Don Thomas R.I.P.

[Roburt]

Just learnt today that Don Thomas passed away on 10th November last year. . . . R.I.P. . . . .another one gone.

Don't think that fact has been posted up on here before.

Edited May 9, 2023 by Roburt

[Roburt]

Don appears in this TV commercial video, shot when he'd returned to be in a US based version of the Drifters ... 

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jhm2nkHu6y0

Edited May 10, 2023 by Roburt

[Mal C]

RIP Don Thomas

Don's real name was Charles Thomas an ex-Drifter, but also in line up of the Dealers on Big Bunny. A talented singer, a great loss, Don your music always kept us 'Movin!'

Edited May 10, 2023 by Mal C

[Guest]

RIP Don 

"Come on train" still a favourite here

Derek

[21 Again]

How can i help but love you from his album Your the one. what a piece of wonderful gospel soul.

[Mal C]

33 minutes ago, 21 Again said:

How can i help but love you from his album Your the one. what a piece of wonderful gospel soul.

I'm not entirely sure that is the same Don Thomas? I always thought so, but I checked today when I posted above, so firstly, check out his photo, and also its spelt 'Donn’ so with a double n on the Myrrh Lp. Thats not conclusive by any stretch, but I'm not sure thats the same singer below...

And no disrespect to Don Thomas of course...

Edited May 10, 2023 by Mal C

[Roburt]

3 hours ago, 21 Again said:

How can i help but love you from his album Your the one. what a piece of wonderful gospel soul.

A totally differnt guy, as was established at the time the 'You're The One' album became popular.

[Roburt]

Charles Thomas had to become Don Thomas when he joined the Drifters in 69 as a long standing member by the name of Charlie Thomas had only recently left the group. So as not to confuse fans, Charles became Don.

He was on their 69 recordings, released by Atlantic in 70. 

[Roburt]

We in the UK always viewed the Johnny Moore led group as being the real Drifters but as that group spent all it's time in the UK, US audiences / fans had to look elsewhere. Johnny Moore had joined the Atlantic Recs group (from Cleveland's the Hornets) in 1955. He had to go into the military so left the group, only to return as lead singer in 64. He then brought his version of the group over to live in the UK in the early 70's and they remained here right through the 70's & into the 80's. Johnny then hired his own 'new' set of Drifters and he & they stayed in the UK till his death at the end of 1998.

But that meant that from around 1973, that group weren't available to fulfil US engagements.,So numerous other versions of the group took the place of Johnny Moore's guys.

Charlie Thomas had quit the Atlantic group in 1967 (he'd become a Drifter in 58). He started his own version of the Drifters in the US around 1973 and they cut for Musicor in 74.

Charles 'Don' Thomas joined the Atlantic group in 69 and was with them till the group fell apart in 1970.

 Don Thomas then re-joined a set of Drifters in 1978 and at one point (80's), Charlie Thomas became a member of that same outfit (see photo). Charlie passed in late January this year, just a few weeks after Don had passed.  

[Roburt]

The Charlie Thomas's Drifters 45 escaped in the UK as well as in the US ... 

As you can see from the ad; Charlie's group were deemed (by record company PR guys at least) as being the 'real' group in 1974.

 

Edited May 11, 2023 by Roburt