When Lee Dorsey arrived in Britain in January 1966, promoter Roy Tempest recruited The Krew (sometimes billed as The Crew or Crewcats), who backed him on the subsequent tour. The band had been working with singers Beryl Marsden and Steve Aldo since September 1965.

According to keyboard player Alan Reeves in his book, Sex Booze & Blues, the band rehearsed at the Marquee on Wardour Street for the 19-day tour, which appears to have ended on 31 January. Reeves was ill part of the way through the tour and missed some of the dates.

The Krew:

Tommy Murray (lead guitar)

Howie Casey (tenor saxophone)

Alan Reeves (keyboards)

Archie Legget (bass)

Eddie Sparrow (drums)

I’ve found the following dates and would welcome any additions and memories:

14 January 1966 – Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Gass (Melody Maker)

14 January 1966 – Roaring ‘20s, Carnaby Street, Soho, central London (Melody Maker)

15 January 1966 – Carousel Club, Farnborough, Hampshire with Johnny B Great & The Quotations (Aldershot News/Camberley News)

19 January 1966 – Bromel Club, Bromley, southeast London (Melody Maker)

19 January 1966 – Cromwellian, South Kensington, west London (Melody Maker/Record Mirror/The Stage)

20 January 1966 – The Cavern, Liverpool with Earl Preston’s Realms and The Fix (Liverpool Echo)

21 January 1966 – Fender Club, Harrow, northwest London (possibly Harrow Weekly Post)

21 January 1966 – New All-Star Club, Artillery Passage, east London (Melody Maker)

22 January 1966 – Dungeon Club, Nottingham (website: https://dungeonmods.wordpress.com/welcome/diary/1966-2/) Beryl Marsden & The Crew played on this date so would have been around for Nottingham gig day after

23 January 1966 – Blue Moon, Hayes, west London (Uxbridge Weekly Post)

24 January 1966 – Cooks Ferry Inn, Edmonton, north London (Record Mirror)

27 January 1966 – Blue Moon, Cheltenham with The Advocates (Gloucester Citizen)

28 January 1966 – El Partido, Lewisham, southeast London with Duke Lee (Melody Maker)

28 January 1966 – Carna-Hive, Carnaby Street, Soho, central London (Melody Maker)

29 January 1966 – Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Stormsville Shakers (Melody Maker)

30 January 1966 – Ricky Ticky, Plaza, Guildford, Surrey with Ronnie Jones & The Blue Jays (David Else’s research)

31 January 1966 – Golden Torch, Tunstall, Staffordshire (Evening Sentinel)

31 January 1966 – Cromwellian, South Kensington, west London (Melody Maker/Rave magazine)

1 February 1966  – Dungeon, Nottingham (website: https://dungeonmods.wordpress.com/welcome/diary/1966-2/) This was cancelled as Dorsey had returned to the US

The Western Scene which covers bands and music in the west country ran a short story on The Krew in its 4 February 1966 issue on page two. It said that Dorsey was so impressed with The Krew that he was hoping to take them back to the States. It also added that Steve Aldo was in France with The Remo Four and that Beryl Marsden was heading to Frankfurt shortly to play with The Quotations.

Dorsey would return to Britain in April for another tour backed by The League of Gentlemen. The Krew meanwhile would split with Beryl Marsden (who joined The Shotgun Express) and Steve Aldo (who joined The Fix) and link up with Jamaican singer Owen Gray in April 1966.

If you can add anything, please leave a comment below