Retired American light-heavyweight boxer Freddie Mack, sometimes spelt Freddy Mack and also known as Mr Superbad, relocated to the UK in 1965 and established a second career as a soul singer and disc jockey.

Between late 1965 and the mid-1970s, Mack fronted a succession of bands featuring a staggering number of notable British R&B and soul musicians. Originally called The Mack Sound, the singer’s bands also worked under the names The Freddie Mack Sound, The Fantastic Freddie Mack Show and the Freddie Mack Extravaganza.

Thanks to the recollections of former Doc Thomas Group lead guitarist Dave Tedstone, who took over from Stuart Taylor (himself deputising for Ged Peck) the band’s formation included the following  when he joined on 5 April 1967:

Freddie Mack – lead vocals

Derry Wilkie – lead vocals

Tony Morgan – lead vocals, congas

Kenneth Harry – lead vocals

Kookie Eaton – lead vocals

Dave Tedstone – lead guitar

Roy Davies – organ

Alan Cartwright – bass

Dick Morrisey – tenor saxophone

Bernie Wehrman – tenor saxophone

Chris Dawe – trumpet

Jeff Bridge – tenor saxophone

Sonny Corbett – trumpet

Roger Truth – drums

As Tedstone explains, his guitar playing was closer in style to ex-Pirate Mick Green than Ged Peck’s, who Taylor had been covering for.

Tedstone remembers that Dick Morrisey departed during the early half of the year (although he would return in late November). Also, Derry Wilkie left during May or June 1967 to pursue a solo career.

In mid-June Roger Truth announced his decision to move on and auditions were held later that month (see below in gig listing). Two drummers were brought in to replace him.

The first was Terry Stannard, who had previously played with The Pack and The Flowers of Wisdom and would go on to work with White Rabbit, The Mirrors, One and Kokomo among others. The other drummer was Ron Berg, who succeeded him in White Rabbit before playing with Blodwyn Pig.

Mistakenly credited to 1966, it was this formation (minus Derry Wilkie and Dick Morrisey) that appeared on the album, The Fantastic Freddy Mack Show – ‘Live’ at ‘Toft’s Club’ Folkestone. Tedstone says that not many venues at the time had stages that were large enough to accommodate a dual drum set up.

As a result, Terry Stannard played the first set and Ron Berg played the second. On the album, which was cut in mid-July (see the gig listing below but most likely date is 15 July), Stannard appears on side one while Berg is on side two.

Selected gigs:

5 April 1967 – Birmingham gig (marks Dave Tedstone’s debut)

Tedstone says his debut was in Birmingham but I’ve looked in the newspapers and there is no listing. I wonder whether he mistakenly attributed this to Freddie Mack and not Jimmy James & The Vagabonds who he joined in early 1968.

6 April 1967 – Overseas Visitors Club, west London (This was most likely Earl’s Court)

8 April 1967 – St George’s Ballroom, Hinckley, Leicestershire

12 April 1967 – Hemel Hempstead Pavilion, Hemel Hempstead, Herts with The Cortinas (Says 14-piece band)

14 April 1967 – George Inn, Wilby, Northamptonshire

15 April 1967 – Matlock Bath, Matlock, Derbyshire

19 April 1967 – Steering Wheel, Weymouth, Dorset (Around this time Melody Maker advert says it’s a 10-piece band)

20 April 1967 – Gig in Stafford, Dorset

21 April 1967 – Steering Wheel Club, Dorchester, Dorset

22 April 1967 – Beachcomber, Nottingham

23 April 1967 – Cromer, Norfolk (most likely the Olympia)

24 April 1967 – BBC recording (according to Melody Maker)

25 April 1967 – Concorde, Southampton, Hampshire

Derry Wilkie left around now or in June. Dick Morrisey most likely left around the same time but returned in late November.

5 May 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London with The Bohemians

6 May 1967 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with Two of Each and New Jump Band

11 May 1967 – Overseas Visitors Club, west London (most likely Earl’s Court)

12 May 1967 – Kinkotab, Hitchin College of Further Education, Hitchin, Herts with The Triads

13 May 1967 – Gaiety Ballroom, Ramsey, Cambridgeshire with The En-Devers

13 May 1967 – Nite Owl, Leicester with The Executive

14 May 1967 – Garden Club (location not known but most likely Covent Garden, London)

16 May 1967 – High Wycombe Town Hall, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire

17 May 1967 – Eel Pie Island, Twickenham, west London

18 May 1967 – Tiles, Oxford Street,  central London

19 May 1967 – King Alfred’s College, Winchester, Hampshire

20 May 1967 – Maple Ballroom, Northampton

21 May 1967 – Swan, Yardley, West Midlands

23 May 1967 – Carlton Club, Erdington, West Midlands

23 May 1967 – Melody Maker says this is a day of rest. However, I’ve found references to gigs in Warrington and also Bournemouth (the latter with The Mike Cotton Sound with Lucas and The Pill)

24 May 1967 – Hemel Hempstead Pavilion, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire with The Associates

26 May 1967 – Golden Diamond, Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire

27 May 1967 – Toft’s, Folkestone, Kent

29 May 1967 – Belfry Hotel, Wishaw, West Midlands with The Monopoly and The Exception

30 May 1967 – Beachcomber, Nottingham

31 May 1967 – RANS Lossiemouth, Moray, Scotland

1 June 1967 – RANS Arbroath, Arbroath, Scotland

2 June 1967 – Gig in Hawick, Scotland

3 June 1967 – Gig in Kelso, Scotland

4 June 1967 – Cosmo Club, Carlisle, Cumbria

5-8 June 1967 – Gigs in Paris, France

9 June 1967 – Cesar’s, Bedford, Bedfordshire

10 June 1967 – Jazz & Blues Festival ’67, Norwich, Norfolk with The Small Faces, The Ronnie Scott Quartet, Spencer’s Washboard Kings, The Settlers, Mike Daniels’ Big Band and The Broads City Blueblowers

11 June 1967 – Beachcomber, Nottingham

11 June 1967 – Britannia Rowing Club, Nottingham

12 June 1967 – Three Horseshoes, Letchworth, Herts

13 June 1967 – Concorde Club, Southampton, Hampshire

14 June 1967 – Eel Pie Island, Twickenham, west London

16 June 1967 – Il Rondo, Leicester

17 June 1967 – Bath Pavilion, Matlock, Derbyshire

18 June 1967 – Le Metro, Birmingham

19 June 1967 – Carton Club, Warrington, Cheshire

20 June 1967 – Ritz, Bournemouth, Dorset

21 June 1967 – Princess Pavilion, Falmouth, Cornwall with Blood & Sand

22 June 1967 – Blue Lagoon, Newquay, Cornwall with The Vigilantes

23-24 June 1967 – Winter Gardens Ballroom, Penzance, Cornwall

Melody Maker reports that Freddie Mack auditioned for a drummer and 74 turned up after he’d advertised in the music paper. This seems the most plausible point at which Roger Truth announces he is leaving. 

25 June 1967 – Steering Wheel, Dorchester, Dorset

26 June 1967 – Cook’s Ferry Inn, Edmonton, north London

26 June 1967 – Orford Cellar, Norwich, Norfolk

27 June 1967 – Sherwood Rooms, Nottingham with Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Titch

28 June 1967 – De Valance Ballroom, Tenby, Wales

30 June 1967 – Pavilion, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire with Force Four

Roger Truth left around about now and Terry Stannard and Ron Berg joined.

1 July 1967 – Burton’s, Uxbridge, northwest London

2 July 1967 – Central Hotel, Gillingham, Kent

4 July 1967 – Concorde, Southampton, Hampshire

6 July 1967 – Huntington Youth Centre, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire

7 July 1967 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Hertfordshire with The Shell Shock Show

8 July 1967 – St George’s Ballroom, Hinckley, Leicestershire

9 July 1967 – Britannia Rowing Club, Nottingham

10 July 1967 – Melody Maker says they are recording

11 July 1967 – High Wycombe Town Hall, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire

12 July 1967 – Industrial Club, Norwich, Norfolk

14 July 1967 – Grammar School, Gravesend, Kent

15 July 1967 – Toft’s, Folkestone, Kent (this is the most likely date for the recording of the LP)

16 July 1967 – Golden Torch, Tunstall, Staffordshire

18 July 1967 – Assembly Hall, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire

19 July 1967 – Blue Lagoon, Newquay, Cornwall

21 July 1967 – Town Hall, Torquay, Devon

22 July 1967 – Purple Fez, Devonport, Plymouth, Devon

23 July 1967 – Eel Pie Island, Twickenham, west London

25 July 1967 – Carlton Club, Erdington, West Midlands

27 July 1967 – RAF Witham, Lincolnshire

28 July 1967 – Hemel Hempstead Pavilion, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire with The Beachcombers

29 July 1967 – Memorial Hall, Barry, Glamorgan, Wales

30 July 1967 – Swan, Yardley, West Midlands

Terry Standard left around about now (most likely to join Herbie Goins & The Night-Timers but then subsequently White Rabbit).

1-2 August 1967 – Gigs in Paris, France

5 August 1967 – Britannia Rowing Club, Nottingham

9 August 1967 – Princess Pavilion, Falmouth, Cornwall with Modesty Blues

10 August 1967 – Blue Lagoon, Newquay, Cornwall with The Californians

11 August 1967 – Winter Gardens, Penzance, Cornwall

12 August 1967 – Flamingo Ballroom, Redruth, Cornwall

14 August 1967 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, central London

15 August 1967 – High Wycombe Town Hall, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire (billed as Freddy Mack & The Mack Sound featuring Hon-ey!)

16 August 1967 – Gig in Scotland (needs confirmation)

18 August 1967 – Gay Tower Ballroom, Edgbaston, West Midlands with Bobby Johnson Big Band

19 August 1967 – Burton’s, Uxbridge, northwest London

20 August 1967 – Beau Brummel, Alvaston Hall Hotel, Nantwich, Cheshire

21 August 1967 – Carlton Club, Warrington, Cheshire

22 August 1967 – Concorde, Bassett Hotel, Southampton, Hampshire

25 August 1967 – Cesar’s, Bedford, Bedfordshire

26-27 August 1967 – Toft’s, Folkestone, Kent

28 August 1967 – Hemel Hempstead Town Hall, Herts (needs confirmation)

29 August 1967 – Ritz Ballroom, Bournemouth, Dorset

30 August 1967 – Tropicana Club, Croydon, south London

31 August 1967 – Scottish tour commences today and runs until 12 September

1-2 September 1967 – Two Red Shoes, Elgin, Scotland

8 September 1967 – Ballerina, Nairn, Scotland with The T-Set

9 September 1967 – Civic, Wrexham, Wales with Dynamic Honey and System 5 (not possible considering other Scottish dates)

9 September 1967 – Gig in Aberdeen, Scotland

10 September 1967 – RNAS Lossiemouth, Moray, Scotland

11-12 September 1967 – More gigs in Scotland

13 September 1967 – Travel to Belgium for gigs

17 September 1967 – Central R&B Club, Central Hotel, Gillingham, Kent with Honey

24 September 1967 – Black Prince Hotel, Bexley, southeast London

29 September 1967 – Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Gabb and The Scots of St James

30 September 1967 – Tin Hat, Kettering, Northamptonshire with The Survivors

1 October 1967 – Co-op Hall, Warrington, Cheshire

2 October 1967 – Park Hall Hotel, Goldthorn Park, Wolverhampton, West Midlands with The Californians and Barmy Barry’s Show

4 October 1967 – Hemel Hempstead Town Hall, Hemel Hempstead, Herts

6 October 1967 – Il Rondo, Leicester

7 October 1967 – Enfield College of Technology, Enfield, north London

8 October 1967 – Le Metro, Birmingham

9 October 1967 – Bluesville ‘6 Clubs, St Matthew’s Bath Hall, Ipswich, Suffolk

12 October 1967 – Brays Grove Youth Club, Harlow, Essex

13 October 1967 – Pavilion Ballroom, Weymouth, Dorset with Pink Floyd and Denis Scott & The Soundsmen

14 October 1967 – Toft’s, Folkestone, Kent

15 October 1967 – Corn Exchange, Maidstone, Kent

16 October 1967 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London

17 October 1967 – Concorde, Bassett Hotel, Southampton, Hampshire

18 October 1967 – Travel to Paris, France

19-30 October 1967 – Gigs in Belgium

31 October 1967 – Shenley Green Youth Club, Shenley Green, West Midlands

2 November 1967 – Golden Torch, Tunstall, Staffordshire

3 November 1967 – Apex Club, Ashford, Kent

4 November 1967 – Earlham Park, Norwich, Norfolk with Elmer Gantry’s Velvet Opera

5 November 1967 – Cosmo Club, Carlisle, Cumbria with The Reg Jones Explosion

6 November 1967 – Quaintways, Chester, Cheshire

7 November 1967 – Ritz, Bournemouth, Dorset

8 November 1967 – Skyline Ballroom, Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire with The Gospel Garden, Delroys Good Good Band and The Disturbance

10 November 1967 – Mayfair Ballroom, Smallbrook Ringway, Birmingham

10 November 1967 – Digbeth Civic Hall, Digbeth, West Midlands

11 November 1967 – Bradford University, Student Union, Bradford, West Yorkshire

11 November 1967 – Industrial Club, Norwich, Norfolk (needs confirmation)

12 November 1967 – South Bank Jazz Club, Grimsby

13 November 1967 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London

14 November 1967 – Ritz, Bournemouth, Dorset

15 November 1967 – The Catacombs, Eastbourne, East Sussex

17 November 1967 – Top Spot Ballroom, Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire with The Dipps (Gloucester Citizen)

18 November 1967 – Royal Lido, Prestayn, Wales with The Rayners (Rhyl & Prestayn Gazette)

19 November 1967 – Beau Brummel Club, Alvaston Hall Hotel, Nantwich, Cheshire with The Jaytree Organisation

20 November 1967 – Bamboo Club, Stockport, Greater Manchester

Around this time, Dick Morrisey rejoins on tenor sax (according to Melody Maker‘s 25 November issue, page 3).

21-26 November 1967 – Gigs in Scotland (Aberdeen gigs may not have happened)

21 November 1967 – Two Red Shoes, Elgin, Scotland (billed as Freddie Mack & His Road Show) (advert lists 16-piece band) (Source: https://tworedshoes.wordpress.com/)

23 November 1967 – RNAS Lossiemouth, Moray, Scotland

24 November 1967 – Ballerina, Nairn, Scotland with The Brown Heart Federation

25-26 November 1967 – Gigs in Aberdeen, Scotland

25 November 1967 – West Runton Pavilion, West Runton, Norfolk with The Sonics (probably rescheduled to 2 December gig below)

27 November 1967 – Carlton Club, Warrington, Cheshire

29 November 1967 – Reading Town Hall, Reading, Berkshire with The Beachcombers and Memphis Gents

Ron Berg left around this time and subsequently joined White Rabbit. Colin Davy, who’d worked with Georgie Fame in late 1967 joined.

1 December 1967 – Industrial Club, Norwich, Norfolk

2 December 1967– West Runton Pavilion, West Runton, Norfolk

6 December 1967– Hemel Hempstead Pavilion, Hemel Hempstead, Herts with Tramline ’67

7 December 1967 – Medway College of Art, Rochester, Kent

8 December 1967 – Southampton University, Southampton, Hampshire

9 December 1967 – Clacton Town Hall, Clacton, Essex with Lee Shelby Federation

10 December 1967 – Samantha’s, Bournemouth, Dorset

11 December 1967 – St Matthew’s Bath Halls, Ipswich

12 December 1967 – Keele University, Keele, Staffordshire

14 December 1967 – RAF Whitton (assuming this is Whitton, London)

15 December 1967 – Red Spot Club, Whetstone, Leicester with The Changing Scene

16 December 1967 – Night Prowler, Yarmouth, Norfolk with Combined Achievement

17 December 1967 – Leofric Hotel, Coventry, West Midlands

19 December 1967 – Queen’s Hotel, Grays, Essex

22 December 1967– Aurora Hotel, Gillingham, Kent

23 December 1967 – St James’ Spectacular, Chesterfield, Derbyshire with Joe Cocker’s Grease Band

26 December 1967 – Mayfair Ballroom, Smallbrook Ringway, West Midlands with The Fabulous Invaders

29 December 1967– Aurora Hotel, Gillingham, Kent

Around early January 1968, the group most likely included the following musicians:

Freddie Mack – lead vocals

Tony Morgan – lead vocals, congas

Kenneth Harry – lead vocals

Dave Tedstone – lead guitar

Roy Davies – organ

Alan Cartwright – bass

Dick Morrisey – tenor saxophone (may not have stayed long)

Bernie Wehrman – tenor saxophone

Chris Dawe – trumpet

Sonny Corbett – trumpet

Colin Davy – drums

Selected gigs:

7 January 1968 – Maidstone Corn Exchange, Maidstone, Kent with Formula Six

8 January 1968 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London

11 January 1968 – Concord, Basset Hotel, Southampton, Hampshire

12 January 1968 – Exeter University, Exeter, Devon

Melody Maker reports in its 13 January issue, page 13, that a continental tour is planned but does not say when.

13 January 1968 – Winter Gardens Ballroom, Penzance, Cornwall

14 January 1968 – Central R&B Club, Central Hotel, Gillingham, Kent

15 January 1968 – Koups Klub, Laker’s Hotel, Redhill, Surrey

19 January 1968 – Gari Ballroom, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk with Somethin Else

20 January 1968 – Gaiety Ballroom, Ramsey, Cambridgeshire with Out of Sight Blues

21 January 1968 – Black Prince Hotel, Bexley, southeast London

22 January 1968 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, central London

23 January 1968 – Gig in Aberystwyth, Wales (The Cambrian Times has no record of any shows in the town this day)

24 January 1968 – Gig in Cardiff, Wales

25 January 1968 – Gig in Epsom, Surrey (possibly Ewell Tech College)

25 January 1968 – Gig in Birmingham, West Midlands

27 January 1968 – Gig in Southport, Lancashire (most likely Floral Hall)

28 January 1968 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire

30 January 1968 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, central London

31 January 1968 – Hemel Hempstead Pavilion, Hemel Hempstead, Herts with The Lamb Bros and Co

3 February 1968 – Leeds University, Leeds, West Yorkshire

4 February 1968 – Cosmo, Carlisle, Cumbria

5 February 1968 – Quaintways, Chester, Cheshire with Kaspers Engine and Perfurmed Garden

5 February 1968 – Howard Platt Discotheque Show, Jazz and Blues Festival, Norfolk with The Kinks and Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band

6 February 1968 – Gig in Birmingham, West Midlands

7 February 1968 – Gig in Grays, Essex

9 February 1968 – Gig in Leicester

10 February 1968 – Starlight Ballroom, Boston Gliderdrome, Boston, Lincolnshire with The Informers Plus 2

11 February 1968 – Gig in Manchester

14 February 1968 – Ship & Rainbow, Wolverhampton, West Midlands

Around the start of the second week in February, Freddie Mack advertised for three reed players suggesting he was looking to rebuild the band. Chris Dawe was among the horn players leaving and later joined Swegas.

19 February 1968 – Cosmo, Carlisle, Cumbria with Joe E Young & The Tonicks

23 February 1968 – Birmingham University Students’ Union, Edgbaston, West Midlands with Elmer Gantry & The Velvet Opera

24 February 1968 – Burton’s, Uxbridge, northwest London

28 February 1968 – Ship & Rainbow, Wolverhampton, West Midlands

Around this time Dave Tedstone left to join Jimmy James & The Vagabonds and would then reunite (briefly) with Colin Davy in Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band in August 1968.

Kenneth Harry also left about now and Sonny Gibbons took over on vocals. 

STORY CONTINUED

I would personally like to thank Dave Tedstone for helping to piece this part of the story together.

PLEASE LEAVE COMMENTS BELOW TO ADD/CORRECT INFORMATION

Live gig sources:

During my research on Freddie Mack from 1965-1969, I have found gigs from a huge range of newspapers. These include the following sources:

The Cornish Guardian, Derby Evening Telegraph, Evening Sentinel, Melody Maker, West Briton & Royal Cornwall Gazette, Lincolnshire Guardian, Birmingham Evening Mail, NME, Northwich Chronicle, Sheffield Star, Warrington Guardian, Wrexham Leader, Eastern Evening News, Maidestone Gazette, Ipswich Evening Star, Bournemouth Evening Telegraph, Nottingham Evening Post, Cambridgeshire Times and Express & Star, Forres, Elgin & Nairn Gazette, Derbyshire Times.

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. To contact the author, email: Warchive@aol.com or nick_warburton@hotmail.com