
303:
249:rhythm and blues
208:Rhythm and blues
189:
168:
166:
151:
139:
125:
124:
118:
111:
107:
104:
98:
96:
55:
31:
23:
1644:
1643:
1639:
1638:
1637:
1635:
1634:
1633:
1599:American basses
1539:
1538:
1537:
1532:
1518:
1512:
1480:
1429:Clyde McPhatter
1395:George Harrison
1346:
1337:
1307:
1302:
1277:
1063:
1045:
1042:Prentiss McNeil
1019:Bobby Hendricks
969:Andrew Thrasher
962:Clyde McPhatter
953:
948:
903:discography at
892:
865:
864:
854:
852:
845:"Past Honorees"
843:
842:
838:
828:
821:
811:
809:
807:The Sumter Item
799:
795:
790:
762:
751:
745:
742:
727:
711:
700:
595:
584:
578:
575:
532:
530:
520:
508:
497:
442:White Christmas
407:Clyde McPhatter
399:
388:
382:
379:
336:
334:
324:
312:
301:
265:
234:
191:
187:
170:
169:August 15, 1925
164:
162:
149:
130:
119:
108:
102:
99:
56:
54:
44:
32:
21:
12:
11:
5:
1642:
1632:
1631:
1626:
1621:
1616:
1611:
1606:
1601:
1596:
1591:
1586:
1581:
1576:
1571:
1566:
1561:
1556:
1551:
1534:
1533:
1531:
1530:
1522:
1520:
1517:Non-performers
1514:
1513:
1511:
1510:
1503:
1496:
1488:
1486:
1482:
1481:
1479:
1478:
1477:
1476:
1456:
1449:
1448:
1447:
1441:Charlie Thomas
1411:
1410:
1409:
1403:Paul McCartney
1385:
1384:
1383:
1359:The Beach Boys
1354:
1352:
1348:
1347:
1336:
1335:
1328:
1321:
1313:
1304:
1303:
1301:
1300:
1288:
1282:
1279:
1278:
1276:
1275:
1268:
1261:
1254:
1251:Up on the Roof
1247:
1240:
1233:
1226:
1219:
1212:
1205:
1198:
1191:
1184:
1177:
1170:
1163:
1156:
1149:
1142:
1135:
1128:
1121:
1114:
1107:
1100:
1093:
1086:
1079:
1071:
1069:
1065:
1064:
1062:
1061:
1053:
1051:
1047:
1046:
1044:
1043:
1040:
1039:Maurice Cannon
1037:
1032:
1029:
1024:
1021:
1016:
1011:
1008:
1007:Eugene Pearson
1005:
1002:
1000:Charlie Thomas
997:
992:
989:
986:
981:
978:
975:
970:
967:
964:
958:
955:
954:
947:
946:
939:
932:
924:
918:
917:
912:
898:
891:
890:External links
888:
887:
886:
863:
862:
836:
819:
792:
791:
789:
786:
764:
763:
714:
712:
705:
699:
696:
656:South Carolina
621:Nelson Mandela
619:and President
597:
596:
538:"Bill Pinkney"
511:
509:
502:
496:
493:
485:Up on the Roof
401:
400:
342:"Bill Pinkney"
315:
313:
306:
300:
297:
293:General Patton
264:
261:
233:Musical artist
232:
229:
228:
223:
219:
218:
215:
214:
205:
201:
200:
190:(aged 81)
184:
180:
179:
176:South Carolina
160:
156:
155:
154:Willie Pinkney
152:
146:
145:
141:
140:
132:
131:
128:
121:
120:
103:September 2010
62:"Bill Pinkney"
35:
33:
26:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1641:
1630:
1627:
1625:
1622:
1620:
1617:
1615:
1612:
1610:
1607:
1605:
1602:
1600:
1597:
1595:
1592:
1590:
1587:
1585:
1582:
1580:
1577:
1575:
1572:
1570:
1567:
1565:
1562:
1560:
1557:
1555:
1552:
1550:
1547:
1546:
1544:
1529:
1528:
1524:
1523:
1521:
1515:
1509:
1508:
1504:
1502:
1501:
1497:
1495:
1494:
1493:Woody Guthrie
1490:
1489:
1487:
1483:
1475:
1471:
1467:
1464:
1463:
1462:
1461:
1457:
1455:
1454:
1450:
1446:
1442:
1438:
1434:
1430:
1426:
1422:
1419:
1418:
1417:
1416:
1412:
1408:
1404:
1400:
1396:
1393:
1392:
1391:
1390:
1386:
1382:
1381:Dennis Wilson
1378:
1374:
1370:
1366:
1363:
1362:
1361:
1360:
1356:
1355:
1353:
1349:
1345:
1344:Class of 1988
1341:
1334:
1329:
1327:
1322:
1320:
1315:
1314:
1311:
1299:
1298:
1289:
1287:
1284:
1283:
1280:
1273:
1269:
1266:
1262:
1259:
1258:Vaya con Dios
1255:
1252:
1248:
1245:
1241:
1238:
1234:
1231:
1227:
1224:
1220:
1217:
1213:
1210:
1206:
1203:
1199:
1196:
1192:
1189:
1185:
1182:
1178:
1175:
1171:
1168:
1164:
1161:
1157:
1154:
1150:
1147:
1143:
1140:
1136:
1133:
1129:
1126:
1122:
1119:
1115:
1112:
1108:
1105:
1101:
1098:
1094:
1091:
1090:Dance with Me
1087:
1084:
1080:
1077:
1073:
1072:
1070:
1066:
1060:
1059:
1055:
1054:
1052:
1048:
1041:
1038:
1036:
1033:
1030:
1028:
1025:
1022:
1020:
1017:
1015:
1012:
1009:
1006:
1003:
1001:
998:
996:
993:
990:
987:
985:
982:
979:
977:Willie Ferbee
976:
974:
971:
968:
965:
963:
960:
959:
956:
952:
945:
940:
938:
933:
931:
926:
925:
922:
916:
913:
910:
906:
902:
899:
897:
896:Official site
894:
893:
884:
880:
876:
872:
871:
870:
869:
850:
846:
840:
834:
832:
826:
824:
808:
804:
797:
793:
785:
783:
779:
775:
771:
760:
757:
749:
746:February 2018
739:
735:
731:
725:
724:
720:
715:This section
713:
709:
704:
703:
695:
693:
689:
685:
681:
680:Sanco Rembert
677:
676:Mamie Johnson
673:
669:
665:
661:
657:
653:
649:
645:
640:
638:
634:
630:
626:
622:
618:
615:
610:
608:
604:
593:
590:
582:
579:February 2018
571:
568:
564:
561:
557:
554:
550:
547:
543:
540: –
539:
535:
534:Find sources:
528:
524:
518:
517:
512:This section
510:
506:
501:
500:
492:
490:
486:
482:
478:
474:
470:
465:
463:
459:
458:
453:
452:
447:
446:Irving Berlin
443:
439:
435:
430:
428:
425:with a multi-
424:
423:bass-baritone
420:
416:
412:
408:
397:
394:
386:
383:February 2018
375:
372:
368:
365:
361:
358:
354:
351:
347:
344: –
343:
339:
338:Find sources:
332:
328:
322:
321:
316:This section
314:
310:
305:
304:
296:
294:
290:
286:
282:
281:service stars
278:
274:
270:
260:
258:
254:
253:rock and roll
250:
246:
242:
238:
227:
224:
220:
216:
213:
209:
206:
202:
198:
194:
193:Daytona Beach
185:
181:
177:
173:
161:
157:
153:
147:
142:
138:
133:
126:
117:
114:
106:
95:
92:
88:
85:
81:
78:
74:
71:
67:
64: –
63:
59:
58:Find sources:
52:
48:
42:
41:
36:This article
34:
30:
25:
24:
19:
1525:
1505:
1498:
1491:
1460:The Supremes
1458:
1451:
1437:Bill Pinkney
1436:
1433:Johnny Moore
1415:The Drifters
1413:
1387:
1373:Brian Wilson
1357:
1290:
1153:Lonely Winds
1056:
1014:Johnny Moore
1010:Johnny Terry
980:Walter Adams
973:Bill Pinkney
972:
951:The Drifters
901:Bill Pinkney
882:
881:, page 162;
878:
874:
867:
866:
853:. Retrieved
848:
839:
830:
810:. Retrieved
806:
796:
774:heart attack
767:
752:
743:
728:Please help
716:
672:Tom Feelings
652:Myrtle Beach
641:
625:South Africa
617:Bill Clinton
611:
600:
585:
576:
566:
559:
552:
545:
533:
521:Please help
516:verification
513:
469:The Drifters
466:
455:
449:
431:
404:
389:
380:
370:
363:
356:
349:
337:
325:Please help
320:verification
317:
299:The Drifters
277:World War II
266:
241:The Drifters
236:
235:
188:(2007-07-04)
186:July 4, 2007
129:Bill Pinkney
109:
100:
90:
83:
76:
69:
57:
45:Please help
40:verification
37:
1554:2007 deaths
1549:1925 births
1527:Berry Gordy
1474:Mary Wilson
1421:Ben E. King
1407:Ringo Starr
1399:John Lennon
1389:The Beatles
1377:Carl Wilson
1286:Discography
1181:Please Stay
1174:On Broadway
1167:Money Honey
1083:At the Club
1035:Louis Price
1027:Jimmy Lewis
1004:Tommy Evans
991:Beary Hobbs
984:Ben E. King
885:, page 517.
855:26 December
607:beach music
489:On Broadway
419:Money Honey
212:beach music
1543:Categories
1500:Lead Belly
1470:Diana Ross
1425:Rudy Lewis
1365:Al Jardine
1351:Performers
1104:Honey Love
995:Rudy Lewis
788:References
549:newspapers
451:Home Alone
353:newspapers
263:Early life
165:1925-08-15
150:Birth name
73:newspapers
1453:Bob Dylan
1369:Mike Love
1209:Steamboat
1097:Drip Drop
1031:Ray Lewis
1023:Rudy Ivan
988:Doc Green
772:, from a
717:does not
668:Merl Code
614:President
609:" scene.
601:In 1958,
462:Drip Drop
438:Ruby Baby
1507:Les Paul
1076:Adorable
812:23 April
686:and the
487:", and "
289:Bastogne
285:Normandy
1160:Lucille
905:Discogs
738:removed
723:sources
648:Bamberg
563:scholar
367:scholar
222:Website
197:Florida
172:Dalzell
87:scholar
650:, and
644:Sumter
635:, the
565:
558:
551:
544:
536:
427:octave
369:
362:
355:
348:
340:
291:under
251:, and
204:Genres
199:, U.S.
178:, U.S.
89:
82:
75:
68:
60:
1068:Songs
698:Death
654:(all
570:JSTOR
556:books
444:" by
374:JSTOR
360:books
94:JSTOR
80:books
868:Note
857:2022
814:2020
721:any
719:cite
542:news
483:", "
479:", "
475:", "
434:bass
346:news
287:and
245:soul
183:Died
159:Born
66:news
732:by
623:of
525:by
329:by
275:in
49:by
1545::
1472:,
1468:,
1443:,
1439:,
1435:,
1431:,
1427:,
1423:,
1405:,
1401:,
1397:,
1379:,
1375:,
1371:,
1367:,
1342:–
847:.
822:^
805:.
694:.
678:,
674:,
670:,
646:,
247:,
210:,
195:,
174:,
1332:e
1325:t
1318:v
1274:"
1270:"
1267:"
1263:"
1260:"
1256:"
1253:"
1249:"
1246:"
1242:"
1239:"
1235:"
1232:"
1228:"
1225:"
1221:"
1218:"
1214:"
1211:"
1207:"
1204:"
1200:"
1197:"
1193:"
1190:"
1186:"
1183:"
1179:"
1176:"
1172:"
1169:"
1165:"
1162:"
1158:"
1155:"
1151:"
1148:"
1144:"
1141:"
1137:"
1134:"
1130:"
1127:"
1123:"
1120:"
1116:"
1113:"
1109:"
1106:"
1102:"
1099:"
1095:"
1092:"
1088:"
1085:"
1081:"
1078:"
1074:"
943:e
936:t
929:v
859:.
816:.
759:)
753:(
748:)
744:(
740:.
726:.
592:)
586:(
581:)
577:(
567:·
560:·
553:·
546:·
519:.
396:)
390:(
385:)
381:(
371:·
364:·
357:·
350:·
323:.
167:)
163:(
116:)
110:(
105:)
101:(
91:·
84:·
77:·
70:·
43:.
20:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.