UK Singles Chart

[YoungWillz 19,091]

Doh! Always check Twitter!

 

Here is Oliver Brookes' nephew from 2012:

 

Maybe contact him? He's not posted there since last year mind.

 

He's on Facebook too: https://www.facebook.com/simple2

[Ulitzer95 11,078]

1 hour ago, YoungWillz said:

Top 75?

 

Do you know it takes me about 3 months to do my Top 30 list?!!! Gawd, some of those bands are a nightmare - Dexy's reinventions alone are probably half a day's work!

 

Come back to me when you are around W! Did you ever manage to go with your webpage idea?

So I set it up using GoDaddy (it’s not live yet). Having problems. The templates are shit. It’s hard to use and takes ages to edit. I’m going to give it another bash later in the month. I might have to switch to another host. Really don’t know which ones are good these days. Been years since I built a website (back in the yesteryear of Freewebs and GeoCities!).

[RoverAndOut 3,475]

1 hour ago, Ulitzer95 said:

So I set it up using GoDaddy (it’s not live yet). Having problems. The templates are shit. It’s hard to use and takes ages to edit. I’m going to give it another bash later in the month. I might have to switch to another host. Really don’t know which ones are good these days. Been years since I built a website (back in the yesteryear of Freewebs and GeoCities!).

 

I hear good things about Square Space, but I have no personal experience, just various recommendations that are of no use to me!

[YoungWillz 19,091]

Well, there's your 1970 England Cup Squad Back Home performer Jackie Charlton away.

[Ulitzer95 11,078]

15 hours ago, Ulitzer95 said:

England World Cup Squad
Discogs UK football club team, played their first match in 1872 against Scotland, this record comprised of members of the squad who played in the 1970 FIFA World Cup, Alan Ball was awarded an MBE in 2000, Gordon Banks was awarded an OBE in 1970, Colin Bell was awarded an MBE in 2004, Bobby Charlton was awarded an OBE in 1969, a CBE in 1974 and was elevated to knighthood in 1994, Jack Charlton was awarded an OBE in 1974, Emlyn Hughes was awarded an OBE in 1980, Geoff Hurst was awarded an MBE in 1979 and elevated to knighthood in 1998, Francis Lee was awarded a CBE in 2016, Bobby Moore was awarded an OBE in 1966, Alan Mullery was awarded an MBE in 1976, Martin Peters was awarded an MBE in 1978, Nobby Stiles was awarded an MBE in 2000, Norman Hunter died from COVID-19 in April 2020
Jeff Astle 13 May 1942 – 19 Jan 2002 (59) Guardian obit
Alan Ball 12 May 1945 – 25 Apr 2007 (61) Guardian obit
Gordon Banks 30 Dec 1937 – 12 Feb 2019 (81) Guardian obit
Colin Bell 26 Feb 1946 – Living
Peter Bonetti 27 Sep 1941 – 12 Apr 2020 (78) Guardian obit
Bobby Charlton 11 Oct 1937 – Living
Jack Charlton 08 May 1935 – 10 Jul 2020 (85) Guardian obit
Allan Clarke 31 Jul 1946 – Living
Terry Cooper 12 Jul 1944 – Living
Emlyn Hughes 28 Aug 1947 – 09 Nov 2004 (57) Guardian obit
Norman Hunter 29 Oct 1943 – 17 Apr 2020 (76) Guardian obit
Geoff Hurst 08 Dec 1941 – Living
Brian Labone 23 Jan 1940 – 24 Apr 2006 (66) Guardian obit
Francis Lee 29 Apr 1944 – Living
Bobby Moore 24 Apr 1941 – 24 Feb 1993 (51) Independent obit
Alan Mullery 23 Nov 1941 – Living
Keith Newton 23 Jun 1941 – 16 Jun 1998 (56) Independent obit
Peter Osgood 20 Feb 1947 – 01 Mar 2006 (59) Guardian obit
Martin Peters 08 Nov 1943 – 21 Dec 2019 (76) Guardian obit
Alex Stepney 18 Sep 1942 – Living
Nobby Stiles 18 May 1942 – Living
Tommy Wright 21 Oct 1944 – Living
18/04/1970 Back Home #1
 

Updated.

12/22 from '70 FIFA squad now gone, with 3 of them dying in the last 3 months alone.

[Ulitzer95 11,078]

On 10/07/2020 at 22:19, YoungWillz said:

The Early Music Consort.
 

Anyhow, I've not been able to elicit much on the elusive Oliver Brookes. He's patently much older than his fellow band members. What I do have is the following:

 

He was a soloist in 1965 with the Birmingham Philharmonic and seems to have been playing with them at least up until the mid-1980s. He was certainly engaged with Birmingham University in the early 1980s and also visited the University of Western Australia at some time then.

 

The trail slightly goes cold after that - he's quoted in a book from 2014 to which I've lost the reference (ha!) but unfortunately although I can get the quote, I can't access the footnote!

 

Hopefully the Leicester then Birmingham gives you something to work on. My hunch is he's probably at least 10 years older than his fellow members given the pictures I've seen. Would not surprise me in the least if he's dead.

 

I found the 2014 source. Also came across the David Munrow forum online and found a thread on Brookes. He was definitely living in 2010 and from 2000–2008 had been playing with a group over in New York. Anyway, the implication is he then came back to the UK.

Searched the GRO and Ancestry. Eventually found a birth and death record. Oliver Ernest Brookes b. May 1922 in West Bromwich, Staffordshire, d. 2015 (circa Feb) in Birmingham, aged 92.

Punch this into Geni, and his family have the record there. Under occupation it says "musician".

A pity such a prolific instrumentalist should die off radar but we've come to get used to it I suppose.

[Ulitzer95 11,078]

F (part 1/5)

Faces
Wiki UK rock band from London, formed from members of the Small Faces in 1969 after lead singer Steve Marriott left the band to form Humble Pie, lead singer Rod Stewart later had a huge solo career, he was awarded a CBE in 2007 and elevated to knighthood in 2016, guitarist Ronnie Wood later joined The Rolling Stones, inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2012
Kenney Jones 16 Sep 1948 – Living
Ronnie Lane 01 Apr 1946 – 04 Jun 1997 (51) Independent obit
Ian McLagan 12 May 1945 – 03 Dec 2014 (69) Guardian obit
Rod Stewart 10 Jan 1945 – Living
Ronnie Wood 01 Jun 1947 – Living
Tetsu Yamauchi 21 Oct 1946 – Living
18/12/1971 Stay with Me #6
17/02/1973 Cindy Incidentally #2
08/12/1973 Pool Hall Richard / I Wish it Would Rain #8
07/12/1974 You Can Make Me Dance, Sing or Anything (Even Take the Dog For a Walk, Men a Fuse, Fold Away the Ironing Board or Any Other Domestic Shortcomings) #12 Released as Rod Stewart and the Faces
04/06/1977 The Faces (EP) #41

Yvonne Fair 21 Oct 1942 – 06 Mar 1994 (51) FindAGrave memorial
Wiki American soul singer from Richmond, Virginia, real name Flora Yvonne Fair Strain, debut album was produced by Motown Records
24/01/1976 It Should Have Been Me #5

Fair Weather
Wiki UK pop rock band, formed in 1970 by former members of Amen Corner including lead vocalist Andy Fairweather-Low from whom the band is named after
Dennis Bryon 14 Apr 1949 – Living
Andy Fairweather Low 02 Aug 1948 – Living
Neil Jones 25 Mar 1949 – 08 Jun 2018 (69) BBC obit
Clive Taylor 27 Apr 1948 – Living
Blue Weaver 11 Mar 1947 – Living
18/07/1970 Natural Sinner #6

Andy Fairweather Low 02 Aug 1948 – Living
Wiki UK singer-songwriter, guitarist and producer from Ystrad Mynach, Wales, also lead singer of bands Amen Corner and Fair Weather before going solo
21/09/1974 Reggae Tune #10
06/12/1975 Wide Eyed and Legless #6

Horace Faith n/a – 08 Mar 2015 Mention of death
Wiki Jamaican reggae singer, real name Horace Smith
12/09/1970 Black Pearl #13 Cover of a single by Checkmates, Ltd.

Faith, Hope & Charity
Wiki American soul and disco vocal group from Tampa, Florida, formed in 1969 and disbanded in 1979, not to be confused with the 1990s British band of the same name, Diane died from AIDS-related complications around 1979
Albert Bailey 15 Mar 1947 – 27 May 2020 (73) Obit
Diane Destry n/a – c. 1979 Mention of death
Brenda Hilliard no info available
31/01/1976 Just One Look #38
NB: Little out there on Hilliard but Bailey's obituary above states that she was alive as of May 2020.

Marianne Faithfull 29 Dec 1946 – Living
Wiki UK singer-songwriter and actress from Hampstead, London, was one of the leading female artists during the British Invasion in the States, started her career after attending a party thrown by The Rolling Stones, from 1966 to 1970, she had a highly public relationship with Mick Jagger, during the 1970s she had become a homeless heroin addict before making a commercial comeback in 1979
24/11/1979 The Ballad of Lucy Jordan #48

Georgie Fame and Alan Price
Wiki (Fame) / Wiki (Price) UK pop duo comprising of Georgie Fame of Georgie Fame and The Blue Flames and Alan Price of The Animals
Georgie Fame 26 Jun 1943 – Living
Alan Price 19 Apr 1942 – Living
10/04/1971 Rosetta #11

Family
Wiki UK rock band from Leicester, Leicestershire, originally called The Farinas
Roger Chapman 08 Apr 1942 – Living
John "Poli" Palmer 26 May 1943 – Living
Rob Townsend 07 Jul 1947 – Living
John Weider 21 Apr 1947 – Living
John Wetton 12 Jun 1949 – 31 Jan 2017 (67) Telegraph obit
John "Charlie" Whitney 24 Jun 1944 – Living
22/08/1970 Strange Band #11
17/07/1971 In My Own Time #4
23/09/1972 Burlesque #13

The Fantastic Four
Wiki American R&B and soul group from Detroit, Michigan, formed in 1965 and disbanded in 2000
"Sweet" James Epps 30 Mar 1947 – 11 Sep 2000 (53) Mention of death
Cleveland Horne 04 Apr 1942 – 13 Apr 2000 (58) Mention of death
Joseph Pruitt 15 Dec 1944 – 18 Nov 2008 (63) Mention of death
Paul Edward Scott 05 Feb 1943 – 16 Apr 2017 (74) Mention of death
24/02/1979 B.Y.O.F. (Bring Your Own Funk) #62

The Fantastics
Wiki American R&B vocal group from Brooklyn, New York City, formed in 1953 as doo-wop group The Troubadours before renaming themselves to The Velours, they later relocated to the United Kingdom after being invited by club owner Peter Stringfellow (1940–2018) and renamed themselves to The Fantastics
John Cheatdom 07 Jul 1938 – Living
Donald Haywoode 24 Aug 1936 – 09 Aug 2015 (78) Obit
Richard "Richie" Pitts 15 Dec 1938 – 03 Dec 2019 (80) Mention of death
Jerome Ramos 15 May 1937 – 21 Oct 2012 (75) Mention of death
27/03/1971 Something Old, Something New #9

[Toast 14,845]

1 hour ago, Ulitzer95 said:

Yvonne Fair 21 Oct 1942 – 06 Mar 1994 (51) FindAGrave memorial
Wiki American soul singer from Richmond, Virginia, real name Flora Yvonne Fair Strain, debut album was produced by Motown Records
24/01/1976 It Should Have Been Me #5

 

Let's all enjoy this again. 

 

 

[YoungWillz 19,091]

Faith Hope And Charity.

 

Here is Albert Bailey's Obituary. He died on 27 May this year: https://www.raywilliamsfuneralhome.com/obituary/Albert-Bailey

 

Down near the end, there is mention of Brenda Hilliard, so let's assume she's alive for now. Having issues  finding anything on her, although I guess you can assume she was originally from Tampa, Florida.

 

Edit: This refers to Albert and Brenda being childhood friends: https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-RandR/1970s/1975/RR-1975-10-10.pdf

 

I guess you could say they are probably ages with each other on that basis. I've found reference to a treasurer of Tampa Baptist Church in the mid-1990s being a Brenda Hilliard, but gawd knows if it's the same one.

[Ulitzer95 11,078]

1 hour ago, YoungWillz said:

Faith Hope And Charity.

 

Here is Albert Bailey's Obituary. He died on 27 May this year: https://www.raywilliamsfuneralhome.com/obituary/Albert-Bailey

 

Down near the end, there is mention of Brenda Hilliard, so let's assume she's alive for now. Having issues  finding anything on her, although I guess you can assume she was originally from Tampa, Florida.

 

Edit: This refers to Albert and Brenda being childhood friends: https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-RandR/1970s/1975/RR-1975-10-10.pdf

 

I guess you could say they are probably ages with each other on that basis. I've found reference to a treasurer of Tampa Baptist Church in the mid-1990s being a Brenda Hilliard, but gawd knows if it's the same one.

Thanks YW. Added Albert (and managed to get his full DOB from records because of the many relative names listed in his obit!).

Brenda is trickier. I thought I had her as there's a Brenda C. Hilliard b. 23 9 46 residence Tampa, FL on Ancestry. Cept it's not her because 1) This is the obit for that woman and 2) Discogs (assuming it's right) says our Brenda's middle name is Joyce.

It may be the spelling, or it may be that she and Albert had a slight age gap, but I just can't find her in the records. At least we know she was living as of May this year though! 

I'd be more interested to find out some more about Destry who died of AIDS complications / drug abuse. I can't find anything about her. The surname turns up zilch in the records sadly.

[Ulitzer95 11,078]

F (part 2/5)

Don Fardon 19 Aug 1940 – Living
Wiki UK pop singer from Coventry, Warwickshire, previously lead singer of freakbeat band The Sorrows
18/04/1970 Belfast Boy #32 Tribute to footballer George Best (1946–2005)
10/10/1970 Indian Reservation #3 Originally released in 1968 but failed to chart

Chris Farlowe 13 Oct 1940 – Living
Wiki UK rock, blues and soul singer from Islington, London
27/09/1975 Out of Time (re-release) #44 Cover of a song by The Rolling Stones

Joe Farrell 16 Dec 1937 – 10 Jan 1986 (48) Mention of death
Wiki American jazz saxophonist and composer from Chicago Heights, Illinois
16/12/1978 Night Dancing #57

Gene Farrow with the G. F. Band
Discogs UK disco production group
Gene Farrow no info available
John Hudson Sep 1944 – Living
Chris Warren no info available
01/04/1978 Move Your Body #33
05/08/1978 Don't Stop Now #71

The Fascinations
Wiki American soul and pop vocal group from Detroit, Michigan, formed in 1960 and discovered by Curtis Mayfield, popular in the United Kingdom but never made it in the States, Martha Reeves of Martha Reeves and the Vandellas was an early member
Fern Bledsoe 07 May 1943 – 21 Jul 2006 (63)
Bernardine Boswell Smith c. 1943 – 15 Nov 2016 (c. 73)
Joanne Boswell Leavell no info available
Shirley Lawson (aka Shirley Walker) no info available
03/07/1971 Girls are Out to Get You #32 Originally released in the U.S. in 1967

Fat Larry's Band
Wiki American R&B and funk band from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, formed in 1976 and disbanded following Fat Larry's death in December 1987 from a heart attack
Art Capehart no info available
Ted Cohen 10 Mar 1953 – Living
Darryl Grant 25 Jun 1947 – Living
"Fat" Larry James 02 Aug 1949 – 05 Dec 1987 (38) FindAGrave memorial
Doug Jones no info available
Larry LaBes no info available
Jimmy Lee no info available
Tony Middleton no info available
Erskine Williams no info available
02/07/1977 Center City #31
10/03/1979 Boogie Town #46 Released as FLB
18/08/1979 Looking For Love Tonight #46
NB: I think Capehart was older than most members as there are suggestions online that he was recording as early as 1943. There’s an Arthur Capehart on Ancestry (1920–1998). Could be him but I’d need something to link this to.

The Fatback Band
Wiki American funk and disco group from New York City, New York, formed in 1970
Kenny Ballard no info available
Tom Coppola 06 Jun 1945 – Living
Richard Cornwell (aka Richard Cromwell) 31 Dec 1949 – Living
Bill "Fatback" Curtis 05 Aug 1932 – Living
Calvin Duke no info available
Johnny Flippin 02 Jun 1947 – Living
Johnny King 31 Mar 19?? – Living
Earl Shelton no info available
Gerry Thomas no info available
George Williams no info available
Reuben Wilson 09 Apr 1935 – 26 May 2023 (88) Obit
06/09/1975 Yum Yum (Gimme Some) #40
06/12/1975 (Are You Ready) Do the Bus Stop #13
21/02/1976 (Do the) Spanish Hustle #10
29/05/1976 Party Time #41
14/08/1976 Night Fever #38
12/03/1977 Double Dutch #31

Father Abraphart and the Smurps (aka Jonathan King) 06 Dec 1944 – Living
Wiki UK singer-songwriter and record producer from Marylebone, London, discovered and named Genesis in 1967, founded UK Records in 1972, produced songs for the Bay City Rollers and 10cc, convicted of sleeping with underage boys in the 1980s and sentenced to seven years in prison
16/12/1978 Lick a Smurp For Christmas (All Fall Down) #58

Julie Felix 14 Jun 1938 – 22 Mar 2020 (81) Guardian obit
Wiki American-born UK folk singer-songwriter and guitarist from Santa Barbara, California
18/04/1970 If I Could (El Condor Pasa) #19
17/10/1970 Heaven is Here #22

Luisa Fernandez 14 Aug 1961 – Living
Wiki Spanish-born German pop singer from Vigo, Pontevedra
11/11/1978 Lay Love on You #31

Bryan Ferry 26 Sep 1945 – Living
Wiki UK pop rock singer-songwriter from Washington, County Durham, also known as the lead singer of rock band Roxy Music, awarded a CBE in 2011
29/09/1973 A Hard Rain's a-Gonna Fall #10
25/05/1974 The In Crowd #13
31/08/1974 Smoke Gets in Your Eyes #17
05/07/1975 You Go to My Head #33
12/06/1976 Let's Stick Together #4 Music video features model Jerry Hall, who was then Ferry's girlfriend
07/08/1976 Extended Play EP #7
05/02/1977 This is Tomorrow #9
14/05/1977 Tokyo Joe #15
13/05/1978 What Goes on #67
05/08/1978 Sign of the Times #37

[Ulitzer95 11,078]

F (part 3/5)

Fiddler's Dram
Wiki UK folk group formed from musicians at the University of Kent, Canterbury and the Duke's Folk Club in Whitstable
Cathy Lesurf 1953 – Living
Alan Prosser Apr 1951 – Living
Chris Taylor no info available
Ian Telfer 28 May 1948 – Living
15/12/1979 Day Trip to Bangor (Didn't We Have a Lovely Time) #3
NB: Will Ward, despite playing on the record, didn't become a member until the band's second LP release. The cover of their charting single here tends to confirm this.

The 5th Dimension
Wiki American R&B, pop and soul vocal group from Los Angeles, California, formed in 1966
Billy Davis Jr. 26 Jun 1938 – Living
Florence LaRue 04 Feb 1944 – Living
Marilyn McCoo 30 Sep 1943 – Living
Lamonte McLemore 17 Sep 1939 – Living
Ron Townson 20 Jan 1933 – 02 Aug 2001 (68) Guardian obit
17/01/1970 Wedding Bell Blues #16 Cover of a song by Laura Nyro

53rd + 3rd featuring The Sound of Shag (aka Jonathan King) 06 Dec 1944 – Living
Wiki UK singer-songwriter and record producer from Marylebone, London, discovered and named Genesis in 1967, founded UK Records in 1972, produced songs for the Bay City Rollers and 10cc, convicted of sleeping with underage boys in the 1980s and sentenced to seven years in prison
20/09/1975 Chick-a-Boom (Don't Ya Jes Love it) #36

First Choice
Wiki American R&B and soul vocal trio from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Rochelle Fleming 11 Feb 1950 – Living
Annette Guest 19 Nov 1954 – Living
Wardell Piper 05 Aug 1954 – Living
19/05/1973 Armed and Extremely Dangerous #16
NB: Wardell Piper quit the band before the release of their first album. Replacement member Joyce Jones (b. 1949) is featured on the cover but the actual recordings were done by Piper.

The First Class
Wiki UK pop rock group, formed in 1974 and disbanded in 1976
Tony Burrows 14 Apr 1942 – Living
John Carter 20 Oct 1942 – Living
Chas Mills no info available
15/06/1974 Beach Baby #13
NB: Can't find much on Mills. His real name is Charles John Mills and he left the music industry to run a restaurant in North London.

Fischer-Z
Wiki UK rock band from Sandhurst, Berkshire, formed in 1976
David Graham no info available
Steve Liddle no info available
Steve Skolnik no info available
John Watts 27 Dec 1954 – Living
26/05/1979 The Worker #53
NB: The original group reformed for performances in 2004. All members seem to be living. Liddle became a bookseller and Skolnik worked in furniture.

Scott Fitzgerald 28 Apr 1948 – Living
Wiki UK singer from Glasgow, Scotland, real name William McPhail, represented the UK in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1988
14/01/1978 If I had Words #3 Released as Scott Fitzgerald and Yvonne Keeley and The St. Thomas More School Choir

5000 Volts
Wiki UK disco studio group from London, formed in 1974 and disbanded in 1977, singer Tina Charles later had a successful solo career, for publicity purposes actress and singer Luan Peters (1946–2017) performed the vocals on the group's performance on Top of the Pops, Charles was replaced by Linda Kelly on the second single
Tina Charles 10 Mar 1954 – Living
Martin Cohen no info available
Tony Eyers 29 Aug 1947 – Living
Martin Jay 27 Jul 1949 or 1953 – Living
Linda Kelly c. 1947 – 1998 (51) Mention of death
Mike Nelson 1949 – Living
Kevin Wells no info available
06/09/1975 I'm on Fire #4
24/07/1976 Doctor Kiss Kiss #8

Roberta Flack 10 Feb 1937 – Living
Wiki American R&B, soul and jazz singer-songwriter, born in Black Mountain, North Carolina but raised in Arlington, Virginia, won five Grammy Awards and nominated for a further nine
27/05/1972 The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face #14
05/08/1972 Where is the Love #29 Released as Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway
17/02/1973 Killing Me Softly with His Song #6
24/08/1974 Feel Like Makin' Love #34
06/05/1978 The Closer I Get to You #42 Released as Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway

Flash and the Pan
Wiki Australian new wave outfit, formed in 1976 and disbanded in 1993, consisted of duo Harry Vanda and George Young who were both former members of rock band The Easybeats and a wider "group" of session musicians
Harry Vanda 22 Mar 1946 – Living
George Young 06 Nov 1946 – 22 Oct 2017 (70) Guardian obit
23/09/1978 And the Band Played on (Down Among the Dead Men) #54

Fleetwood Mac
Wiki UK/American rock band from London, formed in 1967, they have sold more than 120 million records to date making them one of the world's most successful bands, inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998
Lindsey Buckingham 03 Oct 1949 – Living
Mick Fleetwood 24 Jun 1947 – Living
Peter Green 29 Oct 1946 – 25 Jul 2020 (73) Guardian obit
Danny Kirwan 13 May 1950 – 08 Jun 2018 (68) Guardian obit
Christine McVie 12 Jul 1943 – 30 Nov 2022 (79) BBC obit
John McVie 26 Nov 1945 – Living
Stevie Nicks 26 May 1948 – Living
23/05/1970 The Green Manalishi (with the Two Prong Crown) #10
12/05/1973 Albatross (re-release) #2
13/11/1976 Say You Love Me #40
19/02/1977 Go Your Own Way #38
30/04/1977 Don't Stop #32
09/07/1977 Dreams #24
22/10/1977 You Make Loving Fun #45
11/03/1978 Rhiannon #46
06/10/1979 Tusk #6 Features the uncredited contribution from the USC Trojan Marching Band – the 260 piece band couldn't fit into the recording studio so their part was recorded outside at the Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles
22/12/1979 Sara #37

Berni Flint 26 May 1952 – Living
Wiki UK pop rock singer-songwriter and guitarist from Southport, Lancashire, holds the record for the longest run of continuous wins on the ITV talent show Opportunities Knocks
19/03/1977 I Don't Want to Put a Hold on You #3
23/07/1977 Southern Comfort #48

Flintlock
Wiki UK pop rock group from Essex, vocalist and saxophonist Derek Pascoe is the father of comedienne and actress Sara Pascoe (b. 1981)
Mike Holoway 28 Jan 1961 – Living
Derek Pascoe 1957 – Living
Bill Rice no info available
Jamie Stone no info available
John Summerton Jan 1961 – Living
29/05/1976 Dawn #30

[YoungWillz 19,091]

5000 Volts

 

Here is some information on Mike Nelson, born in Australia in 1949: http://www.figjammedia.com.au/mike_nelson/ewExternalFiles/7 Mike Nelson Bio.pdf

 

Kevin Wells is a nightmare. Seems to be some doubt as to whether he is the same Kevin Wells who played drums with Huey Lewis in Clover. If it is the same one he was 56 in 2010 according to a news article but I can't for the life of me tie him in definitely to a period in London.

[YoungWillz 19,091]

Flintlock.

 

John Summerton's Companies House Entry born 1961: https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/officers/9d32iQoBRxVGrYZWrsurD2uIcOI/appointments

Interview with the band here which confirms Mike and John were ages with each other, although sadly nothing on the ages of the other band members, other than a reference to them taking their A Levels, which indicate they are a year older than Mike and John?: https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Record-Mirror/70s/76/Record-Mirror-1976-06-12.pdf

Also out of Dagenham, but hey....

[Ulitzer95 11,078]

F (part 4/5)

The Floaters
Wiki American R&B and soul vocal group from Detroit, Michigan, formed by James Mitchell (b. 1949) who was formerly a member of the Detroit Emeralds, Paul Mitchell is his brother whereas Ralph Mitchell is unrelated, Charles Clark was also a member of C.J. & Co., disbanded in 1982
Charles Clark 19 Oct c. 1950 – Living
Larry Cunningham 23 Jun 1951 – 10 Jan 2019 (67) Obit
Paul Mitchell 27 May 1949 – 20 Dec 2021 (72) Obit
Ralph Mitchell 30 Nov 1954 – Living
23/07/1977 Float on #1

The Flying Lizards
Wiki UK experimental new wave outfit, formed in 1976 and disbanded in 1984, their members varied on each record as they used a loose collective of free improvising musicians, pianist Julian Marshall was also a member of pop rock duo Marshall Hain
David Cunningham 20 Dec 1954 – Living
Deborah Evans-Stickland 22 Sep 1955 – Living
Julian Marshall 16 Mar 1954 – Living
04/08/1979 Money (That's What I Want) #5 Cover of a single by Barrett Strong, which was also covered by The Beatles

Focus
Wiki Dutch progressive rock band from Amsterdam, formed in 1969
Jan Akkerman 24 Dec 1946 – Living
Cyril Havermans 10 Oct 1948 – Living
Bert Ruiter 26 Nov 1946 – 22 Mar 2022 (75) Obit
Pierre van der Linden 19 Feb 1946 – Living
Thijs van Leer 31 Mar 1948 – Living
20/01/1973 Hocus Pocus #20
27/01/1973 Sylvia #4

Martyn Ford Orchestra 28 Apr 1944 – Living
Wiki UK musician, orchestra leader and arranger
14/05/1977 Let Your Body Go Downtown #38

Foreigner
Wiki UK/American hard rock band from London and New York City, formed in 1976, one of the best-selling bands of all time with record sales exceeding 80 million worldwide, guitarist Mick Jones was previously a member of rock band Spooky Tooth and rhythm guitarist Ian McDonald was a member of progressive rock band King Crimson
Ed Gagliardi 13 Feb 1952 – 11 May 2014 (62) Ultimate Classic Rock obit
Lou Gramm 02 May 1950 – Living
Al Greenwood 20 Oct 1951 – Living
Dennis Elliott 18 Aug 1950 – Living
Mick Jones 27 Dec 1944 – Living
Ian McDonald 25 Jun 1946 – 09 Feb 2022 (75) Ultimate Classic Rock obit
06/05/1978 Feels Like the First Time #39
15/07/1978 Cold as Ice #24
28/10/1978 Hot Blooded #42
24/02/1979 Blue Morning, Blue Day #45

The Formations
Discogs American soul group from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, formed in 1966
Jerry Akines 13 Mar 1948 – Living
Johnnie Bellmon 14 Jan 1943 – 16 Feb 2018 (75) Obit
Ernie Brooks no info available
Victor Drayton 19 Aug 1947 – Living
Reginald Turner 27 Aug 1947 – 24 Apr 2015 (67) Obit
31/07/1971 At the Top of the Stairs #28 Originally released in 1967

The Fortunes
Wiki UK Merseybeat group from Birmingham, formed in 1961
Rod Allen 31 Mar 1944 – 10 Jan 2008 (61) Guardian obit
Andy Brown 07 Jan 1946 – Living
Shel MacRae 08 Mar 1943 – 22 Nov 2022 (79) ITV obit
George McAllister 06 Dec 19?? – Living
Barry Pritchard 03 Apr 1944 – 11 Jan 1999 (54) Independent obit
11/09/1971 Freedom Come, Freedom Go #6
29/01/1972 Storm in a Teacup #7

The Four Seasons
 Wiki American pop rock band from Newark, New Jersey, formed in 1960 from members of The Four Lovers, they would later be known more commonly as Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, one of the best selling groups of all time having sold more than 100 million records worldwide, inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990, bass guitarist Joe Long died from COVID-19 in April 2021
Don Ciccone 28 Feb 1946 – 08 Oct 2016 (70) NY Times obit
Bob Gaudio 17 Nov 1942 – Living
Demetri Callas 07 Jun 1942 – 13 Jan 2020 (77) Obit
Joe Long 05 Sep 1932 – 21 Apr 2021 (88) Obit
John Paiva 25 Jan 1943 – Living
Gerry Polci 08 Jun 1952 – Living
Lee Shapiro 07 Jun 1953 – Living
Frankie Valli 03 May 1934 – Living
19/04/1975 The Night #7 Released as Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons
20/09/1975 Who Loves You #6
31/01/1976 December '63 (Oh What a Night) #1
24/04/1976 Silver Star #3
27/11/1976 We Can Work it Out #34 Cover of a single by The Beatles
18/06/1977 Rhapsody #37
20/08/1977 Down the Hall #34

Four Tops
Wiki American R&B and soul vocal quartet from Detroit, Michigan, formed in 1953 and originally called the Four Aims, signed to Motown Records during the 1960s, their lineup remained unchanged for four decades until Payton's death in 1997, inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990
Renaldo "Obie" Benson 14 Jun 1936 – 07 Jul 2005 (69) Guardian obit
Abdul "Duke" Fakir 26 Dec 1935 – Living
Lawrence Payton 02 Mar 1938 – 20 Jun 1997 (59) Independent obit
Levi Stubbs 06 Jun 1936 – 17 Oct 2008 (72) Guardian obit
21/03/1970 I Can't Help Myself (re-release) #10
30/05/1970 It's All in the Game #5
03/10/1970 Still Water (Love) #10
01/05/1971 Just Seven Numbers (Can Straighten Out My Life) #36
26/06/1971 River Deep – Mountain High #11 Released as The Supremes and the Four Tops
25/09/1971 A Simple Game #3
20/11/1971 You Gotta Have Love in Your Heart #25 Released as The Supremes and the Four Tops
11/03/1972 Bernadette (re-release) #23
05/08/1972 Walk with Me, Talk with Me, Darling #32
18/11/1972 Keeper of the Castle #18
10/11/1973 Sweet Understanding Love #29

14–18 (aka Pete Waterman) 15 Jan 1947 – Living
Wiki UK singer, record producer, radio DJ and songwriter from Coventry, Warwickshire, one third of the musician-songwriter team Stock Aitken Waterman (SAW), awarded an OBE in 2004, also a judge on the ITV talent show Pop Idol, married to Denise Gyngell of the pop group Tight Fit from 1991 to 1999, the below single is a revival of a popular World War I song and features session musicians (and singers drafted in from the local pub)
01/11/1975 Good-bye-ee #33

[YoungWillz 19,091]

The Floaters.

 

Nothing overly substantial, I'm afraid. From looking, the now dead Larry Cunningham was the main spokesperson for the group.

 

This appears to be Ralph Mitchell https://www.reverbnation.com/ralphmitchell indicating he is resident in Harper Woods, Michigan and also a member of a gospel outfit Sacred Praise. He'd be in his 60s. was still performing with The Floaters (reconstituted) as late as February 2020 from what I've seen on YouTube.

 

Paul Mitchell - I got nothing. He was supposed to have become a producer in Detroit - I've even tried looking under James Mitchell (Jnr).

 

Charles Clark - I'm not on FB but two accounts at least seem to exist here: https://www.facebook.com/people/Charles-Clark/100018667261125 and here https://www.facebook.com/charles.winningsouls some biographical details there, maybe he's posted up some articles about his time with the Floaters. Seemingly resident in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, he joined the group when he was fourteen. Now there is an article here: https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/70s/1977/Billboard 1977-07-23.pdf Far from being formed in 1976, Cunningham specifically says they had been performing for around 12/13 years - this puts Clark's dob somewhere around 1950/51 I'd say.

 

[YoungWillz 19,091]

The Formations.

 

There's a funeral notice for a Reginald Turner, born and died in Philly here: http://www.obits.org/memorials/4557-reginald-turner-sr/life_story Little to no information, who knows? The 1947 dob does give some hope, given the age of Bellmon/Bellman.

 

More positive news on Victor Drayton, or should I say Victor Pierre Drayton, book out in 2014 regarding Gamble & Huff: https://www.amazon.com/Journey-Gamble-Huff-Formations-Story/dp/149758115X Does the middle name help here?

 

Most of them were songwriters, writing for Wilson Pickett and Barbara Mason. Astonishing lack of information otherwise, especially as they were in at the start of the Gamble & Huff story.

[Ulitzer95 11,078]

1 hour ago, YoungWillz said:

The Formations.

 

There's a funeral notice for a Reginald Turner, born and died in Philly here: http://www.obits.org/memorials/4557-reginald-turner-sr/life_story Little to no information, who knows? The 1947 dob does give some hope, given the age of Bellmon/Bellman.

 

More positive news on Victor Drayton, or should I say Victor Pierre Drayton, book out in 2014 regarding Gamble & Huff: https://www.amazon.com/Journey-Gamble-Huff-Formations-Story/dp/149758115X Does the middle name help here?

 

Most of them were songwriters, writing for Wilson Pickett and Barbara Mason. Astonishing lack of information otherwise, especially as they were in at the start of the Gamble & Huff story.

Perfect find for Reginald Turner. Punched those dates into Ancestry and got an exact match – Reginald Buddy Turner b. 27 Aug 1947 in Philadelphia. 

On Turner's Discogs page it says he also recorded/produced as Buddy Turner and on YouTube there are uploads of some of these obscure solo "hits". Updated.

Hmm, as I suspected regarding Drayton – he is likely alive. As I noted above, there is a Victor Drayton b. 19 Aug 1947, Philadelphia. Likely him. Sadly the middle didn't confirm it. The U.S. records are somewhat more useful than the UK ones given that some states produce birth/residency records with middle names, but it's not compulsory for them to include it. That record is likely him, but includes no middle name or even middle initial so I guess we'll have to wait til his demise to fill in that blank.

There is a record on Ancestry which looks to be Akines btw. If it's him, he died in 2000. Brooks there is no trace of at all. The Formations hit is really cool, I hadn't heard it before today. A pity they faded into obscurity. Then again, nothing surprises me with this "project". Why on earth are Foreigner not in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, for example?

I've read your section on The Floaters – away to have a dig. I think that might take a bit more time though as I reckon they're all alive bar Cunningham. They were a younger outfit than most of the male soul/R&B vocal groups of that era.

Cheers for the help, much obliged!

[Ulitzer95 11,078]

3 hours ago, YoungWillz said:

The Floaters.

 

Nothing overly substantial, I'm afraid. From looking, the now dead Larry Cunningham was the main spokesperson for the group.

 

This appears to be Ralph Mitchell https://www.reverbnation.com/ralphmitchell indicating he is resident in Harper Woods, Michigan and also a member of a gospel outfit Sacred Praise. He'd be in his 60s. was still performing with The Floaters (reconstituted) as late as February 2020 from what I've seen on YouTube.

 

Paul Mitchell - I got nothing. He was supposed to have become a producer in Detroit - I've even tried looking under James Mitchell (Jnr).

 

Charles Clark - I'm not on FB but two accounts at least seem to exist here: https://www.facebook.com/people/Charles-Clark/100018667261125 and here https://www.facebook.com/charles.winningsouls some biographical details there, maybe he's posted up some articles about his time with the Floaters. Seemingly resident in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, he joined the group when he was fourteen. Now there is an article here: https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/70s/1977/Billboard 1977-07-23.pdf Far from being formed in 1976, Cunningham specifically says they had been performing for around 12/13 years - this puts Clark's dob somewhere around 1950/51 I'd say.

 

Alright, finished digging.

So managed to get Ralph Mitchell's DOB from the residency you gave, cheers! He appears to be the baby of the group at just 22 when they released Float on!

Charles Clark – I got his birthday from that second FB page when I researched him a few weeks back as he was a member of C.J. & Co. I have tried everything and yet I can't return a certain year but I just came across a yearbook photo of him from 1966 on Ancestry and it says he's 16 in it. Doesn't say what month the yearbook was published so I've put c. 1950. Looking at his FB pics he's looking good for his age, seems to share a lot of stuff about centenarians/supercentenarians too. Wonder if he browses DL...

[YoungWillz 19,091]

4 minutes ago, Ulitzer95 said:

Alright, finished digging.

So managed to get Ralph Mitchell's DOB from the residency you gave, cheers! He appears to be the baby of the group at just 22 when they released Float on!

Charles Clark – I got his birthday from that second FB page when I researched him a few weeks back as he was a member of C.J. & Co. I have tried everything and yet I can't return a certain year but I just came across a yearbook photo of him from 1966 on Ancestry and it says he's 16 in it. Doesn't say what month the yearbook was published so I've put c. 1950. Looking at his FB pics he's looking good for his age, seems to share a lot of stuff about centenarians/supercentenarians too. Wonder if he browses DL...

Charles Clark has got serious religion, from what I can see. He's probably just hanging out with the queue for "heaven".

[YoungWillz 19,091]

On ‎29‎/‎02‎/‎2020 at 17:09, Ulitzer95 said:

 

Bobby Angelo and The Tuxedos 
Discogs UK rockabilly group, later became The Outlaws and then The Innocents
Bobby Angelo 24 Jul 1941 – Living
Dave Brown no info available
Roger Brown no info available
Pete Cresswell c. 1945 – Living
Colin Giffin no info available
Roger Groom no info available
10/08/1961 Baby Sittin' #30 Cover of a single by American singer Myron Lee
NB: Angelo and Cresswell definitely appeared on the record, unsure about the others / rumours have it that Mick Avory (later of The Kinks) drummed on the record
 

Now my searching techniques are a little more sophisticated, I thought I'd go back and look at some of the earlier ones.

 

Now here is a nice little article about The Innocents from August 1963 here: https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Pop-Weekly/63/Pop Weekly 51 17th August 1963_19.pdf

 

Gives the ages then as follows: Colin Giffin (19) - so born 1943/44; Roger Brown (19) - so born 1943/44; David Brown (20) - so born 1942/43 - all out of Surrey.

 

I remember being confused because there was reference to both Roger Groom and Donald Groom - that confusion appears to have been resolved - Don Groom aka Roger Groom aka Roger Groome b. 1939 as per this: https://rateyourmusic.com/artist/roger-groome

[Ulitzer95 11,078]

9 hours ago, YoungWillz said:

Now my searching techniques are a little more sophisticated, I thought I'd go back and look at some of the earlier ones.

 

Now here is a nice little article about The Innocents from August 1963 here: https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Pop-Weekly/63/Pop Weekly 51 17th August 1963_19.pdf

 

Gives the ages then as follows: Colin Giffin (19) - so born 1943/44; Roger Brown (19) - so born 1943/44; David Brown (20) - so born 1942/43 - all out of Surrey.

 

I remember being confused because there was reference to both Roger Groom and Donald Groom - that confusion appears to have been resolved - Don Groom aka Roger Groom aka Roger Groome b. 1939 as per this: https://rateyourmusic.com/artist/roger-groome

Nice find! There were enough details on RateYourMusic for me to look up Donald Groom and Bobby Angelo on Ancestry/the GRO.

No death record for Groom so I assume he is alive at 80. As for the elusive Bobby Angelo, he turns 79 in a few days and it looks like he was living in Guildford around 2009!

[Ulitzer95 11,078]

F (part 5/5)

Fox
Wiki UK pop rock band, formed in 1974 and disbanded in 1981, singer Noosha Fox later had a solo career, Kenny Young was a prominent songwriter, penning hits such as Under the Boardwalk for The Drifters and Ai No Corrida for Quincy Jones
Herbie Armstrong 14 May 1944 – Living
Noosha Fox 08 Dec 1944 – Living
Jim Frank no info available
Jim Gannon 1947 – Living
Peter Solley 19 Oct 1948 – 16 Nov 2023 (75) Obit
Gary Taylor 28 Nov 1947 – Living
Kenny Young 14 Apr 1941 – 14 Apr 2020 (79) Guardian obit
15/02/1975 Only You Can #3
10/05/1975 Imagine Me, Imagine You #15
10/04/1976 S-S-S-Single Bed #4

Noosha Fox 08 Dec 1944 – Living
Wiki Australian pop singer, also a member of pop rock band Fox
12/11/1977 Georgina Bailey #31

Peter Frampton 22 Apr 1950 – Living
Wiki UK rock singer-songwriter, guitarist and producer from Beckenham, Kent, later emigrated to the United States
01/05/1976 Show Me the Way #10
11/09/1976 Baby I Love Your Way #43
06/11/1976 Do You Feel Like We Do #39
23/07/1977 I'm in You #41

Claude Francois 01 Feb 1939 – 11 Mar 1978 (39) FindAGrave memorial
Wiki Egyptian-born French pop singer-songwriter and producer, born in Ismailia and raised in Port Tewfik, died in March 1978 after accidentally electrocuting himself trying to fix a light fitting
10/01/1976 Tears on the Telephone #35

Aretha Franklin 25 Mar 1942 – 16 Aug 2018 (76) Guardian obit
Wiki American soul, R&B and pop singer-songwriter, pianist and actress from Memphis, Tennessee, began her career as a child singing gospel music at her father's Baptist church, actively involved in the civil rights movement, inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987, her sisters Erma (1938–2002) and Carolyn (1944–1988) were also noted singers
22/08/1970 Don't Play That Song (You Lied) #13 Cover of a single by Ben E. King
02/10/1971 Spanish Harlem #14 Cover of a single by Ben E. King
08/09/1973 Angel #37 Features uncredited backing vocals by Carolyn Franklin and Erma Franklin
16/02/1974 Until You Come Back to Me (That's What I'm Gonna Do) #26

Frantique
Wiki American disco production group, James Bolden was also a singer under the name David Christie – he committed suicide in May 1997
James Bolden 01 Jan 1948 – 11 May 1997 (49) Obit
Jack Robinson 17 Jan 1938 – Living
Vivienne Savoie Robinson no info available
11/08/1979 Strut Your Funky Stuff #10
NB: According to this, the three producers – Bolden, Robinson and his then wife Savoie Robinson mixed the record in Paris, and an anonymous female vocalist added the lyrics. The three girls who appeared on Top of The Tops – Tricia Cheyenne, Denise Russelle and Florence Raynor were not "members" as such but were brought in to front live performances.

Free
Wiki UK rock band from London, formed in 1968 and disbanded in 1973, singer Paul Rodgers and drummer Simon Kirke later formed the hard rock supergroup Bad Company, guitarist Paul Kossoff died from a blot clot in March 1976 whilst onboard a flight from Los Angeles to New York
John "Rabbit" Bundrick 21 Nov 1948 – Living
Andy Fraser 03 Jul 1952 – 16 Mar 2015 (62) Guardian obit
Simon Kirke 28 Jul 1949 – Living
Paul Kossoff 14 Sep 1950 – 19 Mar 1976 (25) FindAGrave memorial
Paul Rodgers 17 Dec 1949 – Living
Tetsu Yamauchi 21 Oct 1946 – Living
06/06/1970 All Right Now #2
01/05/1971 My Brother Jake #4
27/05/1972 Little Bit of Love #13
13/01/1973 Wishing Well #7
21/07/1973 All Right Now (re-release) #15
18/02/1978 Free EP #11

Dean Friedman 23 May 1955 – Living
Wiki American pop and soft rock singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist from Paramus, New Jersey
03/06/1978 Woman of Mine #52
23/09/1978 Lucky Stars #3 A duet with Denise Marsa, though she was uncredited on the release
18/11/1978 Lydia #31

Frijid Pink
Wiki American psychedelic rock band from Brighton, Michigan, formed in 1967
Kelly Green (aka Tom Beaudry) c. 1950 – deceased Mention of death
Tom Harris 19 Aug 1951 – Living
Rick Stevers 17 Aug 1950 – Living
Gary Ray Thompson 28 Feb 1949 – Living
28/03/1970 House of the Rising Sun #4 A traditional folk song, most famously recorded by The Animals

Funkadelic
Wiki American funk band from Detroit, Michigan, formed in 1968 and disbanded in 1982, frontman George Clinton is also known for leading their sister act, Parliament, and later the combined collective of Parliament-Funkadelic, inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1997
Jerome Brailey 20 Aug 1950 – Living
George Clinton 22 Jul 1941 – Living
Bootsy Collins 26 Oct 1951 – Living
Rodney Curtis 07 Sep 1956 – Living
Ray Davis 29 Mar 1940 – 05 Jul 2005 (65) Telegraph obit
Ron Ford 16 Jan 1948 – 28 Dec 2015 (67) USA Today obit
Mallia Franklin 01 Mar 1952 – 05 Feb 2010 (67) Mention of death
Larry Fratangelo 09 Sep 1953 – Living
Michael Hampton 15 Nov 1956 – Living
Tyrone Lampkin 19 Aug 1948 – 30 Jun 1987 (38) Mention of death
Lynn Mabry 21 Mar 1958 – Living
Walter "Junie" Morrison Jun 1954 – 21 Jan 2017 (62) Rolling Stone obit
Cordell Mosson 16 Oct 1952 – 18 Apr 2013 (60) NY Times obit
Gary Shider 24 Jul 1953 – 16 Jun 2010 (56) NY Times obit
Dawn Silva 02 Jan 1954 – Living
Greg Thomas 09 May 19?? – Living
Jeanette Washington 05 Aug 19?? – Living
Bernie Worrell 19 Apr 1944 – 24 Jun 2016 (72) Guardian obit
Debbie Wright 18 Jun 1951 – 12 Oct 2017 (66) Obit
09/12/1978 One Nation Under a Groove #9
 

[YoungWillz 19,091]

Frijid Pink.

 

Hmmm, finding it hard to find anything on Gary Ray Thompson other than he seems to have originated from Wyandotte, Michigan. This seems to be his myspace profile - I don't know how you work these things: https://myspace.com/thompsonslastchassis

 

Rather more tenuous leads on Tom Harris. Full name seems to have been Thomas Earl Harris, originating from Florence, Alabama (apparently he moved to Detroit at some point prior to joining the group). Now there is an obituary here for a Thomas Earl Harris where the guest book is full of his singing and playing bass (Harris' instrument in Frijid Pink). https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/rockymounttelegram/obituary.aspx?n=thomas-earl-harris&pid=123517878 The dob of 1948 seems promising - could we get "lucky" again, if you can tie this to Harris?

[YoungWillz 19,091]

Fox.

 

I found a few interviews with Fox from the mid-1970s - nothing which gave away Jim Frank's age, despite him really being the main interviewee after Noosha! I did however find this, which might be of help, although I'm not sure what it is - a graduation note? https://alumni.ecolint.ch/blogpost/1334433/239923/Jim-Frank-LGB-68 Maybe he's not actually English if he was at school in Switzerland!

 

If that's of no help, let me know and I'll have another root around.