Died On This Date (May 20, 1964) Rudy Lewis / The Drifters
themusicsover Rudy Lewis
August 23, 1936 – May 20, 1964
After a run singing with the Clara Ward Singers, Rudy Lewis joined the Drifters as part of the group’s second generation that followed Clyde McPhatter. In the group alongside Ben E. King, Lewis sang lead on such classic recordings as “Some Kind Of Wonderful,” “On Broadway,” and “Up On The Roof.” He also sang most of King’s songs in concert since King was not permitted to tour with the group. On May 21, 1964, Lewis was scheduled to go into the studio to record their future hit, “Under The Boardwalk,” but his body was found in his bed, dead from the night before. Cause of death was never determined, as some accounts claimed he overdosed, while others said he choked to death in his sleep, likely due to binge eating. Johnny Moore went on to record the song.
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