Three notable vocal groups with roots that extend to the origins of rock 'n roll will appear at the Stardust Resort and Casino January 17-20. The Original Drifters with Bill Pinkney, the Coasters featuring Carl Gardner and Sonny Turner's Platters will perform in concert each night at 8 p.m. in the resort's Wayne Newton Theater. All three groups debuted in the early 1950s and significantly impacted the American music scene. Their blues-based harmonies were enormously popular and contributed to the meteoric rise of rock. The Drifters, the Coasters and the Platters have all been inducted into the Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame.

Pinkney formed the first Drifters ensemble in 1953 with Clyde McPhatter, who had enjoyed previous success with Billy Ward's Dominos. They promptly delivered two hits to the rhythm and blues charts, "Money Honey" and "Honey Love." The Drifters proved to have amazing staying power, churning out hit singles for more than a decade. Aligning themselves with prolific songwriters such as Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller, Doc Pomus, Carole King and Gerry Goffin, they introduced tunes that remain pop music classics. Their impressive collection of gold records includes "There Goes My Baby," "This Magic Moment," "Save The Last Dance For Me," "On Broadway," "Up On The Roof" and "Under The Boardwalk."

In the early 1950s, Carl Gardner was part of a Los Angeles-based group called the Robins, which, like the Drifters, enjoyed its first taste of fame recording songs by Leiber & Stoller, hitting the charts with "Riot In Cell Block #9" and "Smokey Joe's Café." Gardner reorganized the Robins, changed its name to the Coasters and the group soared to prominence with a string of Leiber and Stiller novelty rockers that included "Charlie Brown," "Yakety Yak," "Along Came Jones," "Poison Ivy," "Searchin'," "Young Blood" and "Down In Mexico."

Sonny Turner took over as the Platters' lead singer in 1960 and since then has entertained audiences all over the world with emotional renditions of of the group's best known songs. The Platters were formed in 1953 and within two years had two records that reached the number one spot on the national playlists, "Only You" and "The Great Pretender." Other Platter trademark tunes are "Twilight Time," "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes," "Enchanted," "With This Ring," "My Prayer" and "The Magic Touch."

Tickets to the Stardust show are $19.95 per person, including tax, tip and one beverage. Ticket information can be obtained by calling the Stardust box office at 732-6325.

Wayne Newton, who appears at the Stardust 40 weeks a year, will return on January 22.

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