By the time Philadelphia soul group The Orlons toured Britain in July 1966 they comprised lead singer Rosetta Hightower alongside singers Sandy Person and Audrey Brickley.
For some of this tour, The Orlons were backed by Bluesology, who featured a very young Elton John (aka Reg Dwight) on keyboards.
At this time Bluesology comprised Stu Brown (guitar/vocals); Neil Hubbard (lead guitar); Reg Dwight (keyboards/vocals); Freddy Gandy (bass); Pat Higgs (trumpet); Dave Murphy (sax); and Paul Gale (drums).
It looks like The Dave Davani Four provided backing for most of the gigs on this tour. At this time Hammond organist Dave Davani’s group comprised John Milner (lead guitar); Mik Ewin (bass); Chaz Burton (drums); and Beryl Wayne (vocals/percussion).
These tour dates are incomplete
Tour dates
1 July 1966 – Tiles, Oxford Street, central London with The Dave Davani Four and The Meantimes (Melody Maker) Most likely backed by The Dave Davani Four
2 July 1966 – Twisted Wheel, Manchester (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle) Another band may have backed them on this gig
6 July 1966 – The Riverboat Club, Salford, Manchester with The Dave Daverney Four, Johnny De Little, Eddy Grant and six supporting acts (Manchester Evening News) Says backed by Dave Devarney Four (aka Dave Davani Four)
6 July 1966 – Gainsborough Club, Manchester with The Dave Davani Four, Johnny De Little, Eddy Grant and six supporting acts (Manchester Evening News) Most likely backed by The Dave Davani Four
9 July 1966 – Assembly Hall, Aylesbury, Bucks with Bluesology and The Gates of Eden (Bucks Advertiser)
9 July 1966 – Kinky Blues Club, Manor House, north London with The Dave Davani Four (Melody Maker) Most likely backed by The Dave Davani Four
9 July 1966 – New All-Star Club, Artillery Passage, Bishopsgate, east London (Melody Maker) Most likely backed by The Dave Davani Four
9 July 1966 – King Mojo all-nighter, Sheffield, South Yorkshire with Norma Tanega, The VIPs and Dave Davani (Sheffield Star) Most likely backed by The Dave Davani Four
12-13 July 1966 – Club Cedar, Birmingham with The Dave Davani Four and supporting groups (Birmingham Evening Mail) Most likely backed by The Dave Davani Four
13 July 1966 – Orchid Ballroom, Purley, Surrey (Chris Broom’s book Rockin’ and around Croydon)
14 July 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Move (Tony Bacon’s book London Live)
14-15 July 1966 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Melody Maker) Another band may have provided support on this gig as Bluesology were billed to back Solomon Burke in Nottingham on 15 July
16 July 1966 – Oasis, Manchester with Dave Davani Four and The Californians (Manchester Evening News & Post) Most likely backed by The Dave Davani Four
16 July 1966 – Iron Door Club, Liverpool with The Fix, Rory Storm & The Hurricanes (Liverpool Echo)
17 July 1966 – Domino Club, Openshaw, Greater Manchester and Princess Theatre Club, Chorlton, Greater Manchester with seven more top-line acts (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle)
When The Orlons returned for a second British tour in late 1966 they were not backed by Bluesology. It’s not clear who did the honours but it’s most likely to have been The Gates of Eden who were one of the bands on promoter Roy Tempest’s books.
Hailing from Watford, Hertfordshire, The Gates of Eden comprised Dave Rodwell (vocals); Dicer Sarney (aka Roger Matthews) (lead guitar); Barry Rich (bass); Tom Hill (organ); Chunky Mo (drums).
These tour dates are incomplete
Tour dates
8 December 1966 – Tiles, Oxford Street, central London with The Pride (Melody Maker)
9 December 1966 – New All-Star Club, Artillery Passage, Bishopsgate, east London (Melody Maker)
10 December 1966 – Dungeon, Nottingham with Bobby Hebb plus two supporting groups (Nottingham Evening Post)
10 December 1966 – Starlight Room, Boston Gliderdrome, Boston, Lincolnshire with Jimmy James & The Vagabonds, The Gates of Eden and The Ebonites (Lincolnshire Standard) Most likely backed by The Gates of Eden
13 December 1966 – Club Cedar, Birmingham with supporting groups (Birmingham Evening Mail)
15 December 1966 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Melody Maker)
16 December 1966 – Domino Club, Openshaw, Greater Manchester and Princess Theatre Club, Chorlton, Greater Manchester with The Gates of Eden, Jonathan Goon Tweed and The Statesmen (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle) Says backed by The Gates of Eden
17 December 1966 – Cavern, Liverpool with The Hideways, The Gates of Eden, The Beechwoods, The Reaction and Normie Rowe & The Playboys (Liverpool Echo) Most likely backed by The Gates of Eden
17 December 1966 – Cavern all-nighter, Liverpool with The Hideways, The Gates of Eden, The Bo-Lynx and The Cosmonauts (Liverpool Echo) Most likely backed by The Gates of Eden
For the Orlons’ third British tour, it’s not clear who the backing band was.
These tour dates are incomplete
Tour dates
27 October 1967 – Cesar’s Club, Bedford, Bedfordshire with The Paper Blitz Tissue (Ampthill News & Flintwick Record)
28 October 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London with The Rick ‘n’ Beckers and Granny’s Intentions (Melody Maker)
After this tour, singer Rosetta Hightower returned to Britain in 1968. She subsequently married British keyboard player Ian Green and recorded extensively in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s.
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