The Fortunes

Originally formed in March 1963 as a trio, this UK beat group comprised Glen Dale (b. Richard Garforth, 24 April 1943, Deal, Kent, England; guitar), Rod Allen (b. Rodney Bainbridge, 31 March 1944, Leicester, England, d. 10 January 2008, Coventry, West Midlands, England; bass/vocals) and Barry Pritchard (b. 3 April 1944, Birmingham, England, d. 11 January 1999, Swindon, Wiltshire, England; guitar). The group had come together at Clifton Hall, the pop academy in the Midlands masterminded by their manager Reg Calvert. After perfecting their harmonic blend, they recruited David Carr (b. 4 August 1943, Leyton, Essex, England; keyboards) and Andy Brown (b. Andrew Brown, 7 July 1946, Birmingham, England; drums) and toured consistently in the Midlands. Their debut single, ‘Summertime Summertime’ passed without notice, but the follow-up ‘Caroline’ was taken up as the theme song for the pirate radio station of the same name. By 1965 the group had broken into the UK and US Top 10 with ‘You’ve Got Your Troubles’ and modestly stated their ambition of recording pop ballads and harmonious standards. ‘Here It Comes Again’ and ‘This Golden Ring’ displayed their easy listening appeal and suggested the possibility of a long-term showbusiness career.

Unfortunately, the group was hampered by the departure of vocalist Glen Dale who went on to pursue an unsuccessful solo career. To make matters worse, their manager was shot dead in a dispute over the ownership of the UK pirate station Radio City. The group continued and after switching record labels scored an unexpectedly belated US hit with ‘Here Comes That Rainy Day Feeling Again’ in 1971. Back in the UK, they also enjoyed their first hits in over five years with ‘Freedom Come, Freedom Go’ and ‘Storm In A Teacup’. The group has since sustained their career, albeit with changing personnel, on the cabaret circuit.