In recent months, circumstances led me down memory lane, in search of people I have met at life's intersections. People you might know, if not by name, then by the music they helped create. The third of five is Bill Pinkney.
Bill Pinkney:
Perhaps you have heard of Bill Pinkney's Original Drifters. He helped build a musical name that is a legend in Rock Music, while having that legend stolen from him. He was literally fired from the band he helped make famous. For what? Asking for a raise he deserved. The original members of The Drifters were paid employees, not equal partners in the band. Founder Clyde McPhatter, to his regret, sold The Drifters name to his Manager, when he was drafted into the Army. I knew none of this when I met Bill Pinkney. My respect for the man grows with each passing year, now that I understand why his band is called Bill Pinkney's Original Drifters.
Meeting Bill Pinkney:
I met Bill Pinkney after a concert. The place where he performed, is now one of the local campuses in the Florida State Community College system, but was an upscale shopping center then. Because my Mother worked at the shopping center, she alerted me to Bill Pinkney's Original Drifters appearing at the shopping center. Since I worked nights, I gladly attended this 1980s afternoon event (exact year, unknown). Bill Pinkney was the real star of this show. One could respect the younger singers for their effort to maintain the entire history of The Drifters music, parts of which even Bill Pinkney, legend though he is, was not part of.
I can't forget things like the quality of Bill Pinkney's voice, despite being past his musical prime; without a stage, Bill Pinkney still commanded the stage; and to see Bill Pinkney was to see the Original Drifters. When it came time for autographs (not enough people sought them), Bill Pinkney was a warm, kind, friendly, generous man with his autograph. I don't remember our exchanging words, other than my asking for his autograph. Maybe I said thanks for the music, I hope so! Here was a man, still traveling the road from place to place, which he did until he died in Daytona Beach, Florida, at age 81, on the 4th. of July, back in his hotel room, in 2007, before the concert. It seemed to me a sad loss for the world. Although 25 to 30 years had passed, since I met him, there was no forgetting this kind man, who had been done out of so much in his life, despite all his honors and awards. He was a positive man!
Links:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Pinkneyhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0HDUMh42WcA
Final Thoughts:
Read the Wikipedia link on Bill Pinkney above to learn about the man. Then, click on the YouTube link to the video. It shows Bill Pinkney two months before he died, in Charlotte, North Carolina. Don't be put off by what he can't do at 81, but listen to what Bill Pinkney can still do at 81, even after years of wear and tear on the road, earning a living as best he could, while standing for so much that is right. That's why this post is longest.
Oh yeah, that autograph? I didn't keep it. I gave it to a lady I worked with. She was originally from Brooklyn, N.Y., and probably saw The Original Drifters, before Bill Pinkney and other members were fired from the band they created. Though much much younger than Bill Pinkney, she didn't live too many years beyond him. I hope Bill Pinkney's autograph passed his gospel side to her when she needed it. Yes, silly to say that, but that's okay. Life has silly moments. One last thing, yes, there's a lot of emotion wrapped up in this post.
http://www.originaldrifters.com/
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