Who are we really?                                              

Who was Bill Pinkney?

Bill Pinkney, the Legend of The Drifters(c), was the sole surviving member of The Drifters’ 1953 initial recording / touring lineup that included organizer Clyde McPhatter, Gerhart and Andrew Thrasher, and Bill Pinkney. Pinkney’s legacy group is now on the 57th Anniversary Tour. Original Drifters, Inc. and its Principal, Pinkney’s successors and sole owners of the mark “Bill Pinkney’s Original Drifters^®” USPTO registration # 3,649,096 and the mark “Original Drifters” registered by the state of Nevada, claim all rights and privileges in his professional legacy.

What is the legal background of the name/mark “Original Drifters^®”?

Pinkney was confirmed in the exclusive and irrevocable ownership of the name/mark “Original Drifters” in a binding union arbitration through the American Guild of Variety Artists in the 1950s.  Pinkney brought the action against George Treadwell (with George and Fayrene Treadwell, Charlie Thomas, and Ben E. King, among others, present).

 Pinkney later successfully challenged a 1970 Default Judgment entered in an action brought unknown to him by The Drifters, Inc. (Fayrene Treadwell, principal) that precluded his  use of “The Drifters or The Original Drifters”.  A 1992 interim decision that stated in relevant part “Bill Pinkney shall be entitled to conduct his business activities as  he has heretofore been doing”.  In 1993, Pinkney prevailed in the entire action that dissolved the Default Judgment and effectively affirmed his rights in both “The Drifters or The Original Drifters”. 

Treadwell’s Drifters, Inc. later obtained a favorable decision against a third party and sought to register “The Drifters” name/mark in the United States Patent and Trademark Office.  That application for registration was not granted based on Pinkney’s opposition, as Pinkney prevailed in the action in September 2004 when the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board denied the Treadwell registration citing Pinkney’s “priority”.  For online documentation, go to www.uspto.gov. 

Accordingly, there is no standing judgment in any court that precludes Pinkney’s use of the names/marks “The Drifters or The Original Drifters”.  Pinkney, by choice, usually limited his billing to the mark “Original Drifters”, alone or in conjunction with his name. It is historically well documented that Pinkney’s continuous use since 1953 predates any Treadwell involvement in The Drifters story.

 The last member of The Drifters 1953 original recording/touring line-up, the late DR. BILL PINKNEY is in the Vocal Group, United Group Harmony, Gospel, 
Beach Music, and Rock and Roll Halls of Fame.  A Negro Baseball League sandlot pitcher and Rhythm & Blues Foundation Pioneer Award recipient, South Carolina’s “Ambassador of Music and Entertainment” is a World War II Presidential Citation recipient with five Bronze Stars (including Normandy and Bastone).  
His autobiography “Drifters 1 : Bill Pinkney” is online at www.Drifters1.com.   The Legacy Continues!

Imposter Leporia Logins a/k/a Lee Logan
    a/k/a Hollywood Logan, among other aliases

Imposter Leporia Logins a/k/a Lee Logan a/k/a Hollywood 
Logan, among many other aliases, has engaged in infringing 
activities via “The Legendary Drifters” and “The Original 
Driftors” (sic), without the permission of the rightful Owner.

 Many have been duped while Logins has left a long trail of 
misrepresentation, unpaid bills and returned checks.  We are 
informed that Authorities in a number of states throughout the 
Midwest and the South have pending Motions and Warrants 
against him.

 This company reserves the right to all legal remedies against 
performers, managers, agents, venues, sponsors, promoters, 
advertising entities, and all others who assist Logins in this 
illegal behavior.  Kindly refer to the following copy of a 
successful Judgment against an infringing venue. 

The document reads in part

 “Order

This matter coming before the Court on 
Plaintiff’s Motion    for Entry of Order 
of Default Against Krem Group LLC
and status, with due notice given and the 
Court duly advised in  this premise, It is 
HEREBY ORDERED:
Plaintiff’s Motion for Entry of Order of 
Default Against Krem Group LLC is granted.”

 Further action is pending against other defendants including the parent company, 
promoter, and individual performers.

Truth in Music State Laws


Updated information will be posted very soon.


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