The Drifters’ lead tenor, Charlie Thomas, dies

By Joseph Green-Bishop Texas Metro News Correspondent

Charlie Thomas, who sang lead tenor with “The Drifters,” and who performed for more than 60 years, died from cancer on January 31 at his home in Bowie, MD, according to a spokesman for his family. He was 85 years old. Mr. Thomas performed  live into his 80s  until the COVID 19 Pandemic shut down many of the venues where he was scheduled to appear.  His health began to decline when he could no longer perform, one of his associates said. The Drifters, one of the country’s most popular vocal groups in the early 1960s, recorded hits such as “Under the Boardwalk,” “Up on the Roof,” and “There Goes My Baby,” which reached  near the top of the record charts. Their song, “Save the Last Dance for Me,” did become number one. While a small boy in Lynchburg, Virginia, where he was born,  Mr. Thomas participated in church services while his father, Reverend Lewis Thomas, preached and his mother, Lucinda, sang in the choir. The young Mr. Thomas spent much of the church service banging on a tambourine. When his family moved to New York, Mr. Thomas earned money singing on street corners with other teenage talent. It was not long before he was discovered by a music promoter and placed in a group named The Crowns. Mr. Thomas became a member of The Drifters when he and three other young singers were selected to replace the original members of the group who were dismissed  after a heated disagreement with their manager. He became  lead vocalist in the group, which had a contract with Atlantic Records, when his predecessor died suddenly. With Mr. Thomas singing lead vocals on many songs, the group had hit after hit, including “Sweets for My Sweet,” and “When My Little Girl is Smiling.” When The Drifters disbanded in the late 1960s, Mr. Thomas continued to sing, performing as Charlie Thomas’s Drifters. He is survived by his wife, Rita; two daughters, Crystal and Victoria; three  sons; Charlie Jr., Brian, and Michael and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.