... the last survivor of the original members of the musical group The Drifters, died Wednesday.

Pinkney grew up singing his favorite music, gospel, in his church choir. Before his career with the Drifters, Pinkney was a pitcher for the New York Blue Sox Baseball Team, which was part of the Negro Baseball League. He also served in the United States Army in World War II, earning a Presidential Citation with four Bronze Stars (for battles including Normandy and Bastogne under General Patton.) Returning from the war, Pinkney began to sing again in various gospel choirs. It was there that he would meet the members of the original Drifters.

May he rest in peace and the music never die...