Charles Thomas, an American vocalist best known for his work with The Drifters, lived from April 7, 1937, to January 31, 2023. When George Treadwell dismissed his band, The Drifters, at the Apollo Theater in 1958, Thomas was there performing with The Five Crowns. The Five Crowns were enlisted by Treadwell to replace the Drifters.
The 1959 smash “There Goes My Baby” served as the new Drifters’ first single. “Sweets for My Sweet” and “When My Little Girl Is Smiling,” two of the group’s top 40 successes, featured Charlie as the lead singer. Thomas received a Pioneer Award from the Rhythm and Blues Foundation in 1999 and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988 while a member of the Drifters.
Charlie Thomas Dead: What Happened To Drifters’ Charlie Thomas?
Charlie Thomas was the grandpa of hip hop producer Charlie “Bambu” Thomas and the father of Charles “Happy” Thomas Jr. At the age of 85, Thomas passed away from liver cancer on January 31, 2023.
The Vintage New England Theater in Cranston, Rhode Island, hosted a performance by Thomas and The Drifters on May 21, 2011.