The Incredible, Fabulous and very Original Roy Tempest

There can be few of us who were part of the mid-late sixties mod/soul scene who did not notice the influx of many major USA acts (The Temptations, Ronettes,  Drifters, Isley Brothers, Marvellettes for example)  were working UK venues - including some quite small local dance halls and cabaret clubs.

It caused considerable interest amongst the teens I knocked around with.  Instead of our weekly diet of local soul bands - some of whom were excellent - we could now pay our 10 bob to see Tamla stars just a bus ride away.

Don't get me wrong - some of USA acts brought into the UK by other agencies were real - Jimmy Ruffin was the real deal and he even had a Manchester based backing group for a tme which is great by me - but some were an outright con.

Read on ... this article is excellent

https://readysteadygone.co.uk/the-soul-deceiver/

Just as a footnote.  I have just watched an excellent interview with Bill Wyman celebrating his 90th birthday.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vj1Rc3ADX1g

As the Stones' historian, he has a great memory for detail and reminisces about the hardships they faced in the early days - 4 pounds a gig, getting conned by clubs, playing for nothing, etc.  At about 42 minurtes, when asked if the Stones were ever cheated, out of all the people he would have been involved with over the decades (Alan Klein comes to mind), he only mentions one person, Guess who?  And that would have been 5 years before I got robbed of 12/6d going to see the Fabulous Temptations at New Century Hall. 

The moral to the story may be simple - major acts don't need advectives before their name.

A footnote:
It is easy to think that doesn't happen now ... but it does. Its even more blatant.
Look at the posters for tours like "The Sensational, wonderful 1960s All-star Revues" - how many of the groups actually have a strong link to the original owners of the group name?  Or any link?  One group - disappeared I by now I hope was "Mama and Papas UK".  Grrr.
it wouldn't happen in Manchester.  Not so, one local cabaret group (very good act, talented and nice guys) toured USA as a 60s chart band.