The Drifters
On the Cliff Richard & The Drifters page you will see photos which include Cliff's 'powerhouse' backing group - The Drifters. What follows is a brief outline as to who they were, where they came from and what they evolved into!
First we must go back to Cliff , then known by his real name of Harry Webb, before the 'Oh Boy!' TV show was conceived. Harry (Cliff) would hang out at the 2 I's Coffee Bar in Old Compton Street in London's West End -as did a whole host of other young hopefuls, - all aspiring to be the next new 'Pop Idol' with a hit record at number one in the Charts, a brand new sports car and enough cash to buy their parent's a new house!
L-R: Terry Smart, Harry Webb, Ian Samwell & Norman Mitham
downstairs in the cellar beneath the 2 I's Coffee Bar
This particular coffee bar was one of the breeding grounds, an important ingredient of the 'primeaval soup', of the newly emerging British teenage music cult which comprised of youngsters imitating, initially, the singing stars across the 'big pond' who were making it big with a new style of music called Rock 'n' Roll.
L-R: Terry, Harry & Ian playing at Butlins Holiday Camp, Clacton.1958
In that magic year of 1958, a group calling themselves 'The Railroaders' left Newcastle to take part in a talent contest in London. Such was the lure of the excitement in the teen music scene in London that two of the band's members decided to remain, and began to frequent the 'hottest place in town', the 2I's Coffee Bar. Those two young men were Hank Marvin and his pal Bruce Welch.
Later that same year, Cliff's manager went to the 2I's to check out a guy called Tony Sheridan as a possible lead guitarist to back Cliff on his forthcoming UK tour as one of the supporting acts to Chart toppers The Kalin Twins from America. Instead he signed up both Hank Marvin and Bruce Welch!
Now we have the essential 'Drifters' consisting of:
Hank Marvin:Lead guitar
Bruce Welch:Rhythm guitar
Ian Samwell:Bass guitar
Terry Smart:Drums
CLIFF & IAN SAMWELL SEPT/OCT 58 HANK & BRUCE ON 'OH BOY!'
In October 1958, Ian Samwell left the group to be replaced by Jet Harris who had been on the Kalin Twins tour as part of 'The Most Brothers'. In fact Jet was already well known to the group because he had guested with 'The Drifters' on that very same tour.
THE WHOLE GANG!
Cliff with The Drifters backstage
Back L-R: Terry Smart , Bruce Welch ,
Front L-R: Jet Harris and Hank Marvin
A rare shot of Cliff, Hank and Bruce
in Cliff's Marylebone apartment.
In February 1959, drummer Terry Smart, the last of the 'originals' left and was replaced by Tony Meehan.
In July of 1959, 'The Drifters' had to change their name because Cliff and The Drifters were on a US tour when the established American Drifters took out a court injunction to stop Cliff's backing group from using their name. A new name was quickly conjured up and henceforth 'The Drifters' became...
'The Shadows'
The rest, as they say, is history!
