In 1967 & 1968 + I believe in 1969, the Steinways signed contracts with Roy Tempest to do tours of the UK. At first they thought that with a long history as the Laddins and a re-invention as the Steinways, that they'd be playing gigs as themselves. But Roy Tempest was 'King of the Fake Groups'. He knew that the resurrected Musicor version of the Platters had a few hot songs in UK discos ("With This Ring, "Washed Ashore, "Sweet Sweet Loving", etc.). The Platters, now led by Cleveland's Sonny Turner, had a 4 male + 1 female line-up. The Laddins had started out as a male group but towards the end of their period as the Laddins they'd added a female singer too; Frankie Gearing. Soon after, at their record labels behest, they'd been renamed the Steinways, to update their image (the Laddins had started out as a doo-wop group in the mid 50's). The Steinways career wasn't really going anywhere much, though they still got lots of bookings in Florida under both their names. So when Roy Tempest asked if a mixed male / female NY based group were up for a trip across the pond to play some gigs in the UK, they were approached & jumped at the chance.

Finding themselves now badged as the Fabulous Platters & teamed by Tempest with a UK backing band, they hit the highways of Britain. The group was still comprised of 3 males & 1 female, though Frankie Gearing had already jumped ship (earlier in 67) to form the Glories. The group were still a tight outfit though & put on a really good show. By the time of their 2nd UK visit, the 'fake group scam' was out in the open & visiting outfits were being interviewed to ascertain who they really were. Tempest had badged the group as the FABULOUS PLATTERS, a wise choice as it turned out. The real Platters (back in their Mercury days) had toured the UK. A recent release of theirs (then) had been a UK EP titled the 'Fabulous Platters' and so they'd been advertised on their UK shows under that title. It turned out that that decision would, some years later, play into Tempest's hands. Good reports of their shows were coming out & so there was demand from additional venues for the group to appear there too. On one of their UK visits, they were approached by Tony Cummings (Shout magazine) & he interviewed the group (who were still led by Mickey Goody at the time).

Info on the Laddins / Steinways on-line states ... The Laddins refreshed their lineup with new lead singer Yvonne "Frankie" Gearing, Alfred Ellis, and Dizzy Jones, joining Goody and the Marcus brothers; other members came and went but these were the main cogs. The new group had one single on Butane Records, "Dream Baby" b/w "Dizzy Jones Birdland," in 1964 ... before evolving into the Steinways, a group with a similar sound to Motown's Elgins and Philadelphia's Formations.

Anyway Tony Cummings & the Shout magazine guys interviewed the group & printed an article in the next edition of their mag. They were highly impressed with the group & their performance & so started to campaign for them to get more UK gigs. I seem to remember an ad for a London club that contained info they'd written to promote the group's show -- I recall it stating who they really were & that they put on a great live show (I'll have to try to track it down again).

To further muddy the water, discogs has an entry for the Steinways & their Oliver 45 releases ... BUT the photo up there is actually of the Musicor version of the Platters (lead singer Sonny Turner).

ANYWAY ON TO MY QUESTIONS ...

1/ anyone got a copy of Shout Magazine that includes the interview with the group ? If so, what edition of the mag was it in & can you copy it & post it on here?

2/ If anyone got to see them live back then & can recall much about their show, I'd love to hear about it -- already been told that John Marriott saw them at the Black Swan in Sheffield. He stated that they put on a good show and didn't really do any Platters' songs.

Edited Tuesday at 08:375 days by Roburt

From checking calendar dates back then, they must have been on @ the Wheel on Saturday November 15th, 1969.

Their gig @ Dewsbury's Bin Lid was on Saturday 12th April 68 -- so they must have done 2 UK tours in 1968.

They were on in London @ the Whisky A Go Go on Tuesday April 2nd 1968 (so the same tour as they played the Bin Lid).

On-line there are a few bits about UK beat group the Trend (see Night Prowlers Club ad above). The Platters were on at the Night Prowler, Gt Yarmouth on 18th January & at the Bluesville ’68 Club, St Matthew’s Baths, Ipswich on 22th January. They also did shows at the Hub in Barnsley on 7th January and @ the Dungeon in Nottingham on 12th January. It's stated that on the Fabulous Platters' January 1968 tour the Trend backed them up and then again later that year on what was a 2nd highly successful UK tour (during April / May / June 68). A group member (the Trend) recalls that the Platters (Steinways) had a very professional stage show. He also said "They were always immaculately dressed and had a nonchalant side step when approaching their microphones, all part and parcel of their stage routine”. The Trend backed up a number of Roy Tempest's American soul groups at gigs across the UK.

The Showstoppers being in the UK is mentioned in the Shout Magazine bit above. At the end of March 68, Milton Samuel (Beacon Records) organized a UK visit for the Showstoppers. The group making the 1st of their three appearances on the UK TV program TOP OF THE POPS on April 18th. They were then on @ the Cromwellian Club (London) on Monday 22nd April (advertised as the group's 1st ever live London date. So that must have been around the time, the Steinways were interviewed by the Shout mag bunch.

Hope that helps folk recall if they were at any of their UK shows.

Edited Tuesday at 10:275 days by Roburt

Shout magazine had been titled Soul Music Magazine & Soul Music Monthly before it took its more famous name. I believe it would have been an edition from June or July 1968 that would have contained the article about the Steinways (probably Soul Music #13) ....

So it seems nobody on here went to see the Steinways on any of their 1968 / 69 UK tours then ...

I agree with Neville’s comments on the fake groups although I did not get into Soul until 1968/9. My first fanzines were Home of the Blues and Collectors Soul. Some were possibly back issues. Can’t recall. Interesting to read Bill Millar’s views on the fake groups. He was ahead of his time.

The Steinways were on in Glasgow in 1968 as the Platters as per the advert. Real surprise as the Odeon was our biggest venue. I only heard of them many years later via the NS scene. Great double sider. Who were they touring with at that time? obviously not singing the Oliver 45?

I got Bandwagon’s autographs in 1969/70 who were good. Only recently discovered that Artie Fullilove had a solo record played on NS scene.

Always recall ads in NME for Broken Wheel. seemed to be a lot of Soul music advertised there but don’t recall much discussion about it on here historically.

Good to read Charlie Gillett’s comments from back in the day too.

Who lived At the Chislehurst, England address. Tony Cummings?

Sorry can’t help anymore as I had a long learning curve in front of me regards Soul music is 1969 as it was not like you lucky people down south!

Edited yesterday at 11:011 day by David Meikle
spelling

22 hours ago, David Meikle said:

Sorry can’t help anymore as I had a long learning curve in front of me regards Soul music is 1969 as it was not like you lucky people down south!

David, we (UK soul fans) all had a lot to learn in 67 / 68 / 69, which is how Roy Tempest got away with his scam at the time. A few were ahead of the curve (the Shout mag guys). We may not have been seeing who was advertised, but as others have said ... the 'fake groups' didn't disappoint -- they were all seasoned live performers & good at what they did.

The Fabulous Platters who played the Glasgow Odeon were the real group back in the late 50's.

Edited 11 hours ago11 hr by Roburt

1 hour ago, Roburt said:

David, we (UK soul fans) all had a lot to learn in 67 / 68 / 69, which is how Roy Tempest got away with his scam at the time. A few were ahead of the curve (the Shout mag guys). We may not have been seeing who was advertised, but as others have said ... the 'fake groups' didn't disappoint -- they were all seasoned live performers & good at what they did.

The Fabulous Platters who played the Glasgow Odeon were the real group back in the late 50's.

I read this a couple of years ago and assume you spotted it

Ready Steady Gone!

The Soul Deceiver - Ready Steady Gone!

The Soul Deceiver describes how entertainment agent Roy Tempest hoodwinked music promoters in the sixties by supplying fake American Soul acts