Dave Clark Five

The Dave Clark Five were one of the most successful of the British Invasion bands to hit America during the 1960s. They were instantly distinctive due to the unusual characteristic as having a drummer as the group’s front man, with Dave Clark having his drum kit situated at the front of the stage.

The band was completed by Mike Smith (lead vocals and keyboard), Lenny Davidson (guitar), Rick Huxley (bass) and multi-instrumentalist, Denny Payton. Dave Clark was always credited as songwriter although sometimes shared the responsibility with Smith, Davidson and Payton.

The group was often chasing the shadow of The Beatles, they were marketed as the Tottenham Sound (in response to the Mersey Beat), and their first UK number one Glad All Over came at the expense of The Beatles. They also followed the band into the film industry releasing the film, Catch Us If You Can in 1965.

They had a good deal of fame in the States, with their cleaner image generating them a lot of mainstream popularity. This contributed to them making eighteen appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show which was more than any other British band.

It was not until the late sixties that their chart success began to suffer as their new psychedelic direction failed to find popularity.

The group eventually broke up in 1970 but their achievements did not go unrecognised as they were inducted into the rock and roll hall of fame in 2008.