As Motown's 1st foray into the UK, Berry G sent Kim Weston and the Earl Van Dyke Quartet over to the UK at the start of November 1964. But before they had even arrived here, things had gone pear-shaped. The 23 show long tour they were due to join was to be headed by P J Proby. But Proby and the tour's promoter Robert Stigwood fell out over who was to compere the shows. By the way, the E V Dyke Quartet consisted of Earl on piano / organ, Uriel Jones on drums, Robert White on guitar and Jack Ashford on vibes / percussion.
To try to rescue the situation, Stigwood contacted Chuck Berry and asked him to be the replacement top of bill act. Chuck agreed & new show ads were placed, but Chuck already had a full US booking schedule. When a number of venues refused to let him break his contract with them, Chuck had to decline the offer to tour the UK. The main acts on the proposed tour, due to kick off on November 6th, should have been P. J. Proby [[with Chuck Berry substituting), the Barron Knights, the Pretty Things and Kim Weston with the Earl Van Dyke Quartet.
So the whole tour couldn't go ahead and the Motowners just had to sit it out till other concerts could be found for them to play.
It's rumoured that they did a London club date and they most certainly did appear on top UK TV show Ready, Steady, Go [[the date being November 27th).
I have two questions ......
Any Brits on here have details of any shows they undertook in the UK that November ??
Anyone know where they stayed [[which London hotel) and what they did to occupy their time ??
Anyone know why the likes of James Jamerson [[bass), Eli Fontaine [[sax), Bob Cousar and Benny Benjamin weren't allowed to make the trip. I'd guess Kim would have been happier with more than 4 musicians behind her.
Attachment 12956
Bookmarks