The Drifters: Rock and Soul at the Lyric

Come and celebrate the historic Lyric Theatre’s 12th anniversary of its 2010 reopening with a special anniversary concert by the legendary Rock and Roll Hall of Fame performers THE DRIFTERS! Let the music move your soul as you shake, rattle, and roll to hit after hit, from “Up On The Roof” to “Under The Boardwalk.”

The Drifters, one of Rock & Roll’s founding vocal groups, is once again touring the U.S. under the auspices of their original management team. From their inception in the early 1950s and up until recently The Drifters had a symbiotic relationship with Rock & Roll legend George Treadwell, who’s discovered and managed such famous artists as Dinah Washington, Sarah Vaughn, and Nina Simone. The Treadwell Family was there when the original Drifters formed and was responsible for guiding their career through 20 years of uninterrupted hits that have made them the second most successful recording artist of all time, according to Billboard Magazine.

Through a historical journey, which included no less than 5 legendary lead singers, including Rock & Roll Hall of Famers Clyde McPhatter and Ben E. King the group’s ongoing story has covered the entire spectrum of Rock & Roll. They were the first musical group to include string instruments into Rhythm & Blues music with their hauntingly beautiful song, “There Goes My Baby”. They were the first musical group to sell 2 million records with their pop classic, “Up On The Roof”. The Drifters were also the first African American vocal group to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, alongside fellow inaugural inductees Bob Dylan, the Rolling Stones, the Beatles, and the Supremes. Their classic tune “Under The Boardwalk” is the most played R&B record of all time.

Their songs have been penned by such historic songwriters as Jerry Leiber & Mike Stoller, Carole King, Jerry Goffen, and Phil Spector. They have played at the White House on 3 different occasions; gave a benefit concert in Berlin the day the wall fell; performed for the Pope, the Queen of England, and Nelson Mandella; and toured the world for the USO in 3 different war zones, from Korea to Iraq. Behind it all was George Treadwell and his family, guiding the career of this historic group.

A special VIP Anniversary pre-concert dinner with special presentations and acknowledgments, and special VIP “Meet & Greet” and seating for VIP ticket purchasers will be available for purchase to mark this special celebratory moment.

For tickets: www.lexingtonlyric.tix.com