Charles Nowlin Thomas (April 7, 1937 – January 31, 2023)[1] was an American singer best known for his work with The Drifters.

Thomas was performing with The Five Crowns at the Apollo Theater in 1958 when George Treadwell fired his group, called The Drifters.

[citation needed] Thomas died from liver cancer on January 31, 2023, at the age of 85.

[1][5][6] Thomas was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988 as a member of the Drifters and was given a Pioneer Award by the Rhythm and Blues Foundation in 1999.

On May 21, 2011, in Cranston, Rhode Island, Thomas and The Drifters performed at the Vintage New England Theater.