Guest Posted March 8, 2007 Share Posted March 8, 2007 The California Ballroom , Dunstable while I was doing some research for a project , I happened upon the web site for the above famous venue , which ran from 1960 until 1979 . One of the links on the site is the listing of date in respect of every act / artists to have played the Cali . One of the dates - April 22nd , 1966 - lists one of the two acts for that date , to be The " American Vibrations " ........ were they the Vibrations ? Is there anyone out there who went to that evening , and as a result , can confirm that it was The Vibrations ? Malc Burton Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Jerry Hipkiss Posted March 9, 2007 Share Posted March 9, 2007 The California Ballroom , Dunstable while I was doing some research for a project , I happened upon the web site for the above famous venue , which ran from 1960 until 1979 . One of the links on the site is the listing of date in respect of every act / artists to have played the Cali . One of the dates - April 22nd , 1966 - lists one of the two acts for that date , to be The " American Vibrations " ........ were they the Vibrations ? Is there anyone out there who went to that evening , and as a result , can confirm that it was The Vibrations ? Malc Burton At a guess Malc, they were probably not, there was a certain promoter at that time who brought over US groups and put them out under different names - e.g. the Velours as the Fantastic Temptations and the Invitations as the All-Star Drifters. Not sure who these were however... Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 9, 2007 Share Posted March 9, 2007 I saw The Vibrations down the Twisted Wheel on the night of the 9th of April 1966 and always assumed that it was the real group, on sunday morning I went along to Roger Eagles flat only to have him tell me that I had just missed The Vibrations who had gone to his place after the nighter...what a missed opportunity that was....Roger never gave any intimations that they were anything but the real deal.....Malc's post has put a little doubt in my mind though, it'd be a shame to think such an endearing memory of mine was really due to a bogus group, so it'll be good to know if the group were actually booked for a tour in April '66. Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Guest woolie mark Posted March 9, 2007 Share Posted March 9, 2007 this is a poster from 1978 Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 9, 2007 Share Posted March 9, 2007 I saw The Vibrations down the Twisted Wheel on the night of the 9th of April 1966 and always assumed that it was the real group, on sunday morning I went along to Roger Eagles flat only to have him tell me that I had just missed The Vibrations who had gone to his place after the nighter...what a missed opportunity that was....Roger never gave any intimations that they were anything but the real deal.....Malc's post has put a little doubt in my mind though, it'd be a shame to think such an endearing memory of mine was really due to a bogus group, so it'll be good to know if the group were actually booked for a tour in April '66. Given the length of tours that American groups did in the 60s in the U.K. , it would appear that the date of April 9th at The Wheel , and the appearance at The Cali on April 22nd , point to it being the samer group on both occasions . I will endeavour to find out who was the booking agent used for that night : Watch this space . Malc Burton Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 9, 2007 Share Posted March 9, 2007 Given the length of tours that American groups did in the 60s in the U.K. , it would appear that the date of April 9th at The Wheel , and the appearance at The Cali on April 22nd , point to it being the samer group on both occasions . I will endeavour to find out who was the booking agent used for that night : Watch this space . Malc Burton There is a great book out called The Cali Story by Diane Ilka who is the daughter of the guy who not only built the California Ballroom, but his family ran it until it closed on New Years Eve 1979 and he did most of the booking of artists! Some of the all time greats appeared there including The Motown Package tour, The Philadlephia International Tour, James Brown, Al Green etc. Cracking old place, now demolished and a housing estate built on the grounds! Cheers Paddy Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 9, 2007 Share Posted March 9, 2007 (edited) There is a great book out called The Cali Story by Diane Ilka who is the daughter of the guy who not only built the California Ballroom, but his family ran it until it closed on New Years Eve 1979 and he did most of the booking of artists! Some of the all time greats appeared there including The Motown Package tour, The Philadlephia International Tour, James Brown, Al Green etc. Cracking old place, now demolished and a housing estate built on the grounds! Cheers Paddy As Paddy stated , a lot of the greats played The Cali ; and with reference to that , I will post the other years in the next few days , but as a taster , here is the listing for 1967 ...... Admission price for each night are listed , obviously , in old money ..... and a bargain if it was today !! January 21st - Jimmy McGriff ..... 8/6 February 4th - Maxine Brown ..... 10/- February 24th - Edwin Starr ...... 7/6 March 10th - Lee Dorsey ...... 10/- March 17th - The Drifters ..... 10/- April 7th - Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band ..... 12/6 April 14th - Bo Diddley ....... 8/6 April 15th - Mary Wells ...... 10/- April 28th - The Soul Sisters ...... 7/6 April 29th - Madeline Bell ...... 7/6 May 5th - Jimmy James & The Vagabonds ...... 8/6 June 6th - The Chiffons ...... 8/6 June 10th - John Lee Hooker ...... 10/- September 1st - The Temptations ....... 8/6 September 8th - James & Bobby Purify ....... 8/6 September 22nd - Maxine Brown ....... 10/- October 6th - Stevie Wonder ....... 15/- October 13th - The Soul Sisters ....... 7/6 October 20th - The Drifters ....... 7/6 October 21st - Jr Walker & The All Stars ....... 12/- October 27th - Clyde McPhatter .......not known November 17th - The Temptations ....... 7/6 December 15th - The Vibrations ....... 7/6 Malc Burton Edited March 9, 2007 by Malc Burton Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 10, 2007 Share Posted March 10, 2007 As Paddy stated , a lot of the greats played The Cali ; and with reference to that , I will post the other years in the next few days , but as a taster , here is the listing for 1967 ...... Admission price for each night are listed , obviously , in old money ..... and a bargain if it was today !! January 21st - Jimmy McGriff ..... 8/6 February 4th - Maxine Brown ..... 10/- February 24th - Edwin Starr ...... 7/6 March 10th - Lee Dorsey ...... 10/- March 17th - The Drifters ..... 10/- April 7th - Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band ..... 12/6 April 14th - Bo Diddley ....... 8/6 April 15th - Mary Wells ...... 10/- April 28th - The Soul Sisters ...... 7/6 April 29th - Madeline Bell ...... 7/6 May 5th - Jimmy James & The Vagabonds ...... 8/6 June 6th - The Chiffons ...... 8/6 June 10th - John Lee Hooker ...... 10/- September 1st - The Temptations ....... 8/6 September 8th - James & Bobby Purify ....... 8/6 September 22nd - Maxine Brown ....... 10/- October 6th - Stevie Wonder ....... 15/- October 13th - The Soul Sisters ....... 7/6 October 20th - The Drifters ....... 7/6 October 21st - Jr Walker & The All Stars ....... 12/- October 27th - Clyde McPhatter .......not known November 17th - The Temptations ....... 7/6 December 15th - The Vibrations ....... 7/6 Malc Burton Hi Malc According the Cali book, Stevie Wonders contract states he will be paid £500, or 50% of the door whichever is the greater number!! Wonder if I can get him on those terms for the Northampton weekender!! lol lol also Junior Walker was paid £500! Cheers Paddy Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Bigsoulman Posted March 10, 2007 Share Posted March 10, 2007 As Paddy stated , a lot of the greats played The Cali ; and with reference to that , I will post the other years in the next few days , but as a taster , here is the listing for 1967 ...... Admission price for each night are listed , obviously , in old money ..... and a bargain if it was today !! January 21st - Jimmy McGriff ..... 8/6 February 4th - Maxine Brown ..... 10/- February 24th - Edwin Starr ...... 7/6 March 10th - Lee Dorsey ...... 10/- March 17th - The Drifters ..... 10/- April 7th - Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band ..... 12/6 April 14th - Bo Diddley ....... 8/6 April 15th - Mary Wells ...... 10/- April 28th - The Soul Sisters ...... 7/6 April 29th - Madeline Bell ...... 7/6 May 5th - Jimmy James & The Vagabonds ...... 8/6 June 6th - The Chiffons ...... 8/6 June 10th - John Lee Hooker ...... 10/- September 1st - The Temptations ....... 8/6 September 8th - James & Bobby Purify ....... 8/6 September 22nd - Maxine Brown ....... 10/- October 6th - Stevie Wonder ....... 15/- October 13th - The Soul Sisters ....... 7/6 October 20th - The Drifters ....... 7/6 October 21st - Jr Walker & The All Stars ....... 12/- October 27th - Clyde McPhatter .......not known November 17th - The Temptations ....... 7/6 December 15th - The Vibrations ....... 7/6 Malc Burton Remarkable!! Lenny Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 11, 2007 Share Posted March 11, 2007 (edited) Remarkable!! Lenny With reference to my earlier post regarding name acts that played The California Ballrom , following is a list of the years 1968 to 1972 . I have purposely just stated the year , and the name of the artist that played : The reason for doing so is that many of the names listed played return dates in the same year . 1968 The Showstoppers J J Jackson Oscar Toney Jr ....... support act on one appearance was The Bonzo Dog Doo - Dah Band Jimmy James & The Vagabonds Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band Ben E King ....... support act on one appearance was Black Sabbath Patti LaBelle and The Blue Belles O C Smith 1969 Jr Walker & The All Stars Ben E King Marv Johnson J J Jackson Johnny Johnson & The Bandwagon Oscar Toney Jr Bob & Earl Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band Jimmy James & The Vagabonds Jimmy Ruffin Arthur Conley Percy Sledge and Sam The Sham & The Pharaohs ! 1970 The Fantastics J J Jackson Edwin Starr Oscar Toney Jr Jr Walker & The All Stars Johnny Johnson & The Bandwagon ........ supported on one occasion by The Invitations - billed as who had previously toured the UK as " The Original Drifters " Ben E King Jimmy James & The Vagabonds Root & Jenny Jackson Marv Johnson Jimmy Ruffin Jackie Edwards Arthur Conley and - I know it is not soulful , but it is historical in relation to popular music ..... The first ever live appearance of Derek & The Dominos , featuring Eric Clapton 1971 Rufus Thomas Jimmy Ruffin Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons Edwin Starr Jackie Edwards Tommy Hunt ........ billed as " Tommy Hunt of The Flamingoes " The Flirtations The Showstoppers The Fantastics Arthur Conley Johnny Johnson & The Bandwagon Tami Lynn The Elgins Jimmy James & The Vagabonds The Tams 1972 The Showstoppers jimmy Ruffin The Fantastics Eddie Floyd Doris Troy The Flirtations Ben E King The Drifters Donnie Elbert Bloodstone Johnny Johnson & The Bandwagon Inez Foxx The Elgins Mary Wells The Drifters Love Unlimited Jackie Wilson Major Lance Chairmen Of The Board Fontella Bass Jr Walker & The All Stars Bob & Earl Edwin Starr and Johnny Nash .................. who , during his act , introduced a young Jamaican singer who he was producing .............. Bob Marley , who sang two songs . More years and artists in a future post . Malc Burton Edited March 11, 2007 by Malc Burton Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Jerry Hipkiss Posted March 12, 2007 Share Posted March 12, 2007 Johnny Johnson & The Bandwagon ........ supported on one occasion by The Invitations - billed as who had previously toured the UK as " The Original Drifters " Somewhere on here I posted the flyer for the Original Drifters appearance in Cheltenham in 1966...b******d if I can find it now though! Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Jerry Hipkiss Posted March 12, 2007 Share Posted March 12, 2007 Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Jerry Hipkiss Posted March 12, 2007 Share Posted March 12, 2007 Slightly out on the year...it was actually 1967... Hippo. Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 12, 2007 Share Posted March 12, 2007 Slightly out on the year...it was actually 1967... Hippo. In respect of the soul artists who played the California Ballroom , I will posting up the years of 1973 to the closure of the Cali in 1979 . It is interesting to see the change in the style of artists who appeared from 1973 onwards ; as the years went on , the traditional type of soul artists and groups went to more funk based performers . Watch this space for details ..... Malc Burton Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Guest Gill Lucraft Posted August 11, 2017 Share Posted August 11, 2017 On 09/03/2007 at 18:45, Guest said: There is a great book out called The Cali Story by Diane Ilka who is the daughter of the guy who not only built the California Ballroom, but his family ran it until it closed on New Years Eve 1979 and he did most of the booking of artists! Some of the all time greats appeared there including The Motown Package tour, The Philadlephia International Tour, James Brown, Al Green etc. Cracking old place, now demolished and a housing estate built on the grounds! Cheers Paddy I know this is a very old post but for the sake of correctness I need to pull Paddy up on it. Edwin Green built the Ballroom in 1960. Diane Ilka is his granddaughter not his daughter. John Ilka, her father, was married to Lorna Green the daughter of Edwin and his second wife. After Edwin's death they ran it with John's son Mick Ilka doing all the bookings of the soul acts until 1977 when the council increased the rates from £2k a year to £15k a year. John sold it to Bill Seymour and Bill installed Mick Rutter as manager. It ran until a local woman, Diana Wickson, who had spent years running petitions trying to get it shut down, got on the council planning committee and from there on in it was doomed. They compulsory purchased the place, made sure it was all signed and sealed before anyone from the Ballroom could get there to object, they then sat on the land as they had no idea what to do with it. I have failed to track down the old bag responsible. Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Guest Spain pete Posted August 11, 2017 Share Posted August 11, 2017 Went there a few times ,seem to remember their was a downstairs room called the dragon or devils den ,anyone remember ? As l was only a kid at the time . my older cousin used to drag me along ,come to think of it that's one reason l entered the weird world of soul music but that's for another thread 🎶🎶 Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Roburt Posted August 11, 2017 Share Posted August 11, 2017 With regard to UK tours by the Vibrations. I seem to recall they toured here twice in the mid to late 60's and on one (or both) of those tours Bobby Eli came with them as their travelling musician (the other backing guys being UK based). No doubt if someone contacts Bobby he'll pass along more info. Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Jaybee Posted December 10, 2023 Share Posted December 10, 2023 On 11/08/2017 at 18:04, Guest Spain pete said: Went there a few times ,seem to remember their was a downstairs room called the dragon or devils den ,anyone remember ? As l was only a kid at the time . my older cousin used to drag me along ,come to think of it that's one reason l entered the weird world of soul music but that's for another thread Devils Den. We all used to head down there while the acts were on in the ballroom and the jocks had a chance to get a drink. Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Britishbarry Posted December 10, 2023 Share Posted December 10, 2023 Had some great nights at the Cali. I was there on the last night. Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Roburt Posted December 11, 2023 Share Posted December 11, 2023 (edited) A few bits (below) to help back up the fact that it was indeed the real VIBRATIONS that toured here back in the 60's ... they were renowned for their high energy stage moves, being great dancers ... one of the jpegs is a pic of them on stage @ the Dungeon in Nottingham. One fact that led lots of folk to believe that they weren't the real group was that 'fake group' supremo Roy Tempest ran lots of their UK tours. But these tours took place way before he started with his 'fake group' phase -- ahead of that he always brought over the genuine article. Their Dec 67 released 45 ("Talkin About Love") was a UK only effort (2 old tracks); specially released here on Columbia by EMI to tie in with the tour they were undertaking at the time. Edited December 11, 2023 by Roburt 1 Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
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