Singleton and Related Genealogy Pages
A history of many families.
1925 - 2007 (81 years)| Name | Willie “Bill” PINKNEY [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11] | |
| Birth | 15 Aug 1925 | Dalzell, Sumter County, South Carolina  [1] |
| Gender | Male | |
| Education | he was educated in the public schools of Sumter County, South Carolina [5] | |
| HIST | He is a singer who is known worldwide for his rhythm and blues hits like “Under the Boardwalk,” “Money Honey,” “Such a Night,” “Up on the Roof,” and “White Christmas,” and he’s also known for his work to benefit charities, especially children’s charities. In his home state, he’s received two Orders of the Palmetto and the Rhythm and Blues Pioneer Award and has been inducted into the South Carolina Rhythm and Blues/Beach Music and Vocals Group halls of fame. Before becoming a full-time entertainer, Pinkney pitched for the New York Blue Sox of the Negro Baseball League in the late 1940s and early ‘50s. On his 81st birthday, he opened the grounds of his home at the corner of Rowland Avenue and Pine Street for a party featuring well-known friends Maurice Williams of the Zodiacs, Billy Scott of the Prophets, Roy Roberts, Joe Pinner and Harry Turner. address- 300 Pine and Rowland Streets, Sumter, South Carolina He died before an Independence Day concert in Daytona Beach, Florida, on July 4. He was the last living founding member of The Drifters, an R&R group formed in the 1950’s, known for its soulful, bluesy sounds. He founded the Original Drifters after leaving the first group in 1958. After his military stint, his avocations were singing with gospel music quartets and pitching for the New York Pelicans and New York Blue Socks in the Negro National Baseball League. In 1953, he, Clyde McPhatter, Gearhardt and Andrew Thrasher joined forces and became The Drifters. In 1988, they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He was the last surviving 1953 original member. He has used the trademarked name “Original Drifters” since 1958. He received many more awards and recognitions for services rendered to his community and the state of South Carolina. He was an honorary Sumter County sheriff’s deputy; he received an honorary fine arts doctorate from Coastal Carolina University; and South Carolina has established a state park at his Dalzell birthplace. Bill Pinkney dies at 81 Bill Pinkney, 81, an original member of The Drifters and Sumter County native, died Wednesday in Daytona Beach, Fla., according to Sumter County Sheriff Anthony Dennis. Dennis said family members told him Pinkney's death was discovered after he failed to appear for a scheduled show. The Daytona Beach News Journal Online reports police believe Pinkney died of a heart attack. The Orlando Sentinel reports he was scheduled to perform at a Fourth of July concert in Daytona Beach on Wednesday at 4 p.m. According to its Web site, Daytona Beach Police Chief Mike Chitwood told the paper that Pinkney was found dead in his hotel room around 6 p.m. One of the county's most famous sons, Pinkney was born in Dalzell on Aug. 15, 1925, and is most well-known for his work with The Drifters, founded in 1953 with Clyde McPhatter, and Andrew and Gerhart Thrasher. Their hits included "Under the Boardwalk," "Money Honey," "Up on the Roof," and 1954's "White Christmas," by Irving Berlin, one of their biggest-selling tunes of all time. Pinkney enlisted in the Army at age 17 and was awarded four Bronze Stars — Normandy, Bastogne, Saint Lo, Rhine River — as well as a citation from President Franklin D. Roosevelt for his bravery in World War II. A gifted athlete, Pinkney pitched for the New York Blue Sox of the Negro Baseball League in the late 1940s and early '50s. He was an inductee of the Rock and Roll, Vocal Group and Beach Music halls of fame, United Group Harmony Association, a Rhythm and Blues Pioneer Award winner, and a two-time recipient of the Order of the Palmetto, South Carolina's highest civilian honor. He also holds the title of South Carolina's "Ambassador of Entertainment," and has a park near his Dalzell birthplace honoring him. Pinkney is in the North and South Carolina halls of fame, received an Honorary Doctor of Fine Arts from Coastal Carolina University in 2002, and was lauded with a "Bill Pinkney Day" in Sumter in September for his many charitable contributions. He was honored on his 80th birthday at the State House in Columbia in 2005 and in Sumter with a big celebration at the Sumter County African-American Cultural Society. On his 81st birthday, he opened the grounds of his home at the corner of Rowland Avenue and Pine Street for a party featuring well-known friends Maurice Williams of the Zodiacs, Billy Scott of the Prophets, Roy Roberts, Joe Pinner and Harry Turner. In March 2006, Pinkney was honored at Mt. Pisgah AME Church for his contributions to music and society with a "This is Your Life"-style tribute, featuring The Gospel Drifters and numerous family members. Eliza Pinkney-Pearson noted that her brother's natural gifts were apparent early on and when the family got a radio in the early '30s, he knew what his future held. "He said, 'One day I'm going to be on the radio,'" she told the crowd. An emotional Pinkney, surrounded by family and friends, wrapped up the celebration by saying, "I love you — all of y'all." Funeral arrangements are incomplete at this time. Contact Staff Writer Joe Perry at jperry@theitem.com or (803) 774-1272. Posted in Itnews01 on Wednesday, July 4, 2007 WILLIE PINKNEY Posted Thursday, July 5, 2007 8:00 pm Willie "Bill" Pinkney, 81, widower of Alma Black Pinkney, departed this life on Wednesday, July 4, 2007, in Daytona Beach, Fla. Born Aug. 15, 1925, in Sumter County, he was a son of the late Murray Pinkney and Katie Smith Pinkney. The family will receive friends at his home, 300 Pine and Rowland Streets, Sumter. Funeral arrangements are incomplete and will be announced by Williams Funeral Home Inc. of Sumter. He is suppose to have 9 children but 12 are listed. jkh at death- he had 3 sons-in-law; 2 daughters-in-law; 2 sisters-in-law, 2 brothers-in-law; 25 grandchildren, 7 great-grandchildren, and a host of nieces, nephews and other relatives at death- he had 1 grandson- Willie Early Pinkney- who preceded him in death He has a grandson- Abraham Pinkney- and Abraham’s son in Chrishon BizTalk: Barber shop, home of The Drifters, leaves North Main Street amid revitalization PHOTOS BY SHELBIE GOULDING / THE SUMTER ITEM Main Attractions moved to 217 N. Washington St. after leaving its previous downtown Sumter location of more than 16 years. Posted Saturday, January 1, 2022 6:00 am BY SHELBIE GOULDING shelbie@theitem.com A group of downtown barbers traded their nostalgic black-and-white checkered flooring for a wheat-colored slab. Their small, homey shop of more than 16 years at North Main Street and Hampton Avenue was left behind for a spot off North Washington Street. Sumter's Main Attractions Barber Salon always strayed from modern-day aesthetics, but the small business held out for as long as it could in downtown Sumter. They let go of their longtime home in July amid recent revitalization efforts that are bringing a new vision to downtown. "It was kind of bittersweet," said Terry Pinkney, barber manager of Main Attractions. "It's a renewed atmosphere downtown. I think with the getting toward downtown as more food and entertainment, I think they're getting away from the apparel and different type public services." The barber shop was first opened by Pinkney's father, Willie "Bill" Pinkney, an original member of The Drifters. He opened the shop on North Main Street in November 2004. For years, the corner hub was the spot to hear stories about Pinkney's time as one of The Drifters and see his life in photographs that covered the walls from head to toe, wherever a mirror wasn't already taking up space. Pinkney said the business got caught up in the mix of the downtown's revitalization efforts. Since 2004, the family had leased the property, but it was not available for renewal. "The property was sold to Mr. (Greg) Thompson (who owns buildings such as Sidebar and Hamptons)," Pinkney said. "We had first offers to actually do a purchase on the building, but it was just an expense that we couldn't bear to afford. You'd have to bring the building up to current codes." Pinkney said he doesn't see the move as being forced out. He sees it as a "movement of change." "I always welcome the change," he said. "You hate to get caught up in things like that, but you have to realize what's better for the community, what's better for the city. We're just one business." Pinkney said he didn't want to move his father's business but that it turned out to be a positive change for the shop. It's still located downtown, now at 217 N. Washington St., about five to 10 minutes from the previous location. "It started out bitter, and by the time you bite into it real good and get an idea of what's really happening," Pinkney said, "it's great for the guys. They can get more customers. The parking was better. You're not locked in downtown." The barbers are still getting acclimated to the new building, which has more space and parking. The walls remain lifeless so far without Pinkney's father's memorabilia of The Drifters, which is in the process of getting put up, according to Pinkney. The barber manager is also in the process of purchasing the new location, making it a permanent home rather than leasing again. "We don't want to get caught up in the same thing again," Pinkney said. "It's hard to compete with big business." Main Attractions offers female-style fade, men's haircuts and fades, Caesar cuts, tape and shave, student discounts, military discounts and more. For more information, call (803) 773-7700 or visit www.bestprosintown.com/sc/sumter/main-attraction-barber-/. Sumter icon Bill Pinkney featured on City of Sumter's keepsake ornament The 2025 City of Sumter ornament features Sumter icon Bill Pinkney. BRUCE MILLS / THE SUMTER ITEM Posted Wednesday, November 26, 2025 6:00 am BY BRUCE MILLS bruce@theitem.com If it is the holiday season, that means there is a new City of Sumter ornament in its landmark series, and this year's keepsake honors Sumter icon and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Bill Pinkney. A Dalzell native, Pinkney was an original member of rhythm-and-blues musical group The Drifters, and he was chosen this year for the city's annual ornament because it marks the centennial celebration of his birth in 1925, and also this year the Willie "Bill" Pinkney Park was moved to Manning Avenue. According to City of Sumter Communications Manager Carter James, Bill Pinkney Park originally opened in Dalzell in 1996, but his family wanted to move it into the City of Sumter as a more prominent location. Therefore, the park - which contains his bust and a couple plaques dedicated to his life and accomplishments - was relocated to near South Sumter Art Park. "His park is also across the street from where the upcoming Manning Avenue Free Arts Studio will be," she said, "and that entire arts scene along Manning Avenue is really blossoming and growing." The Willie "Bill" Pinkney Park ornament contains a cutout of his bust along with a music record and notes on the outside as elements to honor his musical abilities, James added. Each ornament comes with a small pamphlet, providing a detailed description and its historical significance. In 1953, The Drifters made it to No. 1 on the R&B chart with their first Atlantic Records single "Money Honey" and followed it up with three top-five R&B hits the next year to include "White Christmas," according to the archives with the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The ornament is $20 plus tax and can be found at Sumter Visitors Center at Swan Lake Iris Gardens, and a limited supply is also available at Simpson Hardware and Sports on Wesmark Boulevard. The visitors' center's hours are Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. The visitors center also sells a back supply of previous years' ornaments, including the 2003 City of Sumter Historic Landmarks Ornament, which has been the most popular ever based on sales, according to Colette Daniels, the city's tourism development coordinator. Those ornaments are also sold for $20 each plus tax. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 11, 12] | |
| MILI | He served his country during World War II, receiving four bronze stars for combat in France (Normandy, Bastogne, Saint Lo, and Rhine River). He also received a citation from President Franklin D. Roosevelt for bravery during battle. He voluntarily enlisted in the United States Army at age 17 in April 1943, during World War II. Military records give his birth date as 15 Aug 1923 [1, 2, 5, 13] | |
| Occupation | an original member of The Drifters; businessman, professional baseball player and war hero [2, 4, 14] | |
| Religion | at an early age he accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Savior and joined Mount Olive AME Church; later in life he joined St. Luke AME Church, where he remained a member until his passing [5] | |
| _UID | 361962D06BED40569B5AD05C8D5ED8CC1F40 | |
| Death | 4 Jul 2007 | found dead in his hotel room around 6 p.m., Daytona Beach, Florida [2, 3] |
| Burial | 9 Jul 2007 | St. Luke’s A. M. E. Church Cemetery, St. Paul’s Church Road & 76/378, Sumter County, South Carolina [15] |
|
||
| Person ID | I186856 | Singleton and Related Families |
| Last Modified | 7 Dec 2025 | |
| Father | Murray PINKNEY, Sr., b. 1899 d. 1950 (Age 51 years) | |
| Mother | Katie SMITH d. Bef 4 Jul 2007 | |
| _UID | 5F26F8305E8B4F6899DFDAEE952CD8EA105E | |
| Family ID | F126973 | Group Sheet | Family Chart |
| Family | Alma BLACK d. Bef 4 Jul 2007 | |
| Marriage | 12 Feb 1946 | Sumter County, South Carolina [8] |
| _UID | A7BEE2B1AC7F4081B52FC9FE37A896898D9F | |
| Children | ||
| Family ID | F126972 | Group Sheet | Family Chart |
| Last Modified | 10 Jul 2007 | |
| Notes |
| Sources |
|
