sixties soul groups

Andre Palfrey-martin collection

Mick O’Dowd.….What an excellent band they were. I remember seeing them and being well impressed. Impressed enough to buy there one and only album(I believe) on Major Minor label? They dropped “The Coloured” tag a bit later but does anybody know what happened to them after that.

Andre Martin…..I think it was on the way home from this gig, they were involved in a road accident and one member of the band was killed, when a badly packed speaker cabinet moved a hit one of them on the head .Here is the Observer write up from that Saturday 29 June 1968.

Tia Mara… Research Black Velvet Band in which 4 members continued as the band.

Marcia Coke… I’m looking for Brian if anyone know’s of his whereabouts.

Pete Fisher… Found this in a blog…they started as the coloured raisins in London ’66.BRANDIS vcls(a.k.a. Brian Clarke /Clark),DAVID & KEITH GAMPORT gtrs,PETER NELSON org & LONDON STEEL dr all came from the west indies & enlarged their line-up to an 8 piece. With the help of HONEY DARLING, KING OSSIE & EARL GREENE vcls & under different names such as The coloured raisins w. King Ossie Show & Honey Darling they re- portedly became 1 of the most booked up London outfits during ’67/68. Anyway, by autumn ’67 they had shortened their name just to the Raisins & finally became Black Velvet in June ’69. However, they still released records under the coloured raisins moniker & also occasionally teamed up w. a guy called RAM JAM HOLDER.

Mike… Saw the coloured raisins when I was about 15/16 . Saw them a few times after that absolutely brilliant. I’m pretty sure I first saw them at the alphabet club but not 100per cent sure of that . I was from Hampshire but used to go all over up west down the coast ( shoreline club) . Loved the mingo, tiles the subway and the twenties . What times.

Jim Breeds… Did Coloured Raisins had a secret life as the Sultanas of Swing?

Sandra Lott… I saw them at the Beckenham Ballrooms (next to Beckenham junction) in 1966 or 1967, I think they sang ” Black Pearl”, but can’t remember for sure. I was very impressed by them.