We've done it ..........

Here is the proof. We have passed the Quarter of a Million hits milestone on YouTube in just over a year.

A massive thank you to everyone who has helped and participated (and to those who are still trying to pluck up the courage .... go for it).

Let's go for a million!

Four Tops star Levi Stubbs dies ......

Levi Stubbs, lead singer of legendary Motown band The Four Tops, has died at his home in Detroit, US, aged 72. He was famous for his baritone voice.

The performer, who had suffered ill-health for several years, passed away in his sleep.

Abdul Fakir is the only surviving original member of the group, which has sold more than 50m records.

The Detroit band became one of Motown Records' biggest successes, scoring hits including Bernadette and Reach Out (I'll Be There). Founding members Lawrence Payton and Obie Benson died in 1997 and 2005 respectively.

Audley Smith, of the Motown Historical Museum, said that Levi Stubbs had a voice as unique as Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson or Stevie Wonder. "[He] fits right up there with all the icons of Motown," he said. Levi Stubbs was born in 1936 in Detroit and met Abdul "Duke" Fakir at High School. The Four Tops were one of Motown's biggest successes They met Payton and Benson while singing at a mutual friend's birthday . In 1953, they formed a group called The Four Aims and signed a deal with Chess Records.

Later they changed their names to the Four Tops to avoid being confused with the Ames Brothers. The group signed with Motown Records in 1963 and produced 20 Top-40 hits over the following 10 years, making music history with other acts in Berry Gordy's Motown stable.

They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990.

Stubbs is survived by his wife Clineice, five children and 11 grandchildren.

Photo Slideshow on the VSL Website

Several people have asked recently where the pics come from to make up the Club Night Slideshows.

There are a few of the older slideshows here http://vslclubnights.blogspot.com/

They are all compliments of our own VSL photographer and videographer Malcolm Rocks.


Malcolm, in addition to videoing the whole of the proceedings at club and charity nights, and at considerable expense in terms of time and money, takes up to 250 excellent still shots of the performances, which he then gives to me to include on the website.

Copies of the videos are only available to performers, but if anyone would like a high resolution photo of any of the performers, I am sure Malcolm would be happy to oblige - if asked nicely.

I can think of several uses for them
- put one in the bottom of the budgie's cage to save on grit
- or in the gezunder for that late night target practice.
- or put one in the pantry to keep the flies off the meat.

Anyway thanks Malcolm mate, your efforts and expertise are greatly appreciated.

If you want to contact Malcolm he can usually be found at the back of the room with the cameras. I would have posted a pic of him but, would you believe, I haven't got one.

If you want to get into one of Malc's pics you can sing a song at one of the club nights (or stand near Angie)

50 years ago last Sunday .........

.... was the first time that Cliff, Hank and Bruce played together.

It happened at the Victoria Hall Hanley on the Kalin Twins tour and the rest they say is history.

I nicked this info from one of the Shadows forum sites.

Another poster responded by saying that he had appeared at the same venue four years later supporting the Shadows.

The next poster remarked that he had been there too - with Tony. You guessed it - none other than Jet Harris (who has also signed the VSL guestbook don't you know?) - with his typical dry sense of humour.

What a legend.