FRIDAY WEATHER JULY 6, 2007 SWELTERING TODAY Hot with in the news times of clouds and sun. Details on page 8B. HIGH: 96 LOW: 74 VOLUME 112, NUMBER 261 FOUNDED OCTOBER 15, 1894 SUMTER, S.C. — 50 CENTS SHAW WEEKLY S.C. Civil Air Patrol cadets spend part of 2007 Encampment at Shaw — 1C PASSING of a LEGEND “I would like to say Family, community mourn the loss of Bill Pinkney, I hope people remember him for a ‘true gentleman,’ a ‘brilliant performer,’ an ‘inimitable voice’ being a genuine Bill Pinkney sings person, a legend. “America” on the He's leaving a Sumter County Courthouse grounds tremendous to observe National legacy.” Anthem Day in Bandmate September 2005. Terence Lonon UP FOR A CHALLENGE By MARY DOLAN After Rock Hill pulls Item Staff Writer out, Dalzell-Shaw amily members from all over were plan- steps up for American ning a trip to Sumter for a family reunion Legion tourney F to be held today at the Original Drifters’ “It was a great frontman Bill Pinkney’s house; Pinkney was famous honor to share him SPORTS / 1B for the parties he hosted, complete with music and home-cooked meals. Instead, family and friends are with those that SEND IN gathering together at his home without him. loved him.” THE CLOWN! Pinkney, 81, died Wednesday, July 4, before an Eartha Pinkney Independence Day concert in Daytona Beach, Fla. Johnson What to see a clown of Pinkney was the last living founding member of Pinkney's daughter The Drifters, an R&B group formed in the 1950s, a different type? Check known for its soulful, bluesy sounds. He founded “He's just a jewel, out THE DISGRUNTLED the Original Drifters after leaving the first group in CLOWN at 8:30 this 1958. he's an icon, he was evening, part of the The musical celebrity with (in later years) a dis- a living legend.” monthly Sumter House tinctive head of white hair was born in Dalzell on Eartha Johnson of Comedy at the Aug. 15, 1925, and grew up on a diet of Southern cuisine and gospel music. Sumter Opera House, “He sat down on Eartha Pinkney Johnson was one of his nine chil- those steps and 21 N. Main St. Tickets dren. She said her father was a man of God who are available at the loved his music and loved his family more. when he did that door for $10 each. But last gospel song, don’t mistake this for a SEE PINKNEY, PAGE 7A there was not a dry children’s party: The eye in this house. show is strictly for It was a wonderful adults only. night.” Billy Lane, describing Pinkney’s April performance at Pizza Lane “'Amazing Grace' was never sung so Photo provided Item file photos beautifully, and Bill Pinkney formed the Original Drifters in 1958; Bill Pinkney, a musical legend and member of the Original Drifters, died Wednesday in many tears were the group is seen here circa 1970. Daytona Beach, Fla., where he was on the venue for a Fourth of July concert. proof of it.” Singer Hank Martin DEATHS In the words of The Footnotes’ guitarist Charles Stafford, Bill Pinkney was Marian M. Dew ‘a gentleman and a musical inspiration to generations of us players.’ Barbara H. Knox Willie “Bill” Pinkney By IVY MOORE the good times. Avenell K. Ragland Item Features Editor Stafford recalled that he worked with “Mr. Bill” Henrietta P. Richardson Sandra J. Richbourg on several occasions. Nathaniel Scarborough Sr. urn on your radio anywhere during De- “(We) talked about Earline R. Smith cember, and you’ll hear a mellifluous bass music history and his Mary B. Spann T voice singing lead on the rhythm and influence on us Frederick H. Truesdale blues version of “White Christmas.” The owner of ‘younger’ players,” he “I am so glad that Willie Wactor Sr. that inimitable voice was Bill Pinkney — Dalzell na- said. Ernest Weeks tive, businessman, professional baseball player and “When The Foot- ... his hometown Levola Lee P.Wheeler war hero. notes played has really come to —PAGE 7A Baby Boomers and other beach, R&B and Sumter@Six a couple of recognize and gospel music lovers know Pinkney for so much years ago, Mr. Bill INDEX more than “White Christmas.” For musicians and drove up just as we appreciate what a 3 SECTIONS / 24 PAGES friends of the last original Drifter, who died started to play one of major national and Wednesday, Pinkney was a master musician and, in the Original Drifters’ international figure Business 5B the words of The Footnotes’ guitarist Charles Bill Pinkney was a songs, ‘Move Across Classifieds 4C Jackie Gore of The Embers sings Stafford, “a gentleman and a musical inspiration to father figure to Billy The River’, and he came he was in popular Comics 4A along at Pinkney’s 80th birthday bash generations of us players.” Scott of Billy Scott and up and sang it with us. music history. We Daily Planner 8B in Columbia a couple years ago. He leaves a large music library and a legacy of the Prophets. What a thrill. He ... Opinion 6A are all proud of him For the next several Wednesday grace and talent. would recall The Footnotes and proudly introduce Television 5A nights, musicians at the regular Wings and will cherish his Weekly TV 6B While Pinkney’s family and friends mourn the me to guests as ‘one of my homeboys that really and Strings at Pizza Lane in Sumter loss of their loved one, those “generations of play- plays my music.’ memory.” will be performing songs in tribute to ers” and others in the music business are also ex- Charles Stafford AB Pinkney. pressing their grief, at the same time remembering SEE MUSICIANS, PAGE 8A The Footnotes www.theitem.com To contact AB, call Shaw planners prepare to put allocated funds to use GENERAL: 774-1200 CLASSIFIEDS: 774-1234 nounced last month that productivity,” Spratt said in a press release. Thus the planners have only rough esti- DELIVERY: 774-1258 Contractors to bid soon the House approved $25 The money doesn’t account for the pri- mates of the funding required for those NEWS/SPORTS: 774-1226 million for construction mary buildings the 3rd Army will need, such buildings. on construction projects for Shaw. The money, if as a headquarters and housing, but Chris Aamold said contractors will bid on the By LESLIE CANTU approved by the Senate Aamold, 20th Civil Engineer Squadron projects covered by the $25 million in fiscal Item Senior Staff Writer and President Bush, deputy commander, and James Allen, 20th year 2008, which begins Oct. 1 for the fed- would go toward construc- Fighter Wing plans and inspection deputy eral government. As the 3rd Army’s arrival date at Shaw tion of support facilities, and the BRAC business manager, said part Construction on 3rd Army headquarters Air Force Base creeps steadily nearer, base such as additional fitness SPRATT of the wait lies in the fact that the 3rd Army will probably begin in fiscal year 2009 or planners are preparing for an anticipated center space, child devel- itself is in transition and isn’t sure who will 2010, he said. construction boom on base. opment center space and visiting officer be working at Shaw. Aamold expects the construction work, None of that construction can happen quarters. Although the number of personnel is once it’s approved, to keep local and region- without money, though, and for that the “This funding will go a long way toward more or less fixed, the 3rd Army doesn’t al contractors quite busy. base waits on word from Congress and the supplying the capacity for welcoming arriv- know how many people of what rank will be 20 North Magnolia Street president. ing personnel and contributing to effective assigned to headquarters, which in turn af- Contact Senior Staff Writer Leslie Cantu Sumter, South Carolina 29150 U.S. Rep. John Spratt, D-S.C., an- joint operations while increasing morale and fects the type of buildings to be constructed. at [email protected] or (803) 774-1250. (USPS 525-900) FRIDAY, JULY 6, 2007 FROM PAGE 1A AB I PAGE 7A PINKNEY na Rhythm and Blues Hall of Fame, a re- Reese had been planning to formally she said. The two never had a written during World War II. He received four FROM PAGE 1A cipient of South Carolina’s Order of the unveil the portrait July 26, but she is contract between them. She said he was Bronze Stars for combat in France. Palmetto and a decorated veteran of considering unveiling it sooner in light of a “handshake is your word” kind of guy. After returning to the States, Pinkney She said he learned from his own World War II. his death. That humble, down-to-earth quality is took up a career in baseball. Pinkney mother the importance of being among The South Carolina General Assem- “I’m just very sorry that he didn’t get what stands out so much to band mem- pitched for the New York Blue Sox, loved ones, of cooking meals together bly recently passed a resolution to name to see this done, because he was real ex- ber Terence Lonon, too. He said it al- which was part of the Negro Baseball and cherishing the moments together. a piece of road in his hometown after the cited about it,” Reese said. “But I’m real ways impressed him how accessible League, in the late 1940s and early ’50s. Johnson said her father was excited local hero.