Charles Nowlin Thomas (April 7, 1937 – January 31, 2023)
was an American singer best known for his work with
The Drifters. Thomas was performing with The Five Crowns at the
Apollo Theater
The Apollo Theater (formerly the Hurtig & Seamon's New Theatre; also Apollo Theatre or 125th Street Apollo Theatre) is a multi-use Theater (structure), theater at 253 125th Street (Manhattan), West 125th Street in the Harlem neighborhood of U ...
in 1958 when
George Treadwell fired his group, called The Drifters. Treadwell recruited the Five Crowns to become the new Drifters.
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".
Personal life and death
Charlie Thomas was the father of Charles "Happy" Thomas Jr. and grandfather of
hip hop
Hip-hop or hip hop (originally disco rap) is a popular music genre that emerged in the early 1970s from the African-American community of New York City. The style is characterized by its synthesis of a wide range of musical techniques. Hip- ...
producer Charlie "Bambu" Thomas.
Thomas died from liver cancer on January 31, 2023, at the age of 85.
Honors
Thomas was inducted into the
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (RRHOF), also simply referred to as the Rock Hall, is a museum and hall of fame located in downtown Cleveland, Ohio, United States, on the shore of Lake Erie. The museum documents the history of rock music and the ...
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
Cranston, formerly known as Pawtuxet, is a city in Providence County, Rhode Island, United States. The official population of the city in the 2020 United States Census was 82,934, making it the second-largest city in the state. The center of ...
, Thomas and The Drifters performed at the Vintage New England Theater.
References
External links
Interview with Charlie Thomas*
1937 births
2023 deaths
Deaths from liver cancer in the United States
American rhythm and blues singers
The Drifters members
Musicians from Lynchburg, Virginia
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