Died On This Date (May 22, 2011) Faye Treadwell / Pioneering Manager Of The Drifters
themusicsover Fayrene “Faye” Treadwell
September 5, 1926 – May 22, 2011
As one of the first African-American female artist managers in the entertainment industry, Faye Treadwell blazed the trail for women executives to follow ever since. After the 1967 death of her husband and then-manager of R&B greats, the Drifters, Treadwell bought out his business partners and took over as manager of the group. Prior to that, Treadwell handled administrative and publicity duties for the group. For the better part of the next four decades, she guided the various incarnations of the Drifters that counted as many as 50 members along the way. That list includes Ben E. King, Bill Pinkney, Clyde McPhatter, Ali-Ollie Woodson, Johnny Moore, and Rudy Lewis. During the early ’70s, Treadwell moved the singers – then fronted by Moore – to London where such American groups of that era were held in a higher regard. Throughout the years, Treadwell fought and won landmark court battles against others for infringing on the Drifters’ trademark by performing under their name. Faye Treadwell retired in 2001 and passed away from complications of breast cancer on May 22, 2011. She was 84.
Joseph Brooks was a filmmaker, screenwriter, and composer who is most commonly remembered for his 1977 hit single, “You Light Up My Life,” which was first recorded by Kasey Cisyk for his motion picture of the same name. The song was quickly re-recorded by Debbie Boone and released on Curb Records. The record quickly shot to #1, and to that point, held the top position for the most consecutive weeks in history. It eventually became the most successful single of the ’70s and still stands as one of the decade’s most iconic ballads. The recording for the film earned Brooks an Academy Award as well as a Golden Globe, and has since been covered by Tom Jones, Lee Greenwood, Leann Rimes, and