Bill Pinkney Of The Drifters Dies At 81

I was saddened to read today that rhythm and blues singer Bill Pinkey, the last surviving member of the original lineup of the The Drifters, died yesterday. I was fortunate to have had the opportunity of playing with The Drifters on a couple of Kentucky concerts in the late 1980's. Those gigs were a lot of fun. Mr. Pinkney was also a former pitcher for the New York Blue Sox of the Negro Baseball League.

The Drifters were known for such hits as "Under The Boardwalk", "Money Honey", and a 1954 cover of "White Christmas." Pinkney and six members of The Drifters were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1988.