Charlie Thomas (musician)

Charles Nowlin Thomas (April 7, 1937 – January 31, 2023)[1] was an American singer best known for his work with The Drifters. Thomas was performing with The Five Crowns at the Apollo Theater in 1958 when George Treadwell fired his group, called The Drifters. Treadwell recruited the Five Crowns[2] to become the new Drifters.

Charlie Thomas
Thomas performing live
Thomas performing live
Background information
Birth nameCharles Nowlin Thomas[1]
Born(1937-04-07)April 7, 1937
Lynchburg, Virginia, U.S.
DiedJanuary 31, 2023(2023-01-31) (aged 85)
Bowie, Maryland, U.S.
GenresPop, rock & roll, R&B
Instrument(s)Vocals
Years active1957–2023
LabelsAtlantic Records

The new Drifters' first release was the 1959 hit "There Goes My Baby". Charlie was lead singer on two of the group's top 40 hits, "Sweets for My Sweet" and "When My Little Girl Is Smiling".[3][4]

Personal life and death

Charlie Thomas was the father of Charles "Happy" Thomas Jr. and grandfather of hip hop producer Charlie "Bambu" Thomas.

Thomas died from liver cancer on January 31, 2023, at the age of 85.[1][5][6]

Honors

Thomas was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988 as a member of the Drifters and was given a Pioneer Award by the Rhythm and Blues Foundation in 1999. On May 21, 2011, in Cranston, Rhode Island, Thomas and The Drifters performed at the Vintage New England Theater.[7]

References
  1. Sandomir, Richard (February 6, 2023). "Charlie Thomas, a Drifter Nearly All His Life in Song, Dies at 85". The New York Times. Retrieved February 11, 2023.
  2. "The Five Crowns - Biography & History - AllMusic". AllMusic.
  3. Cylist. "Billboard Top 40 Hits (1962) at cyList". www.cylist.com.
  4. "Marv Goldberg's R&B Notebooks - THE LATER DRIFTERS". Archived from the original on 2009-02-25. Retrieved 2010-01-04.
  5. "Charlie Thomas, longtime member of The Drifters, dies at 85". Soul Tracks. 31 January 2023. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
  6. Charlie Thomas, a Singing Drifter Nearly All His Life, Dies at 85
  7. Baptista, Todd (May 21, 2011). "Go back to the boardwalk with The Drifters Charlie Thomas". Go back to the boardwalk with The Drifters' Charlie Thomas. Goldmine Magazine. Retrieved January 3, 2016.


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