Faye Treadwell facts for kids

Faye Treadwell (born Fayrene Lavern Johnson, September 5, 1926 – May 22, 2011) was a very important person in music. She was the manager of a famous music group called The Drifters. Faye Treadwell was also one of the first African-American women to manage a big music group.

Early Life and Education

Fayrene Johnson was born on September 5, 1926. Her hometown was Okolona, Arkansas, in the United States. Her mother was a schoolteacher, and her father was a Baptist minister. Faye was the oldest of their four children.

She went to Arkansas Baptist College and graduated. After college, she worked in education. She worked for the school board in Los Angeles, California.

Becoming a Music Manager

In 1957, Faye married George Treadwell. George was also a music manager. He worked with famous singers like Sarah Vaughan and Billie Holiday. George had just started managing The Drifters.

Sadly, George died suddenly in 1967. After his death, Faye Treadwell took over the group. She bought out his business partners. This made her the full manager of The Drifters.

Faye Treadwell moved The Drifters to London, England, in the 1970s. She lived there for 30 years. She also had a home in Englewood, New Jersey, in the United States.

Faye worked hard to protect The Drifters' name. She had to go to court many times to make sure no one else used their name unfairly. She wanted to keep the group's legacy safe.

She stopped working in 2001 because she was not feeling well.

Her Legacy

Faye Treadwell passed away on May 22, 2011. She died from problems related to breast cancer. After her death, her daughter, Tina Treadwell, took over. Tina now helps manage the history and future of The Drifters.

In November 2021, a musical play opened in London. It was called The Drifters Girl. This musical tells the amazing story of Faye Treadwell's life. It shows how important she was to The Drifters and to music history.