The Fortunes
Encyclopedia
The Fortunes are an English
harmony beat group. Formed in Birmingham
, The Fortunes first came to prominence and international acclaim in 1965, when "You've Got Your Troubles
" broke into the US
and UK
Top 10s. Afterwards they had a succession of hits including "Here It Comes Again
" and "Here Comes That Rainy Day Feeling Again"; continuing into the 1970s with more globally successful releases such as "Storm in a Teacup" and "Freedom Come, Freedom Go".
In 1966, their manager Reginald Calvert
was shot dead in a dispute over pirate radio
station
s.
track on a compilation album
, Brumbeat, issued by the local Dial record label
. "Cygnet Twitch" (similar to "Saturday Nite at the Duck-Pond" by The Cougars
) was a working of Tchaikovsky's "Swan Lake
", and they subsequently signed to British Decca
in 1963. Their first single
, "Summertime, Summertime", was credited to the Fortunes and the Cliftones. However, the vocalists picked up guitars, jettisoned the Cliftones, and added Andy Brown on drums after Mike Redmond — drummer with popular local band the Sunrays — declined their offer, and Dave Carr on keyboards. The follow-up disc co-written by the singer-songwriter
and future Ivy League
member Perry Ford, "Caroline", was used as the signature tune for the pirate radio
station
, Radio Caroline
.
The group's next two singles, Gordon Mills
' co-composition "I Like the Look of You" and a revival of The Four Esquires
/Johnnie Ray
's "Look Homeward Angel" — like the initial brace of releases overseen by the American
record producer
Shel Talmy
— also failed to chart. Their fifth release, the Roger Greenaway
/Roger Cook
number, "You've Got Your Troubles
" (1965), reached #2 in the UK Singles Chart
and was a worldwide hit
, including reaching #1 in Canada
and the American Top 10. Their next two singles "Here It Comes Again
" and "This Golden Ring" sold well, but each less than the previous release. Glen Dale left the band in the summer of 1966 seeking a solo
career, and was replaced by the Scottish
guitarist, Shel McCrae. Three more singles ("You Gave Me Somebody to Love", "Is It Really Worth Your While?" and "Our Love has Gone") all failed to chart.
At this point in 1967, The Fortunes left Decca for United Artists
. They reunited with Talmy for their next release, "The Idol", a song they had written themselves, and although it did get some airplay
in the UK, it did not become a hit. Minor controversy arose when they admitted they did not play on their classic hits.
In 1968 they tried covering
The Move
's hit "Fire Brigade
" for the US
market, but with little airplay or sales. In 1970, they recorded an album
for the US World Pacific record label, and then signed with Capitol
in both the UK and US in 1971.
Then followed a steady succession of singles, some of which were hits outside of the UK and US, culminating in 1972 with the release of "Storm in a Teacup". During this period, they had another worldwide hit, "Here Comes that Rainy Day Feeling" (1971). The Fortunes were also the voices
for the American
Coca-Cola
advertisements
. Their first recording in 1967 was a version of the theme tune, "Things Go Better with Coke", but they are most remembered for introducing the 1969 new slogan recording, used as the main theme for Coca-Cola on both radio
and television
commercial
s — "It's The Real Thing".
In 1983 and 1984 respectively, Michael Smitham and Paul Hooper joined Barry Pritchard and Rod Allen in The Fortunes. This line up of The Fortunes were awarded a gold disc
in 1987, for over 100,000 sales of their All The Hits and More album.
In March 1995 vocalist/keyboard/guitar player Bob Jackson was added to The Fortunes' ranks, after founder member Barry Pritchard left through illness. Jackson was a former member of the group Badfinger
, to whom he pays homage onstage, with a version of the Badfinger penned song "Without You". Jackson left for a year to follow other obligations and Geoff Turton
, who was originally a member of the Birmingham based band, The Rockin' Berries
, stood in Jackson's place. Turton also had a certain amount of success under the nom de plume
Jefferson both at home and in the US.
On 10 January 2008 Rod Allen died after suffering for two months from liver cancer
. The remaining members of the band said they would continue touring and recruited The Dakotas lead singer Eddie Mooney
. During 2008, the band regrouped, recording a new album Play On and appeared in Las Vegas
, the Netherlands
and Belgium
as well as the UK
. They toured Canada
, the Netherlands and Sweden
, in addition to the UK during 2009. The band have a busy schedule in the UK, Netherlands, Germany
and Italy
during 2010 and 2011, appearing in Belgium at the Vostertfeesten Festival in August 2010. Drummer Paul Hooper, left the band in early 2010, replaced by Glen Taylor, formerly of Marmalade
.
The keyboard player in the original line-up, David Carr, lived and worked in Hollywood, California, doing session
work, frequently working with the wellknowm American guitarband The Ventures and also Kim Fowley
(for example Carr played keyboards on the last album by Fowley's The Runaways
). Carr died on 12 July 2011, from a heart attack
.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
harmony beat group. Formed in Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
, The Fortunes first came to prominence and international acclaim in 1965, when "You've Got Your Troubles
You've Got Your Troubles
"You've Got Your Troubles" is a song by written by Roger Greenaway and Roger Cook which became a number two hit for The Fortunes in the United Kingdom and a number seven in the United States in August 1965. This was the fifth single for the group. It was included in the album The Fortunes...
" broke into the US
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
Top 10s. Afterwards they had a succession of hits including "Here It Comes Again
Here It Comes Again (The Fortunes song)
"Here It Comes Again" is a song written by Barry Mason and Les Reed in 1965. It was recorded by The Fortunes and released on 10 September 1965. It reached number four on the UK Singles Chart and number twenty-seven on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart that same year.A cover version by Rita Pavone...
" and "Here Comes That Rainy Day Feeling Again"; continuing into the 1970s with more globally successful releases such as "Storm in a Teacup" and "Freedom Come, Freedom Go".
In 1966, their manager Reginald Calvert
Reginald Calvert
Reginald Calvert was the manager of The Fortunes pop group and singer Screaming Lord Sutch, and the owner of offshore pirate radio station Radio City....
was shot dead in a dispute over pirate radio
Pirate radio
Pirate radio is illegal or unregulated radio transmission. The term is most commonly used to describe illegal broadcasting for entertainment or political purposes, but is also sometimes used for illegal two-way radio operation...
station
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
s.
Classic band line-up
- Rod Allen (born Rodney Bainbridge, 31 March 1944, LeicesterLeicesterLeicester is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England, and the county town of Leicestershire. The city lies on the River Soar and at the edge of the National Forest...
; died 10 January 2008, CoventryCoventryCoventry is a city and metropolitan borough in the county of West Midlands in England. Coventry is the 9th largest city in England and the 11th largest in the United Kingdom. It is also the second largest city in the English Midlands, after Birmingham, with a population of 300,848, although...
) — lead vocalist and bassistBassistA bass player, or bassist is a musician who plays a bass instrument such as a double bass, bass guitar, keyboard bass or a low brass instrument such as a tuba or sousaphone. Different musical genres tend to be associated with one or more of these instruments... - Glen Dale (born Richard Garforth, 24 April 1943, DealDeal, KentDeal is a town in Kent England. It lies on the English Channel eight miles north-east of Dover and eight miles south of Ramsgate. It is a former fishing, mining and garrison town...
, KentKentKent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
) — guitaristGuitaristA guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
up to 1966 - Shel Macrae (born Andrew Raeburn Semple, 8 March 1943, BurnbankBurnbank-Location & governance:Burnbank, previously an independent settlement, then part of Hamilton Burgh and then Hamilton District is now a district of Hamilton within the South Lanarkshire Unitary Council...
, ScotlandScotlandScotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
) — co-lead vocalist, guitarist from 1966 - Barry Pritchard (born Barry Arthur Pritchard, 3 April 1944, Birmingham – died 11 January 1999) — guitarist
- Andy Brown (born Andrew Brown, 7 January 1946, Birmingham) — drummerDrummerA drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a...
- David Carr (born 4 August 1943, LeytonLeytonLeyton is an area of north-east London and part of the London Borough of Waltham Forest, located north east of Charing Cross. It borders Walthamstow and Leytonstone; Stratford in Newham; and Homerton and Lower Clapton in the London Borough of Hackney....
, LondonLondonLondon is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
; died 12 July 2011) — keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
Later band members
- Ricky Persell (born 19 October 1954, RuislipRuislipRuislip is a suburban area, centred on an old village in Greater London, and is part of the London Borough of Hillingdon.It was formerly also a parish covering the neighbouring areas of Eastcote, Northwood, Ruislip Manor and South Ruislip in the area. The parish appears in the Domesday Book, and...
) — guitarist/vocalist, 1977-1980 - John Davey (born 13 September 1955, WatfordWatfordWatford is a town and borough in Hertfordshire, England, situated northwest of central London and within the bounds of the M25 motorway. The borough is separated from Greater London to the south by the urbanised parish of Watford Rural in the Three Rivers District.Watford was created as an urban...
) — vocalist, 1977-1982 - John Trickett (born Birmingham) — drummer, 1977-1980
- Michael Smitham (born 29 July 1951, NuneatonNuneatonNuneaton is the largest town in the Borough of Nuneaton and Bedworth and in the English county of Warwickshire.Nuneaton is most famous for its associations with the 19th century author George Eliot, who was born on a farm on the Arbury Estate just outside Nuneaton in 1819 and lived in the town for...
) — guitarist/vocalist, 1983 to present - Paul Hooper (born 20 August 1948 WolverhamptonWolverhamptonWolverhampton is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands, England. For Eurostat purposes Walsall and Wolverhampton is a NUTS 3 region and is one of five boroughs or unitary districts that comprise the "West Midlands" NUTS 2 region...
) — drummer, 1984 to April 2010 - Bob Jackson (born 6 January 1949, CoventryCoventryCoventry is a city and metropolitan borough in the county of West Midlands in England. Coventry is the 9th largest city in England and the 11th largest in the United Kingdom. It is also the second largest city in the English Midlands, after Birmingham, with a population of 300,848, although...
) — keyboardist/vocalist, 1995 to present - Eddie Mooney (born 6 August 1957, Stoke-on-TrentStoke-on-TrentStoke-on-Trent , also called The Potteries is a city in Staffordshire, England, which forms a linear conurbation almost 12 miles long, with an area of . Together with the Borough of Newcastle-under-Lyme Stoke forms The Potteries Urban Area...
) — lead vocalist/bassist, 2007 to present - Glen Taylor (born 15 February 1951, LeicesterLeicesterLeicester is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England, and the county town of Leicestershire. The city lies on the River Soar and at the edge of the National Forest...
) — drummer, 2010 to present
Biography
Originally formed as a vocal trio backed by an instrumental group known as The Cliftones, the aggregation placed an instrumentalInstrumental
An instrumental is a musical composition or recording without lyrics or singing, although it might include some non-articulate vocal input; the music is primarily or exclusively produced by musical instruments....
track on a compilation album
Compilation album
A compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
, Brumbeat, issued by the local Dial record label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
. "Cygnet Twitch" (similar to "Saturday Nite at the Duck-Pond" by The Cougars
The Cougars
The Cougars were a short-lived band, formed in Bristol, England, in 1961. They specialised in rock music, mostly instrumental versions of pop and classical pieces.-Career:...
) was a working of Tchaikovsky's "Swan Lake
Swan Lake
Swan Lake ballet, op. 20, by Pyotr Tchaikovsky, composed 1875–1876. The scenario, initially in four acts, was fashioned from Russian folk tales and tells the story of Odette, a princess turned into a swan by an evil sorcerer's curse. The choreographer of the original production was Julius Reisinger...
", and they subsequently signed to British Decca
Decca Records
Decca Records began as a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934; however, owing to World War II, the link with the British company was broken for several decades....
in 1963. Their first single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
, "Summertime, Summertime", was credited to the Fortunes and the Cliftones. However, the vocalists picked up guitars, jettisoned the Cliftones, and added Andy Brown on drums after Mike Redmond — drummer with popular local band the Sunrays — declined their offer, and Dave Carr on keyboards. The follow-up disc co-written by the singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
and future Ivy League
Ivy League
The Ivy League is an athletic conference comprising eight private institutions of higher education in the Northeastern United States. The conference name is also commonly used to refer to those eight schools as a group...
member Perry Ford, "Caroline", was used as the signature tune for the pirate radio
Pirate radio
Pirate radio is illegal or unregulated radio transmission. The term is most commonly used to describe illegal broadcasting for entertainment or political purposes, but is also sometimes used for illegal two-way radio operation...
station
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
, Radio Caroline
Radio Caroline
Radio Caroline is an English radio station founded in 1964 by Ronan O'Rahilly to circumvent the record companies' control of popular music broadcasting in the United Kingdom and the BBC's radio broadcasting monopoly...
.
The group's next two singles, Gordon Mills
Gordon Mills
Gordon William Mills , was a successful London-based music industry manager and songwriter who was born in Madras, India and grew up in Trealaw in the Rhondda Valley, South Wales...
' co-composition "I Like the Look of You" and a revival of The Four Esquires
The Four Esquires
The Four Esquires were an American vocal group from Boston, Massachusetts. They had two hit singles in the U.S. late in the 1950s, both on Paris Records. The first, "Love Me Forever", featured orchestral backing by Sid Bass and peaked at #25 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1957. It also reached #23 on...
/Johnnie Ray
Johnnie Ray
Johnnie Ray was an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. Popular for most of the 1950s, Ray has been cited by critics as a major precursor of what would become rock and roll, for his jazz and blues-influenced music and his animated stage personality.-Early life:John Alvin Ray was born in...
's "Look Homeward Angel" — like the initial brace of releases overseen by the American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
record producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
Shel Talmy
Shel Talmy
Shel Talmy is an American record producer, songwriter, arranger best known for his work in London with The Who and The Kinks in the 1960s, with a role in many other English bands including Cat Stevens and Pentangle...
— also failed to chart. Their fifth release, the Roger Greenaway
Roger Greenaway
Roger Greenaway , is a popular English songwriter, best known for his collaborations with Roger Cook.-Career:...
/Roger Cook
Roger Cook (songwriter)
Roger Cook is an English songwriter who has written many hits for other recording artists. He has also had a successful recording career in his own right.-Early life:Cook was born in Fishponds, Bristol, England...
number, "You've Got Your Troubles
You've Got Your Troubles
"You've Got Your Troubles" is a song by written by Roger Greenaway and Roger Cook which became a number two hit for The Fortunes in the United Kingdom and a number seven in the United States in August 1965. This was the fifth single for the group. It was included in the album The Fortunes...
" (1965), reached #2 in the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
and was a worldwide hit
Hit record
A hit record is a sound recording, usually in the form of a single or album, that sells a large number of copies or otherwise becomes broadly popular or well-known, through airplay, club play, inclusion in a film or stage play soundtrack, causing it to have "hit" one of the popular chart listings...
, including reaching #1 in Canada
RPM number-one hits of 1965
This is a list of the Canadian RPM magazine number one singles of 1965. identifies Canadian musical acts.-See also:*1965 in music*Hot 100 No. 1 Hits of 1965 *CHUM number-one hits of 1965-References:*...
and the American Top 10. Their next two singles "Here It Comes Again
Here It Comes Again (The Fortunes song)
"Here It Comes Again" is a song written by Barry Mason and Les Reed in 1965. It was recorded by The Fortunes and released on 10 September 1965. It reached number four on the UK Singles Chart and number twenty-seven on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart that same year.A cover version by Rita Pavone...
" and "This Golden Ring" sold well, but each less than the previous release. Glen Dale left the band in the summer of 1966 seeking a solo
Solo (music)
In music, a solo is a piece or a section of a piece played or sung by a single performer...
career, and was replaced by the Scottish
Scottish people
The Scottish people , or Scots, are a nation and ethnic group native to Scotland. Historically they emerged from an amalgamation of the Picts and Gaels, incorporating neighbouring Britons to the south as well as invading Germanic peoples such as the Anglo-Saxons and the Norse.In modern use,...
guitarist, Shel McCrae. Three more singles ("You Gave Me Somebody to Love", "Is It Really Worth Your While?" and "Our Love has Gone") all failed to chart.
At this point in 1967, The Fortunes left Decca for United Artists
United Artists
United Artists Corporation is an American film studio. The original studio of that name was founded in 1919 by D. W. Griffith, Charles Chaplin, Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks....
. They reunited with Talmy for their next release, "The Idol", a song they had written themselves, and although it did get some airplay
Airplay
* Airplay is the amount of time a song is played on the radio.It may also refer to:* AirPlay, an audio & video streaming technology from Apple Inc.* Airplay , Foster & Graydon music project from 1980* Citroën C1, Citroën C1 Airplay...
in the UK, it did not become a hit. Minor controversy arose when they admitted they did not play on their classic hits.
In 1968 they tried covering
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
The Move
The Move
The Move, from Birmingham, England, were one of the leading British rock bands of the 1960s. They scored nine Top 20 UK singles in five years, but were among the most popular British bands not to find any success in the United States....
's hit "Fire Brigade
Fire Brigade (Move song)
"Fire Brigade" is a song written by Roy Wood and performed by The Move, with Wood on lead vocal. The song contains a guitar figure straight out of Duane Eddy...
" for the US
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
market, but with little airplay or sales. In 1970, they recorded an album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
for the US World Pacific record label, and then signed with Capitol
Capitol Records
Capitol Records is a major United States based record label, formerly located in Los Angeles, but operating in New York City as part of Capitol Music Group. Its former headquarters building, the Capitol Tower, is a major landmark near the corner of Hollywood and Vine...
in both the UK and US in 1971.
Then followed a steady succession of singles, some of which were hits outside of the UK and US, culminating in 1972 with the release of "Storm in a Teacup". During this period, they had another worldwide hit, "Here Comes that Rainy Day Feeling" (1971). The Fortunes were also the voices
Human voice
The human voice consists of sound made by a human being using the vocal folds for talking, singing, laughing, crying, screaming, etc. Its frequency ranges from about 60 to 7000 Hz. The human voice is specifically that part of human sound production in which the vocal folds are the primary...
for the American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola is a carbonated soft drink sold in stores, restaurants, and vending machines in more than 200 countries. It is produced by The Coca-Cola Company of Atlanta, Georgia, and is often referred to simply as Coke...
advertisements
Advertising
Advertising is a form of communication used to persuade an audience to take some action with respect to products, ideas, or services. Most commonly, the desired result is to drive consumer behavior with respect to a commercial offering, although political and ideological advertising is also common...
. Their first recording in 1967 was a version of the theme tune, "Things Go Better with Coke", but they are most remembered for introducing the 1969 new slogan recording, used as the main theme for Coca-Cola on both radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
and television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
commercial
Advertising
Advertising is a form of communication used to persuade an audience to take some action with respect to products, ideas, or services. Most commonly, the desired result is to drive consumer behavior with respect to a commercial offering, although political and ideological advertising is also common...
s — "It's The Real Thing".
Later work
Founding member, and lead vocalist, Allen continued fronting an ever changing version of The Fortunes from 1963 up to his death.In 1983 and 1984 respectively, Michael Smitham and Paul Hooper joined Barry Pritchard and Rod Allen in The Fortunes. This line up of The Fortunes were awarded a gold disc
Music recording sales certification
Music recording sales certification is a system of certifying that a music recording has shipped or sold a certain number of copies, where the threshold quantity varies by type and by nation or territory .Almost all countries follow variations of the RIAA certification categories,...
in 1987, for over 100,000 sales of their All The Hits and More album.
In March 1995 vocalist/keyboard/guitar player Bob Jackson was added to The Fortunes' ranks, after founder member Barry Pritchard left through illness. Jackson was a former member of the group Badfinger
Badfinger
Badfinger were a British rock band consisting originally of Pete Ham, Ron Griffiths, Mike Gibbins and Tom Evans, active from 1968 to 1983, and evolving from The Iveys, formed by Ham, Griffiths and David "Dai" Jenkins in Swansea, Wales, in the early 1960s. Joey Molland joined the group in 1969,...
, to whom he pays homage onstage, with a version of the Badfinger penned song "Without You". Jackson left for a year to follow other obligations and Geoff Turton
Geoff Turton
Geoff Turton , who also recorded under the name Jefferson, was a British singer. His musical career began as the falsettist lead singer, and rhythm guitarist of The Rockin' Berries in 1961, who scored a number of hits in the UK and Europe...
, who was originally a member of the Birmingham based band, The Rockin' Berries
The Rockin' Berries
The Rockin' Berries are a pop group from Birmingham, England, who had several hit records in the UK in the 1960s. A version of the group, emphasising comedy routines as well as music, continues to perform to the present day.-History:...
, stood in Jackson's place. Turton also had a certain amount of success under the nom de plume
Pen name
A pen name, nom de plume, or literary double, is a pseudonym adopted by an author. A pen name may be used to make the author's name more distinctive, to disguise his or her gender, to distance an author from some or all of his or her works, to protect the author from retribution for his or her...
Jefferson both at home and in the US.
On 10 January 2008 Rod Allen died after suffering for two months from liver cancer
Hepatocellular carcinoma
Hepatocellular carcinoma is the most common type of liver cancer. Most cases of HCC are secondary to either a viral hepatitide infection or cirrhosis .Compared to other cancers, HCC is quite a rare tumor in the United States...
. The remaining members of the band said they would continue touring and recruited The Dakotas lead singer Eddie Mooney
Eddie Mooney
-Early career:Eddie Mooney , is a vocalist/bassist whose musical career has been with various rock and pop bands since the mid 1970s. Mooney joined his first teen pop group in Larne, Northern Ireland in 1974, called...
. During 2008, the band regrouped, recording a new album Play On and appeared in Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
, the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
and Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
as well as the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. They toured Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, the Netherlands and Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
, in addition to the UK during 2009. The band have a busy schedule in the UK, Netherlands, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
during 2010 and 2011, appearing in Belgium at the Vostertfeesten Festival in August 2010. Drummer Paul Hooper, left the band in early 2010, replaced by Glen Taylor, formerly of Marmalade
Marmalade (band)
Marmalade were a successful Scottish pop rock group, from the east end of Glasgow, originally formed in 1961 as "The Gaylords", later "Dean Ford and The Gaylords". In 1966, they changed the group name to 'The Marmalade'. The most successful period for the band, in terms of UK chart success, was...
.
The keyboard player in the original line-up, David Carr, lived and worked in Hollywood, California, doing session
Session musician
Session musicians are instrumental and vocal performers, musicians, who are available to work with others at live performances or recording sessions. Usually such musicians are not permanent members of a musical ensemble and often do not achieve fame in their own right as soloists or bandleaders...
work, frequently working with the wellknowm American guitarband The Ventures and also Kim Fowley
Kim Fowley
Kim Vincent Fowley is an American record producer, impresario, songwriter, musician, film maker, and radio actor. He is best known for his role behind a string of novelty and cult rock pop singles in the 1960s, and for managing The Runaways in the 1970s...
(for example Carr played keyboards on the last album by Fowley's The Runaways
The Runaways
The Runaways were an American all-girl rock band that recorded and performed in the second half of the 1970s. The band released four studio albums and one live set during its run. Among its best known songs: "Cherry Bomb", "Queens of Noise", "Neon Angels On the Road to Ruin", "California Paradise"...
). Carr died on 12 July 2011, from a heart attack
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
.
UK chart hit singles
- "You've Got Your TroublesYou've Got Your Troubles"You've Got Your Troubles" is a song by written by Roger Greenaway and Roger Cook which became a number two hit for The Fortunes in the United Kingdom and a number seven in the United States in August 1965. This was the fifth single for the group. It was included in the album The Fortunes...
" - 1965 - Number 2. - "Here It Comes AgainHere It Comes Again (The Fortunes song)"Here It Comes Again" is a song written by Barry Mason and Les Reed in 1965. It was recorded by The Fortunes and released on 10 September 1965. It reached number four on the UK Singles Chart and number twenty-seven on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart that same year.A cover version by Rita Pavone...
" - 1965 - Number 4. - "This Golden Ring" - 1966 - Number 15.
- "Freedom Come, Freedom Go" - 1971 - Number 6.
- "Storm in a Teacup" - 1972 - Number 7 (written by Lynsey de PaulLynsey De PaulLynsey de Paul is an English singer-songwriter. Allmusic journalist, Craig Harris stated, "one of the first successful female singer-songwriters in England, de Paul has had an illustrious career".-Early life:De Paul was born to Meta and Herbert Rubin, a property developer...
and Ron RokerRon RokerRon Roker is an English songwriter and singer.-Career:Roker first worked as a song-plugger. His first taste of chart success was provided by the theme music to children's TV programme The Adventures of Rupert Bear. The song "Rupert", co-written with Len Beadle and recorded by Beadle's wife Jackie...
).
US chart hit singles
- "You've Got Your TroublesYou've Got Your Troubles"You've Got Your Troubles" is a song by written by Roger Greenaway and Roger Cook which became a number two hit for The Fortunes in the United Kingdom and a number seven in the United States in August 1965. This was the fifth single for the group. It was included in the album The Fortunes...
" - 1965 - Number 7. - "Here It Comes Again" - 1965 - Number 27.
- "This Golden Ring" - 1966 - Number 82.
- "That Same Old Feeling" - 1970 - Number 62 (Originally recorded by the FoundationsThe FoundationsThe Foundations were a British soul band, active from 1967 to 1970. The group, made up of West Indians, White British, and a Sri Lankan, are best known for their two biggest hits, "Baby Now That I've Found You" , written by Tony Macaulay and John MacLeod; and "Build Me Up Buttercup" The Foundations...
; competing with a version by PickettywitchPickettywitchPickettywitch was a British pop group. Fronted by singer Polly Brown , the group became best known for its hit single, "That Same Old Feeling", which was written by Tony Macaulay and John Macleod...
). - "Here Comes That Rainy Day Feeling" - 1971 - Number 15.
- "Freedom Come, Freedom Go" - 1971 - Number 72.
See also
- List of Capitol Records artists
- List of NME covers
- List of performers on Top of the Pops
- List of artists under the Decca Records label
- Arts in BirminghamArts in BirminghamThis article is about culture and the arts in the city of Birmingham, England. It covers both notable history and notable contemporary activities.-History:...
External links
- The official Fortunes website
- [ The Fortunes biography at the Allmusic web site]
- The official Fortunes webpage - backed by the band on Zoneextra.co.uk