1. Willie "Bill" Pinkney was an American performer and singer.
13 Facts About Bill Pinkney
1. 2.
Bill Pinkney was raised in a Christian home, and was a member of Mount Olive AME Church.
3.
Bill Pinkney served in the United States Army in World War II.
4.
Bill Pinkney earned a Presidential Citation with five service stars.
5.
Bill Pinkney can be heard singing lead on the 1956 recording "I Should Have Done Right" and 1955's "Steamboat".
6.
Bill Pinkney was in and out of the group from 1956 through 1958.
7.
Bill Pinkney did not participate in the recording of later hits like "Fools Fall in Love" and "Drip Drop", which featured bass singer Tommy Evans.
8.
Bill Pinkney quickly created a group called the Original Drifters, made up of key members of the first association.
9.
Bill Pinkney received many musical awards, including the Rhythm and Blues Foundation Pioneer Award, and was inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, United Group Harmony Association, and the Beach Music Hall of Fame.
10.
Bill Pinkney was honored by the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives.
11.
In 2002, Bill Pinkney received an Honorary Doctorate of Fine Music from Coastal Carolina University.
12.
Bill Pinkney died on July 4,2007, in Daytona Beach, Florida, from a heart attack, while staying at the Daytona Beach Hilton.
13.
Bill Pinkney was buried at St Luke's AME Church in Sumter.