Listen to Al Stewart performing his cover of the Yardbirds’ ‘Turn Into Earth’:
Born in Scotland but brought up in Dorset, Al Stewart started his career in local bands, buying his first guitar from Andy Summers (Zoot Money, the Police) and taking guitar lessons from Robert Fripp (King Crimson). Inspired by Bob Dylan, he moved down [...]
Watch Lulu performing ‘Shout’ on ‘Ready Steady Go!’ in 1965:
Born Marie McDonald McLaughlin Lawrie in Scotland in 1948, Lulu joined a local group, the Gleneagles, and started performing gigs around Glasgow and Edinburgh at the age of 14. She was quickly discovered by her long-time manager Marion Massey who changed the name of the act [...]
Watch Suger Pie DeSanto perform ‘Rock Me Baby’ in the UK in 1964:
Born Umpeylia Balinton in Brooklyn, New York, in 1935, Sugar Pie DeSanto was nicknamed ‘Little Miss Sugar Pie’ by bandleader Johnny Otis when she made her first recording with him in 1955. An amazing R’n’B singer, her single ‘I Want To Know’ was [...]
Watch Tommy Quickly performing ‘Stagger Lee’ in 1964 here:
All but forgotten today, Liverpool vocalist Tommy Quickly was once set to follow the Beatles’ road to stardom. Their manager, Brian Epstein, spotted his talent while he was performing in his band the Challengers and signed him to his company NEMS as a solo artist when Quickly [...]