Legendary R&B Group Performing In Wayne

WAYNE, NJ — A legendary R&B, soul group that has been around since the early 1950s will be performing at William Paterson University soon.

The Drifters, originally founded in 1953, will perform at William Paterson’s Shea Center for Performing Arts on Feb. 21. The show starts at 8 p.m.

While the group no longer has its original members, including the likes of Ben E. King, it keeps the legendary group’s music alive with rotating members. Louis Bailey, Stephen Brown, Jerome Manning, and Jeff Hall are often the core of The Drifters nowadays.

The group rose to prominence in the 1950s and 60s, recording classics like “This Magic Moment,” “Under the Boardwalk,” and “Up on the Roof,” to name a few.

The Drifters are credited with being the first musical group to use string instruments in R&B music with their hit song, "There Goes My Baby."

Their trailblazing did not stop there, as The Drifters were the first African American vocal group to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

The group is now managed by Tina Treadwell, daughter of Faye and George Treadwell who managed The Drifters for decades.

“Their songs have been penned by such historic songwriters as Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, Carol King, Jerry Goffen and Phil Spector,” a WPU statement read. “They have played at the White House on 3 different occasions, give a benefit concert in Berlin the day the wall fell, performed for the Pope, the Queen of England, Nelson Mandella and toured the world for the USO in 3 different war zones from Korea to Iraq. And behind it all was George Treadwell and his family, guiding the career of this historic group.”

Tickets to the show can be purchased online here and start at $43.