Ady Croasdell

THE LIVE ACTS FOR CLEETHORPES 2009 JESSE DAVIS & MELVIN DAVIS At long last, we are proud to announce we have two wonderful singers who aren’t double booked, have current US passports, don’t have over-ambitious managers and are in fine health and raring to go. This year really has been like no other for acts dropping out, but we were determined to present a memorable live show for you and I know we will be doing just that at midnight on June 13th. Having seen Melvin Davis at the Prestatyn weekender in 2004, I was knocked out by his talent, but frustrated that we got to hear so little of his considerable repertoire. I got to meet the man in London shortly afterwards and his love of the scene, his enthusiasm and the ever expanding revelations as to the great songs he had written but never recorded, made me think he really deserved to be presented to the Northern Soul public again. Apart from his own ‘Find A Quiet Place’, ‘I Must Love You’ and ‘You Made Me Over’, Melvin has written such Northern Soul classics as Jackey Beavers’ ‘I Need My Baby’, Edward Hamilton’s ‘I’m Gonna Love You’, Darrell Banks’ ‘I’m The One Who Loves You’, J J Barnes’ ‘Chains Of Love’, Johnnie Mae Matthews ‘Lonely You’ll Be’ and Ann Perry’s ‘That’s The Way He Is’. Inevitably we’ve asked Melvin if he’d like to sing some of these fine compositions for the first time, with a full band, to his UK fans and he’s graciously agreed. Which ones they will be is a matter of conjecture at present, but he is such a huge fan of our scene, that he’s going to deliver a truly memorable soul show. Jesse Davis (no blood relation!) is an equally charming and erudite gentleman who has managed to record not one but three incredibly rare and collectable Northern Soul 45s, despite being primarily a jazz singer. We’ve already heard his ‘Gonna Hang On In There’ at Cleethorpes when songwriter Sherlie Matthews persuaded Jim Gilstrap to cover it. This time we’ve got the real McCoy singing it just as he did on that Era recording session 43 years ago. Jesse also managed to get his big city soul beat ballad ‘There’s Room For Me’ issued on three labels while still remaining horrendously rare and sought after. The excellent mid tempo rarety ‘So Full Of Love’ is possibly even harder to locate but will be very well received when sung live to a thousand soul connoisseurs. Not so scarce, but tricky to find and on album only, is Jesse’s version of the jazz dance standard ‘Stormy’ that has been picking up plays in recent years and will please his many fans. His youngest fan and a close relation of mine will be tickled pink to hear another of Jesse’s album tracks: you’ll have to work out which one yourselves. Jesse has many more great songs in his repertoire and we’re working on making his UK debut a major success. So the band have been primed, the tickets and work permits sorted and we’re all set for one more magical weekend at the Beachcomber. Weekend dance passes are still available; there’s no accommodation left but there should be hireable caravans on Thorpe Park next door 01472 813395 For passes send £59 cheques to 6TS Weekenders, 1 Elm Dr, Market Harborough, Leics LE16 9DS or £61.25 PayPal to ady.croasdell@btinternet.com http://www.6ts.info for more details