richo991 Posted April 29, 2015 Share Posted April 29, 2015 (edited) Dose anybody have any info on the group The Invitationsthanks chaps for all the help I saw them a Wigan and a few years back at a Pontins w/end at Yarmouth. Edited May 1, 2015 by richo991 Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Stuart Russell Posted April 29, 2015 Share Posted April 29, 2015 The Invitations came to the UK in 1967 masquerading as The Drifters. Dodgy promoter Roy Tempest was behind the scam – the Steinways performed as the Platters, the Velours as the Temptations, and the Diplomats were hoodwinked into appearing as the Isley Brothers. There's a discography of the Invitations here on Dave Rimmer's Soulful Kinda Music site. 1 Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Robbk Posted April 29, 2015 Share Posted April 29, 2015 The Invitations started as The Champlains and Tip Toppers, before they became The invitations and signed with Dyno Voice Records. Roy Jolly was the lead when they were with Dynovoice1965-66. The others were Gary Grant (Gant?), Bill Morris and Bobby Rivers. When they moved to MGM in late 1966 and 1967, Herman Colefield replaced Jolly. In 1968 they moved to Diamond Records. in 1973, Lew Kirton replaced Colefield as lead, and they moved to Silver Blue Records. I think they lived in The New York, new Jersey Metro Area, but, some of them (Jolly, Colefield, Grant? originally came from The South (South Carolina?). 3 Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Ted Massey Posted April 29, 2015 Share Posted April 29, 2015 I saw the Velours as the Drifters and the Temptations 1 Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Smudger Posted April 29, 2015 Share Posted April 29, 2015 You may be wrong they were the "ORIGINAL" Drifters as i remember Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Ted Massey Posted April 29, 2015 Share Posted April 29, 2015 yes and the original temps lol the Plaza in Rookery Road Handsworth Birmingham Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Hooker1951 Posted April 29, 2015 Share Posted April 29, 2015 I've seen at least a dozen groups masquerading as the drifters over the last 45 years some better at it than others obviously some of these had one or two members who had stood in a drifters lineup some time the nearest and the best to what I would call the drifters was in 1972 when BenE King and his band played live in the Caino Wigan Pre RW and the allniters Ben E was brilliant that night.The nearest copy group to the drifters sound wise were the Drapers 1962 63 who had the time 3 original or maybe 4 Drifter members.If you lined all the different Lineups of the Drifters they'd probably stretch longer than hadrians wall 62 years of different members. Cheers ML 2 Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
The Yank Posted April 29, 2015 Share Posted April 29, 2015 The Invitations started as The Champlains and Tip Toppers, before they became The invitations and signed with Dyno Voice Records. Roy Jolly was the lead when they were with Dynovoice1965-66. The others were Gary Grant (Gant?), Bill Morris and Bobby Rivers. When they moved to MGM in late 1966 and 1967, Herman Colefield replaced Jolly. In 1968 they moved to Diamond Records. in 1973, Lew Kirton replaced Colefield as lead, and they moved to Silver Blue Records. I think they lived in The New York, new Jersey Metro Area, but, some of them (Jolly, Colefield, Grant? originally came from The South (South Carolina?). The group member's name is Gary Gant. That's the same Gant who co-wrote Kenny Wells' "Isn't It Just A Shame" on New Voice. 1 Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Hooker1951 Posted April 29, 2015 Share Posted April 29, 2015 Some of the Velours used to perform as the Fantastics they played regularly on the Soul circuit in the North west 1970 till 72 along with E Starr, J Ruffian, W Bell, A Conley Ben E King,Lou Christie,and many more they were all in their prime then not forgetting Jonny Johnson n the Bandwagon and the Showstoppers all fantastic acts at their best. ML Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Guest Waggy Posted April 29, 2015 Share Posted April 29, 2015 (edited) J Ruffian wasnt he on the door..............? Oh no that was A. Ruffian. Edited April 29, 2015 by Waggy Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Dayo Posted April 30, 2015 Share Posted April 30, 2015 Any info on that Jay Boy release? It's labeled as "Picking up", though I'm sure they sing "packing up"...Was this a UK recording? Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Sunnysoul Posted April 30, 2015 Share Posted April 30, 2015 Any info on that Jay Boy release? It's labeled as "Picking up", though I'm sure they sing "packing up"... Was this a UK recording? UK only on Jay Boy and a great tune. 2 Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Hooker1951 Posted April 30, 2015 Share Posted April 30, 2015 wasnt he on the door..............? Oh no that was A. Ruffian. sorry about the spelling Waggy. no it was me on the door I used to let them all in and let them all out. :yes:Cheers ML Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Chalky Posted May 1, 2015 Share Posted May 1, 2015 This flyer is courtesy of Jerry Hipkiss from a previous topic where the Invitations appeared as the Drifters. 2 Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Chalky Posted May 1, 2015 Share Posted May 1, 2015 Great photo courtesy of Dave Welding Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Theothertosspot Posted May 1, 2015 Share Posted May 1, 2015 (edited) Recall a friend was going to see the Four Tops when appearing at a local venue. When he realised the line up had changed due to unfortunate circumstance (ie bereavements, etc) he cancelled. The promoter pointed out to the punter that Bobby Charlton plus George Best, Dennis Law, etc, no longer played for Manchester United but the name remained the same. What's in a name! Edited May 2, 2015 by theothertosspot Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Theothertosspot Posted May 1, 2015 Share Posted May 1, 2015 Oh by the way, got a copy of the Invitations on JayBoy, just can't find it at present. R E Gards Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Still Diggin Posted May 1, 2015 Share Posted May 1, 2015 I have a clip of them singing 'They say the girls crazy' from the Ebony Affair shows from around the time of that release ..Perhaps I will post it up on here some day. Some nice info chaps. Andy 1 Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Ibiza Steve Posted May 2, 2015 Share Posted May 2, 2015 Recall a friend was going to see the Four Tops when appearing at a local venue. When he realised the line up had changed due to unfortunate circumstance (ie bereavements, etc) he cancelled. The promoter pointed out to the punter that Bobby and Jackie Charlton plus George Best, Dennis Law, etc, no longer played for Manchester United but the name remained the same.What's in a name! 1 Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Ibiza Steve Posted May 2, 2015 Share Posted May 2, 2015 I saw the "British" Temptations at the Nite Owl in Leicester during the mid 60s and still haven´t a clue who they were although they sounded fine. Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Professorturnups Posted May 2, 2015 Share Posted May 2, 2015 Recall a friend was going to see the Four Tops when appearing at a local venue. When he realised the line up had changed due to unfortunate circumstance (ie bereavements, etc) he cancelled. The promoter pointed out to the punter that Bobby and Jackie Charlton plus George Best, Dennis Law, etc, no longer played for Manchester United but the name remained the same.What's in a name!Sorry to be pedantic but Jackie only ever played for Leeds United! 2 Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Theothertosspot Posted May 2, 2015 Share Posted May 2, 2015 Sorry to be pedantic but Jackie only ever played for Leeds United! Knew they played together with one team, oh it was England, fool that I am 1 Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
spot Posted May 2, 2015 Share Posted May 2, 2015 I have a clip of them singing 'They say the girls crazy' from the Ebony Affair shows from around the time of that release ..Perhaps I will post it up on here some day. Some nice info chaps. Andy Please post it up, I'm sure we'd all love to see it. 3 Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
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