Searchers Snippets – January 2026 (2)
BROOKLYN, NEW YORK 1964
I mentioned previously that because there would be no further shows to enjoy I had decided to reminisce from time to time on some significant moments in our career and in particular some highlights from the very early years, although not sticking to that time zone entirely.
I was looking through some of my old files of memorabilia and it took me right back to the first months of me joining the group. The first date for me was August 3rd 1964 when, having replaced Tony Jackson on bass, I began life as a Searcher at the Coventry Theatre, alas no longer in existence.
From there we performed over several weeks at theatres around England and even managed to find enough studio time to record When You Walk In The Room, not quite the biggest Searchers hit but my favourite and the most dynamic of our successes in our live shows. Perhaps it only reaching a high point of number 3 in the charts was partly down to the fact that we straight away left the country on an extensive tour which began in The U.S.A and went on to New Zealand and Australia before returning, all of which meant that we were not around to promote the disc. A few more good plugs on tv and I believe it would have been another number one.
The American dates began in a very spectacular way. We joined an incredible roster of acts at the Fox Theatre in Brooklyn presented by the brash deejay and self-publicist Murray the K who immodestly awarded himself the title of the 5th Beatle.
Imagine our shock to discover that the schedule required six shows every day for an entire week. They began at 10 in the morning and finished at 10 p.m. at night. Amazingly that was the norm for U.S package shows. And what a package it was. The Searchers (of course), Dusty Springfield, Millie Small (back home the My Boy Lollipop girl was simply Millie), The Supremes, Martha & The Vandellas, Smokey & The Miracles, The Temptations, The Contours, Little Anthony, The Ronettes, The Shangri-Las, Jay & The Americans, The Dovells and The Newbeats.
Most acts were required to do just one number while we, as the big cheeses being part of the British Invasion which had shaken up the States, were given a three song spot. It might not have been a heavy slog but it did tend to get a little tedious being stuck in that theatre from morning to night. But hey, it was worth it to check out those legendary soul stars who were heroes in our eyes but almost taken for granted in their homeland.
Marvin was an amazing entertainer and when I spoke to him in passing as we scuttled off through the rabbit warren of tiny dressing rooms to our allotted hutches he heaped praise on all the British acts for bringing back some much needed attention to him and the rest of the Motown acts and of course the soul fraternity in general.
Note that the Ronettes are not listed in the programme. Maybe they were a late addition. Their dressing room was right next to ours so we saw a lot of them and in fact I had a couple of mildly passionate moments at the side of the stage with Nedra Talley, cousin to Ronnie and Estelle Bennett. It was all very innocent stuff I promise you.
So hey, what an incredible way to start my very long life in the band. You would have to hire the O2 or maybe Wembley Stadium to put on a line-up of that magnitude today. Such great memories. And there will be more to come as and when I get the inspiration.
By the way, the Americana Hotel on 7th Avenue where we were staying was later renamed The Sheraton Centre Hotel and Towers before undergoing another revamp as The Sheraton New York Hotel and Towers.