Steve Laine
Encyclopedia
Steve Laine was the lead singer and song writer with The Liverpool Five
.
Laine started music playing washboard in a skiffle
group the Streamliners, and was later lead singer with the Zodiacs. His first recording
, as a semi professional, was with an unnamed group including Dave Sampson
. On that unreleased recording Laine sang "Great Balls of Fire
", Sampson sang "Dream Lover
" and together they sang "Be-Bop-A-Lula
" and "Shakin' All Over
". Later,in the early 1960s, Laine concentrated on playing rhythm and blues
, and he formed the Steve Laine Combo and went professional. In addition to Laine usually singing lead, the band comprised Ken Cox on guitar, Dave Burgess on bass, Ron Henley on keyboards and saxophone and Jimmy May on drums. Many of their songs featured all five singing.
The Steve Laine Combo played clubs such as the Flamingo in Soho
and caught the eye of the owners Rik and Johnny Gunnell. On a tour of Germany
arranged by the Gunnells in early 1964, the band was signed to a management contract by German impressario Karl Buchmann, who included them in a package tour of the largest venues in Germany and Austria
. Following that tour, at Buchmann's suggestion, the group changed its name to The Liverpool Five, to capitalize on the international popularity of The Beatles
. Prior to leaving Germany, the band recorded an album
on CBS Records
for Europe
an release titled Tokio International. The group then flew to Japan
as the official rock and roll
representatives at the 1964 Summer Olympics
, playing the Korakuen Arena in Tokyo
.
Following their tour of the Far East
(the first English R&R band to do so) The Liverpool Five travelled to the United States
in March 1965. Originally based in Spokane, Washington
and later in Los Angeles
, the group became resident aliens and spent the next three years touring the United States, releasing a number of singles and two albums on RCA Victor
.
Liverpool Five
The Liverpool Five were a beat group that was part of the British Invasion-era of the 1960s. The five members of the band came to the United States by way of Japan in 1965.-Career:...
.
Laine started music playing washboard in a skiffle
Skiffle
Skiffle is a type of popular music with jazz, blues, folk, roots and country influences, usually using homemade or improvised instruments. Originating as a term in the United States in the first half of the twentieth century, it became popular again in the UK in the 1950s, where it was mainly...
group the Streamliners, and was later lead singer with the Zodiacs. His first recording
Sound recording and reproduction
Sound recording and reproduction is an electrical or mechanical inscription and re-creation of sound waves, such as spoken voice, singing, instrumental music, or sound effects. The two main classes of sound recording technology are analog recording and digital recording...
, as a semi professional, was with an unnamed group including Dave Sampson
Dave Sampson
David John 'Dave' Sampson had a UK hit single in May 1960 with his backing band, The Hunters, with "Sweet Dreams", which peaked at number 29 on the UK Singles Chart. "Sweet Dreams" was released on the Columbia Records label, and spent six weeks in the chart...
. On that unreleased recording Laine sang "Great Balls of Fire
Great Balls of Fire
"Great Balls of Fire" is a 1957 song recorded by Jerry Lee Lewis on Sun Records and featured in the 1957 movie Jamboree. It was written by Otis Blackwell and Jack Hammer...
", Sampson sang "Dream Lover
Dream Lover
"Dream Lover" is a song written and recorded by Bobby Darin on March 5, 1959. It was produced by Ahmet Ertegun and Jerry Wexler and engineered by Tom Dowd. It is considered a soulful rock song. The song became a multi-million seller, reaching #2 in US charts and was #1 in UK for three weeks during...
" and together they sang "Be-Bop-A-Lula
Be-Bop-A-Lula
"Be-Bop-A-Lula" is a rockabilly song first recorded in 1956 by Gene Vincent and His Blue Caps.-Origins of the song:The writing of the song is credited to Gene Vincent and his manager, Bill "Sheriff Tex" Davis. There is evidence that the song was started in 1955, when Vincent was recuperating from...
" and "Shakin' All Over
Shakin' All Over
"Shakin' All Over" is a rock and roll song originally performed by Johnny Kidd and the Pirates. It was written by frontman Johnny Kidd and reached #1 in the United Kingdom in August 1960...
". Later,in the early 1960s, Laine concentrated on playing rhythm and blues
Rhythm and blues
Rhythm and blues, often abbreviated to R&B, is a genre of popular African American music that originated in the 1940s. The term was originally used by record companies to describe recordings marketed predominantly to urban African Americans, at a time when "urbane, rocking, jazz based music with a...
, and he formed the Steve Laine Combo and went professional. In addition to Laine usually singing lead, the band comprised Ken Cox on guitar, Dave Burgess on bass, Ron Henley on keyboards and saxophone and Jimmy May on drums. Many of their songs featured all five singing.
The Steve Laine Combo played clubs such as the Flamingo in Soho
Soho
Soho is an area of the City of Westminster and part of the West End of London. Long established as an entertainment district, for much of the 20th century Soho had a reputation for sex shops as well as night life and film industry. Since the early 1980s, the area has undergone considerable...
and caught the eye of the owners Rik and Johnny Gunnell. On a tour of Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
arranged by the Gunnells in early 1964, the band was signed to a management contract by German impressario Karl Buchmann, who included them in a package tour of the largest venues in Germany and Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
. Following that tour, at Buchmann's suggestion, the group changed its name to The Liverpool Five, to capitalize on the international popularity of The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
. Prior to leaving Germany, the band recorded an album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
on CBS Records
CBS Records
CBS Records is a record label founded by CBS Corporation in 2006 to take advantage of music from its entertainment properties owned by CBS Television Studios. The initial label roster consisted of only three artists; rock band Señor Happy and singer/songwriters Will Dailey and P.J...
for Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an release titled Tokio International. The group then flew to Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
as the official rock and roll
Rock and roll
Rock and roll is a genre of popular music that originated and evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s, primarily from a combination of African American blues, country, jazz, and gospel music...
representatives at the 1964 Summer Olympics
1964 Summer Olympics
The 1964 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVIII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held in Tokyo, Japan in 1964. Tokyo had been awarded with the organization of the 1940 Summer Olympics, but this honor was subsequently passed to Helsinki because of Japan's...
, playing the Korakuen Arena in Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
.
Following their tour of the Far East
Far East
The Far East is an English term mostly describing East Asia and Southeast Asia, with South Asia sometimes also included for economic and cultural reasons.The term came into use in European geopolitical discourse in the 19th century,...
(the first English R&R band to do so) The Liverpool Five travelled to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in March 1965. Originally based in Spokane, Washington
Spokane, Washington
Spokane is a city located in the Northwestern United States in the state of Washington. It is the largest city of Spokane County of which it is also the county seat, and the metropolitan center of the Inland Northwest region...
and later in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, the group became resident aliens and spent the next three years touring the United States, releasing a number of singles and two albums on RCA Victor
RCA Records
RCA Records is one of the flagship labels of Sony Music Entertainment. The RCA initials stand for Radio Corporation of America , which was the parent corporation from 1929 to 1985 and a partner from 1985 to 1986.RCA's Canadian unit is Sony's oldest label...
.