2. "Money Honey" was a number one hit on the Billboard R&B chart for ______ ______ and The Drifters in the early '50s. What was the name of the singer that The Drifters were billed as the backing group for at this time?
From Quiz The Music of The Drifters
Answer:
Clyde McPhatter
"Money Honey" was written by musician/songwriter/producer Jesse Stone who also played piano on the record. It was number one for 11 weeks on the Billboard R&B chart for Clyde McPhatter and The Drifters in 1953. It did not chart in the UK.
On this recording with Clyde McPhatter singing lead vocal, The Drifters were Willie Ferbie (bass), Bill Pinkney (tenor), Andrew Thrasher (tenor) and Gerhart Thrasher (baritone). One of many line-ups of The Drifters, who were formed by Clyde McPhatter in 1953.
Clyde McPhatter was born Clyde Lensley McPhatter in Durham, North Carolina, USA, in 1932. He was to become a major influence on Doo-Wop and R&B. Sadly, according the late Jay Warner (president/CEO of the National League of Music) in his book "On This Day in Music History", Clyde McPhatter was "Broke and despondent over a mismanaged career that made him a legend but hardly a success".