Velvettes
| The All-Stars | |
|---|---|
| Also known as | The R&B All-Stars The Cyril Davies All-Stars The Immediate All-Stars |
| Origin | London, England |
| Genres | Blues |
| Years active | 1962-1965 |
| Labels |
Pye Records Immediate Records |
| Associated acts | Cyril Davies, Jimmy Page, Jeff Beck, Eric Clapton, Long John Baldry |
| Past members | Nicky Hopkins, Carlo Little, Rick Brown, Bernie Watson, The Velvettes, Keith Scott, Cliff Barton, Micky Waller, Geoff Bradford, Johnny Parker, Bob Wackett, Mick Jagger, Ian Stewart, Bill Wyman, Charlie Watts |
The All-Stars (originally known as the Cyril Davies (R&B) All-Stars) were a short-lived English blues combo active in the early-mid 1960s that later evolved into a studio supergroup. Their later recordings are often credited less ambiguously to the Immediate All-Stars due to their strong ties to Immediate Records.
The All-Stars were initially formed as a backing band for Cyril Davies after his departure from Alexis Korner's Blues Incorporated in October 1962. The original lineup was tentatively christened the Cyril Davies Blues Band and was made up of former members of Screaming Lord Sutch's group, the Savages, including Nicky Hopkins on piano, Carlo Little on drums and Rick Brown on bass. The band also featured Jimmy Page on guitar for a brief period, though he soon backed out to focus on his burgeoning career as a session musician and was replaced by Bernie Watson, another former member of the Savages.
"I went over to Eel Pie Island that night to see Sutch and the Savages as billed. In the event, members of the Savages had teamed up with Cyril Davies, from Alexis Korner’s Blues Inc., to perform as the Cyril Davies Rhythm and Blues Allstars. Cyril had been in Blues Inc., and he’d recruited members of the Savages rather than taking over from Dave Sutch."
In December 1962, Davies was in competition with Korner to recruit Long John Baldry as a second lead vocalist. Baldry played a few gigs with each band before eventually deciding to join Davies' camp in January 1963. Around this time, Davies also added female backing singers to the lineup in the form of South African vocal group the Velvettes (not to be confused with Motown trio, the Velvelettes), who had emigrated to England after touring with the musical stage production King Kong. This group was a trio made up of Hazel Futa, Patience Gcwabe and Eunice Mamsie Mthombeni after their fourth member, Peggy Phango, had left to pursue a solo career. On 27 February, the All-Stars recorded their first single for Pye Records: the original compositions "Country Line Special" and "Chicago Calling", released under the name Cyril Davies and His Rhythm and Blues All-Stars. However, Baldry and the Velvettes are not featured on these recordings.
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