THE Drifters have notched up more than 65 members in an ever changing yet ever harmonious line-up over 62 years.

Presenting their Rebranded Tour at York Barbican tomorrow night will be Michael Williams, Ryan King, Damion Charles and Daniel Bowen-Smith, who has been a Drifter for two years.

"Previously I was the understudy, which makes you aware of the level of commitment needed," he says. "To be a member of The Drifters, first of all you have to be able to sing. If you can't sing, you're never going to be a Drifter.

"In my case, I joined the group after I was spotted in a club in the UK, when I was part of a gospel group, Gospel Central, in Birmingham. The musical director of The Drifters, Dan Healey, saw the show and afterwards he said, 'Why not audition'?"

Within a year, Daniel gave his debut Drifters performance at Sage in Gateshead. "I was nervous, but as every singer does, you put it to the back of your mind and just go with it. The Drifters have had great guys singing over the years, like Ben E King, and now I'm part of that."

The Rebranded Tour coincides with the September 11 release of the American doo-wop, R&B and soul vocal group's new compilation, Stand By Me, The Very Best Of The Drifters, whose title is derived from Ben E King's chart topper.

"As well as all the established hits, we have five new recordings on the album, including our new version of Stand By Me, and there'll be a tribute in the show to Ben E King [who died in May at the age of 76]," says Daniel.

"It was an amazing feeling recording Stand By Me. We recorded it in the UK, in Birmingham, and we kept it like the way it was originally recorded with a live band in the studio and all the group around one microphone, with Michael Williams doing the lead vocal."

The present tour show spans The Drifters' career in a two-hour set of around 37 numbers, old and new. "We're doing a history lesson!," says Daniel. "The show takes us right back to the beginning in 1953, right up to our last studio album, La Vie et L'Amour."

Summing up the essence of the long-running group, Daniel says: "As you know, through the years, The Drifters have always been about harmonies. Many of The Drifters came from a gospel-singing background and we're keeping that legacy going. We're gathering new fans every day too."

He has no hesitation in naming Stand By Me as his favourite number. "It would have to be that song. It means so much to me – and of course it was originally a gospel hymn, when it was called Lord Stand By Me," he says. "Just doing that song on stage is so special. The fans really get into it."

As ever, The Drifters will be dapper in their distinctive way at York Barbican, but who picks The Drifters' threads? "It's a good job we've got a wardrobe artist who takes care of that," says Daniel. "Though we do have a say in what we wear, and if we get thrown into tassles, or kilts in Scotland, that's fine by us."

The Drifters' Rebranded Tour visits York Barbican tomorrow at 7.30pm. Box office: 0844 854 2757 or yorkbarbican.co.uk