Orange Rainbow

Orange Rainbow, lock, Uxbridge, west London, 1969. Left to right: Martin Hayles, Robin Lawrence, Geoff Foster, Rodney Barrett, Martin Bryan, Alan Ray, Dave Goodman and Terry May

Alan Ray – lead vocals

Kenny Surmon – lead guitar (replaced by Geoff Foster)

Terry May – keyboards

Dave Goodman – bass

Martin Hayles – trumpet

Robin Lawrence – tenor sax

Rodney Barrett – trombone

Tony Hampton – drums (replaced by Martin Bryan)

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George Russell – alto sax (played on and off 1969-1970)

John Barter – tenor and baritone sax (played on and off 1969-1970)

Orange Rainbow at the Railway Hotel (Iron Bridge), Southall, Middlesex
Orange Rainbow at the Railway Hotel (Iron Bridge), Southall, west London

Orange Rainbow were a west London soul band that had worked as The Bluesville Soul Band, changing name around late March 1969.

Little is known about the group and Garage Hangover would welcome any additional information.

According to tributes to the late Dave Goodman, who went on to become sound engineer for the Sex Pistols, Orange Rainbow began as seven-piece group.

Frinton Bassett Blues in Feltham in 1967. Photo from Scot and Patricia Whetton

Goodman had started out with The Frinton Bassett Blues band, who were profiled in the 22 September 1967 edition (page 2) of the Middlesex Chronicle, Hounslow Edition.

The article lists the band’s seven-piece line up as Steve Crawford (lead vocals); Alan Cook (lead guitar); Dave Goodman (bass); Denis Smithers (drums); Pete Watson (alto sax); Ray Johnson (tenor sax) and an unnamed keyboard player.

Singer Alan Ray at the Railway Hotel
Singer Alan Ray at the Railway Hotel

According to the newspaper, The Frinton Bassett Blues Band had been formed around the spring of 1966 and added the sax players in the summer of 1967, prompting the slight name change to New Frinton Bassett Blues Band.

Goodman and Martin Hayles (who had joined later) subsequently worked with The Bluesville Soul Band, which formed the nucleus of Orange Rainbow.

Article on The Bluesville Show Band, Kingston and Malden Borough News, 12 July 1968

Alan Ray had started out with The Keyes (sometimes spelt Keys), who also included guitarist Geoff Foster and keyboard player Terry May.

However, around December 1967, Geoff Foster left to play with west Londoners The Casuals (Frankie Reid’s former group) and Terry May joined The James Royal Set and then The Huckle Buck Band.

New Frinton Bassett Group February 1968

Alan Ray put together The Bluesville Soul Band with lead guitarist Kenny Surmon; sax player Robin Lawrence; trumpet player Martin Hayles; bass player Dave Goodman; and drummer Tony Hampton. Terry May joined in July 1968. Rodney Barrett joined soon after.

Alan Ray and Kenny Surmon (plus Geoff Foster who was playing in The Army after Steve Priest left to join The Sweet) all auditioned for Tangerine Peel around this time but turned the offer to join down.

The Kingston & Malden Borough News, which profiled the band in its 12 July 1968 issue, lists the following gigs:

20 July 1968 – Excel Bowl, Tolworth, southwest London

 

3 August 1968 – Apple Tree Club, Kingston Hotel, Kingston Upon Thames, southwest London

17 August 1968 – Apple Tree Land, Staines, Middlesex with Way In and Souvenir Badge Factory (Staines & Egham News)

 

27 September 1968 – Apple Tree Club, Kingston Hotel, Kingston Upon Thames, southwest London

 

21 December 1968 – Excel Bowl, Tolworth, southwest London

Around March 1969, Geoff Foster took over from Kenny Surmon and Martin Bryan replaced Tony Hampton.  Later this month they became Orange Rainbow.

According to Goodman’s webpages, Orange Rainbow toured the UK extensively and even worked on the continent. They also backed Ben E King, The Drifters, Nicky Thomas, The Flirtations and The Fantastics (from mid-1970 onwards after Pip Williams’ band, The House of Orange). Orange Rainbow also supported The Four Seasons and The Jackson Five on UK tours.

Left to right: Rodney Barrett, Martin Hayles and Robin Lawrence

From mid-July to early August 1969, the band was booked to perform at the Ye Ye Club in Rimini, Italy for three weeks. Geoff Foster also remembers the musicians playing at Sloopy’s Disco in Manchester, the Place in Hanley, Staffordshire and the Pavilion Ballroom in Gillingham, Kent.

Orange Rainbow played Sunday lunchtimes at the Railway Hotel in Southall, west London and were also regulars at Samantha’s in central London.

orange-rainbow-from-1968Geoff Foster’s former band mates in the Army, George Russell and John Barter worked with the band on and off throughout 1969-1970 but never officially joined as permanent members. All three left during 1970.

Orange Rainbow continued into the early Seventies during which time the group underwent many personnel changes (see comments below). Dave Rose took over from Terry May on keyboards and Graham Board replaced Martin Bryan on drums. Eventually, the group morphed into Polecat.

Left to right: Martin Bryan, Dave Goodman and Geoff Foster

Selected gigs

5 April 1969 – Hay Makers Hoedown, Lake Farm, Blechingley, Surrey (Surrey Mirror and County Post)

18 April 1969 – Addlestone Community Centre, Addlestone, Surrey (Woking Herald)

26 April 1969 – Kingston College of Technology, Kingston Upon Thames, southwest London with Episode Six and The Giant (Melody Maker)

 

10 May 1969 – Pavilion Ballroom, Gillingham, Kent

 

8 June 1969 – Woodhall Community Centre, Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire

28 June 1969 – Railway Hotel, Southall, west London

 

28 July 1969 – Ye Ye Scandinavian Club, Rimini, Italy with Root and Jenny Jackson (Poster)

 

6 August 1969 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire with Sunnyside (Evening Sentinel)

7-8 August 1969 – Samantha’s, Burlington Street, central London (Poster)

11 August 1969 – Samantha’s, Burlington Street, central London (Poster)

14 August 1969 – Samantha’s, Burlington Street, central London (Poster)

17 August 1969 – Le Metro, Birmingham (Birmingham Evening Mail)

26 August 1969 – Samantha’s, Burlington Street, central London (Poster)

29 August 1969 – George Hotel, Walsall, West Midlands (Walsall Observer & South Staffordshire Chronicle)

31 August 1969 – Samantha’s, Burlington Street, central London (Poster)

 

10 September 1969 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire with The All-Round (Evening Sentinel)

An article in the Horncastle Target, dated 26 September 1969, page 2, says the band are due to play in Denmark in November. It also says that they have played the Scotch of St James.

15 November 1969 – Walton Playhouse, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey (Woking Herald)

 

16 January 1970 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire (Evening Sentinel)

Photo: John Kirk’s book

1 February 1970 – Broken Wheel, Retford, Nottinghamshire (Retford Times/John Kirk’s book “Another Saturday Night”)

5 February 1970 – Acorn Club, RAF Oakington, Cambridgeshire with The Stack (Cambridge Evening News)

14 February 1970 – Barn Dance Hall, Penzance, Cornwall (West Briton and Royal Cornwall Gazette)

21 March 1970 – Rebecca’s, Birmingham with James King (Birmingham Evening Mail)

 

2 April 1970 – Rebecca’s, Birmingham with Rare Bird (Birmingham Evening Mail)

 

6 May 1970 – Mackadown, Birmingham with Toyshop (Birmingham Evening Mail)

An article in the Horncastle Target, dated 8 May 1970, page 2, says the band has played gigs in Wigan, Birmingham and Wolverhampton and have just been booked to back US vocal group, The Invatations (formerly The Original Drifters).

The line up is listed as:

Alan Ray – lead vocals

Peter Wrigley – lead guitar

David Rose – keyboards/vocals

Dave Goodman – bass

Martin Hughes – trumpet/vocals

Robin Lawrence – tenor sax

Rodney Barrett – trombone

Graham Broad – drums

28 June 1970 – Up the Junction, Crewe, Cheshire (Chester Chronicle)

 

1 August 1970 – Starlight Room, Gliderdrome Boston, Lincolnshire with Nicky Thomas (Lincolnshire Echo)

8 August 1970 – Il Rondo, Leicester (Leicester Mercury) They play next four Saturdays

15 August 1970 – Il Rondo, Leicester (Leicester Mercury)

22 August 1970 – Il Rondo, Leicester (Leicester Mercury)

29 August 1970 – Il Rondo, Leicester (Leicester Mercury)

 

20 September 1970 – Blue Orchid, Nottingham (Guardian Journal)

 

December 1970 – Broken Wheel, Retford, Nottinghamshire with The Fantastics (Retford Times/John Kirk’s book “Another Saturday Night”)

Photo: John Kirk’s book

7 February 1971 – Theatre Royal, Nottingham with Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons, The Fantastics and Mike Felix (Nottingham Evening Post)

19 February 1971 – Odeon Birmingham, Birmingham  with Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons, The Fantastics and Mike Felix (Birmingham Evening Mail)

20 February 1971 – Odeon Hammersmith, Hammersmith, west London with Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons, The Fantastics and Mike Felix (Marylebone & Paddington Mercury)

 

16 May 1971 – Wallsend Rising Sun Welfare Club, Wallsend, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear (Newcastle Evening Chronicle)

20 May 1971 – Skyline Ballroom, Hull with The Fantastics and The Incredible Station (Hull Daily Mail)

 

24 July 1971 – Whitchurch Civic Centre, Whitchurch, Cheshire with The Fantastics (Chester Chronicle)

 

11 December 1971 – Drill Hall, Lincoln, Lincolnshire with The Fantastics (Lincolnshire Echo)

 

1 January 1972 – Birtley Rex Social Club, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear (Newcastle Evening Chronicle)

An article in the Horncastle Target, dated 23 June 1972, page 22, lists the band playing at the London Palladium with The Four Seasons and The Fantastics 

16 July 1972 – White Horse Inn, Cranswick, Hull with The Fantastics (Hull Daily Mail)

I would like to thank Geoff Foster for helping with the story and supplying the excellent photos.

Copyright © Nick Warburton.  All Rights Reserved. No part of this article may be reproduced or transmitted in any from or by any means, without prior permission from the author.

Orange Rainbow, mid 1970s. Back, left to right: Bob Gorman, Graham Broad (drummer from Feltham), Robin Lawrence (sax from Hanworth) Dave Goodman (bass from Feltham), Derek ? Front, left to right: Martin Hayles, Mel Day and Paul Sheath. Photo from Mel Day.

 

29 thoughts on “Orange Rainbow”

  1. Hi John South. It Is a pity there’s no recording. It was a great sound. by the way I’m George Russell who with John Barter sax players worked with the band on & off from 1969 -1970 as guests. I always remember it being a amazing sound at the Railway Hotel. Sunday lunch time. it use to get packed out the atmosphere was fantastic. I’ll come back again all the best.

  2. It’s good to see all this stuff on Orange Rainbow because I’m AlanRay the Lead singer 3 other people need to be acknowledged Pete Wrigley who took over lead guitar from Geoff,Graham Broad who took over from Martin and Dave Rose who took over from Terry May. Graham paved a excellent career after Rainbow as one of the best session in the buisness working on most hit records of the eighties . When I have a few more minutes I will be able to give a lot more info on O Rainbow.

    1. Hi Alan

      Thanks for getting in touch. If you have any further info on the formation of the band and its early years that would be great. Who was the original guitarist before Geoff?

      Thanks

  3. Hi Alan Ray again I have been thinking that also Mel Day should get a mention he took over from in Orange Rainbow and Bob Gorman who took over lead guitar from Pete Wrigley both helped to keep the good reputation that the band had In the business.

    1. Here is the truth as I was part of it….A guy (NO name on purpose) told me he was bringing back to England from the USA The Invitations who had toured for months as The Original Drifters and would I book them out as The Invitations…This was early 1971 I think…A little later he asked me to go and hear a band he had found and was thinking about using them as the backing band for the Invitations,,,That was my first sight of the Rainbow…I remember what tight sound they had especially as I had never heard of them,but they knew who I was,,Aian Ray was the singer and years later I employed him as a tour manager for big names

      1. Hi Steve it was good to see your comments should you read this please contact me 07484781978 I’ve been try to find you for years I’m still in contact with Rod trombone and Graham Drums

        1. It’s Nick who did the entry. Found and added lots more gigs for 1969, 1970 and 1971 including the tour with Frankie Valli

  4. Got a note from Kathleen Hope Kenarelli who provided the following info

    Frinton Bassett Blues,in 1967, who also played at The R&B Club in Feltham, and the members were Scot Whetton – guitar, Alan Cook- guitar, Dennis Smithers- drums, Stevie Crawford – vocals & Dave Goodman – bass.

  5. Trying to find Robert McGuinness (max) played in the band when they played the London Palladium as a support group

    1. Hi rainbow people, I’m Bob Gorman. I took over the lead guitar part after Pete. Joining the Rainbow was massively important to my development in the business. I was 19, phew! Myself, Mel Day, and Paul Sheath all came from Southampton. We were the farmers! The London boys never let us forget it. We were backing the Fantastics at that time. A really strong show, and work schedule. Great days! One mention for trumpeter Martin Hayles. He helped me so much through the minefield of sheet music.

      1. Hi guys

        Nick here who did the entry. I’ve found tonnes more gigs on the Newspapers website. Looks like you starting backing The Fantastics in January 1971 and carried through into 1972

  6. Lovely memories, played as second trumpet whilst Rodney wasn’t playing with the band in around 1971. When I was 17. I used to admire the skills around me. Dave Rose’s reworking of Chicago T.A. songs were a high point. Martin and Robin so professional in their art. And the boy wonder Jazzy drummer! Alan’s proper voice suited the whole range of songs. Stylish bass and a couple of excellent guitarists who also extended the range of funk soul and jazzy stuff.

  7. Hi Rod Barrett here. We did a number of sessions as I remember in the Teddington television studios but I wouldn’t think that any copies exist. We did a BBC Radio 1 club lunchtime session from Weston Super Mare in 1970, Tommy Vance was the DJ on the day. We had 25 or 6 to 4 on our play list and the original by the American band Chicago was on the BBC’s play list that day. Fortunately they agreed to play another record instead.

  8. Hounslow Post’s 19 May 1967 issue, page 6, notes that the Frinton Bassett Blues Band had split.

    The same newspaper’s 2 June 1967 issue, page 2, notes that the group had reformed as The New Frinton Bassett Blues Band

    There is a focus on The New Frinton Bassett Band in the Hounslow Post’s 22 September 1967 issue, page 4

  9. Some more gigs as Bluesville Soul Band from the Kingston and Malden Borough News:

    23 August 1968 – Apple Tree Club, Kingston Hotel, Kingston upon Thames

    24 December 1968 – Excel Bowl, Tolworth

    10 January 1969 – Excel Bowl, Tolworth

    7 March 1969 – Rainbow Room, Co-op Hall, Addlestone, Surrey

  10. Looks like they became Orange Rainbow in late March 1969, judging by these further dates from Kingston and Malden Borough News:

    All of the following are at The Apple Tree Club, Kingston Hotel, Kingston upon Thames

    5 April 1969
    19 April 1969
    23 May 1969
    20 June 1969
    12 July 1969

  11. In the late 60’s early 70’s I lived in Ashford Middlesex next dorr to Alan Ray. I was a junior sound engineer at Thames TV and we were allowed to bring in bands to record for practise. Everything was mono and no mult-track.
    I took OR there for a couple of sessions and the results were pretty good. I recall Alan took the tape to the BBC as a demo tape, Make me Smile and 25 or 6 to 4 were the only two songs I remember but it was fifty years ago!!!
    Brilliant musicians.
    Unfortunately the master tapes are probably still in the loft at one of my previous homes, pity because the band would still sound great today.

  12. The Walsall Observer and South Staffordshire Chronicle lists the band playing at the George Hotel, Walsall on 29 August 1969

  13. According to my 1970 diary they played at Top Rank Reading on Wednesday 29 July, along with Nicky Thomas (Love of the Common People).
    Great times!

  14. Got to know couple of Orange Rainbow members Rod Barrett joined our Band to do tour with Ben E King and also met Alan Rey when he was a tour manager on Temptations tour in 72 Rod was in Temptations tour in Orchestra also on that tour our band John Mcflare Band backed Jimmy Helms and Carla Thomas.

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