In early 1968, promoter Roy Tempest brought American soul legend Edwin Starr back to Britain for another tour.
It had been six months since his last visit and rather than employ Glaswegian soul outfit The Senate to back Edwin Starr, it looks (from the gigs below) like a group called The JJ Sounds were hired instead, although there may have been other bands that helped out.
Also, Tempest was known for bringing over tribute acts and passing them off as the real thing, so it’s quite possible that some of the gigs below may not have been performed by the real Edwin Starr.
We’d be interested to hear from anyone who can provide more information in the comments section below.
Little is known about The JJ Sounds but it’s quite possible that this was, in fact, Errol Daniel & The JJ Sounds, who played at the popular Soho nightclub, the Bag O’ Nails in Kingley Street in mid-1967.
I have found the following gigs and would welcome any comments from readers. I’ve listed the backing band where it is known:
26 January 1968 – Assembly Rooms, Tamworth, Staffordshire (Fabulous 208)
28 January 1968 – Leofric Hotel, Coventry with Soul Express (Coventry Evening Telegraph) Advert says with Big supporting band
28 January 1968 – Rainbow Suite, Birmingham (Fabulous 208)
29 January 1968 – Orchid Ballroom, Purley, Surrey (Coulsdon and Purley Advertiser)
29 January 1968 – Bag O’Nails, Kingley Street, Soho, central London (Fabulous 208)
2 February 1968 – Queen’s Hall, Leeds, West Yorkshire with Chuck Berry, The Herd, The Move, Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds, Brian Auger Trinity, Julie Driscoll, Sammy Small, The Union Blues Rave Band, Th Accent (Yorkshire Evening Post)
3 February 1968 – Twisted Wheel, Manchester with Jimmy James & The Vagabonds (Poster)
3 February 1968 – Floral Hall, Southport, Lancashire with Beechwoods (Formby Times) Advert says backed by J J Sound
4 February 1968 – Starlight Ballroom, Crawley, West Sussex with Gin House Blues (Crawley Advertiser)
4 February 1968 – Roaring 20s, Carnaby Street, Soho, central London (Fabulous 208)
8 February 1968 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Robert Plant & The Band of Joy (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)
10 February 1968 – Royal Links Pavilion, Cromer, Norfolk with J J Sounds, Ivan & Danny Eaves with The Reformation and Django’s Castle (Julie Fielder book: What Flo Said Next) Most likely backed by J J Sounds who are one of the acts listed
11 February 1968 – Beau Brummel Club, Alvaston Hall Hotel, Nantwich, Cheshire with The Jaytree Organisation (Crewe Chronicle/Crewe Observer/Nantwich Chronicle) Crewe Chronicle advert says Edwin Starr was backed by The J J Sound
17 February 1968 – Tin Hat, Kettering, Northamptonshire with Motiv (website: https://garagehangover.com/the-tin-hat-kettering-1967-1969-gigs/) This was possibly a tribute act
If you can add anything, please leave a message in the comments below