“P” is for Pinkney, Bill (1925-2007)

“P” is for Pinkney, Bill (1925-2007). Musician. A native of Dalzell, Pinkney began singing gospel songs as a child working in South Carolina’s cotton fields. As a pitcher with the  New York Blue Sox of the Negro Baseball League, in 1949 he met a fellow gospel singer, Clyde McPhatter. That relationship evolved into a new musical group, the Drifters. In 1953 the Drifters signed a contract with Atlantic Records and became the “all time greatest Atlantic recording group.” Moving beyond their gospel origins, the Drifters became internationally famous, creating a unique sweet soul sound that expanded the Rhythms and Blues (R&B) genre.  In 1988 members of the Drifters were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.  Well into the twenty-first century, Bill Pinkney continued to perform with the Original Drifters, a permutation of the legendary group.