A Night of Legends

HISTORY was made in London on Sunday night when The Drifters appeared live on stage at the IndigO2 at the O2 with 'The Drifters Legends' - some of the most popular and acclaimed former line up members from the different era's of the group's success.

The current Drifters line up performed over two hours of hits from the group's extensive back catalogue and were joined on stage for special one-off performances by Legends Joe Blunt, Butch Leake and Wolf Johnson. Joe Blunt delighted the audience early on in the first set and got everyone up on their feet with The Drifters smash hit "You're More Than A Number in My Little Red Book" - a song that he originally recorded back in December 1976 on the Bell Arista Label. Butch Leake gave a superb performance of the up tempo classic "Down On The Beach" - a song that he originally recorded in September 1974 on the Bell Arista Label and, in the second set, Wolf Johnson, who has performed alongside Drifters Legends such as Bobby Hendricks and Bill Pinkney, brought his incredible bass voice and flamboyant personality to the stage with a fabulous version of "Magic Moment."

Celebrating this momentous evening in London were also some of the most influential contributors to the Drifters incredible 56 year history, including prolific songwriter Roger Greenaway, who wrote and co-wrote some of the Drifters most prolific classic hits including "Sister and Brother", "Kissin in the Back Row", "More Than A Number" and many more.

An award presentation included a Lifetime Achievement Award presented by Neil Martin of Sony Music to The Drifters Legends, to recognise the contribution that the Drifters made to the Bell Arista Label.

Neil says: "I was both flattered and honoured to be asked, on behalf of Sony Music, to present Butch and Joe with their long-overdue awards for services to both The Drifters in particular and the music industry in general during the Bell / Arista period in the 1970s. Although The Drifters have enjoyed a long and amazing career, Butch and Joe were there when the group were enjoying arguably their most successful period. As a boy growing up in Britain in the '70s, songs such as "Kissing In The Back Row Of the Movies", "There Goes My First Love", "You're More Than A Number In My Little Red Book" and "Like Sister & Brother" formed part of the soundtrack to my early life.

"So, it's great that in 2009, the legacy lives on and the songs sound as fresh now as they did when they first floated out on the airwaves back then. I have to add that meeting Wolf was also terrific and he's clearly still enjoying performing. It was great that Roger Greenaway was also there to share in this special and unique occasion. Long live The Drifters; here's to the next six decades !"

Roger Greenaway adds: "It was a great pleasure to help present the awards and Brenda and I had a wonderful time. The new lineup is terrific and they did my co-writers and me Proud... and it was so good to see Butch and Joe again."

The Drifters and The Legends closed the show all performing together the classic hits "Saturday Night at The Movies", "Kissin in the Back Row" and "Save the Last Dance" - an historic end to an historic night. The Drifters also released their first official new material in 30 years on the night in the form of new charity single Sacrifice, which will raise money for leading HIV+/AIDS charity MildMay.

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