The Fortunes

The Fortunes are an English harmony beat group. Formed in Birmingham, the Fortunes first came to prominence and international acclaim in 1965 when "You've Got Your Troubles" broke into the US, Canadian and UK Top 10s. Afterwards they had a succession of hits including "Here It Comes Again" and "Here Comes That Rainy Day Feeling Again"; continuing into the 1970s with more globally successful releases such as "Storm in a Teacup" and "Freedom Come, Freedom Go".In 1966 their manager, Reginald Calvert, was shot dead in a dispute over pirate radio stations.In 1958 two Birmingham teens, Rodney Bainbridge (born 31 March 1944) and Barry Pritchard (born 3 April 1944), were attending Moseley School and formed a duo called The Strollers, eventually adding a bassist and drummer. In 1963 The Strollers were spotted by music promoter/pirate radio pioneer Reginald Calvert and his wife Dorothy, who had started a performance school on their estate at Clifton Hall, near Rugby, Warwickshire, and invited Rodney and Barry to live there.Among those who also attended the school at Clifton Hall were Calvert's other discoveries, such as Johnny Washington, Danny Storm, Buddy Britten and Robbie Hood (a.k.a. Mike West, who had sung with Johnny Kidd and the Pirates), who were being groomed for stardom when Rodney Bainbridge (now Rod Allen) and Barry Pritchard arrived. Reg would also go on to manage Screaming Lord Sutch and the pop group Pinkerton's Assorted Colours. Calvert decided to pair Robbie Hood with Rod (now on bass) and Barry (on guitar) as his "Merry Men".But after a short time, Calvert decided to break Rod and Barry off to form their own group with a singer named Johnny Washington, who was soon replaced by vocalist/guitarist Glen Dale (Richard Garforth) from Kent who was born on 24 April 1943. The new group was christened The Cliftones and featured as its roster: Rod Allen, Glen Dale and Barry Pritchard as vocalists, Chris Capaldi as piano player, Gary Fletcher as drummer and Tony Britnell (later with the group Jigsaw) as saxophone player.

Biography summary from English Wikipedia, photograph via Wikimedia Commons.