The Foundations
In 1967 when The Foundations' first record 'Baby, Now That I've Found You' sold over a million copies in the US and in September of that same year went to the top of the UK chart, Clem Curtis was the frontman of the band.
Clem Curtis is still the frontman of the band.
He came to Britain from Trinidad in 1955 and after working as an interior decorator and boxer, he eventually followed in the footsteps of his jazz-singing mother to become one of the most distinctive voices of 60s pop and soul.
Encouraged by Sammy Davis Jr to go to the US after The Foundations' initial success, Clem worked with some great artists including The Four Tops, The Temptations, Marvin Gaye, Fifth Dimension, Janis Joplin and The Righteous Brothers, gaining much repect from his peers before returning to the UK where he has since been resident.
With a genuine charm and a wonderful sense of humour, he continues to delight audiences the world over with 'Baby, Now That I've Found You' along with 'Bad Old Days', the cult classic 'Build Me Up Buttercup' and a set of solid soul standards to lift a heart and fill a dancefloor.
The current six-piece line-up - drums, bass, guitar, piano, keyboards and saxophone - has been with Clem for three years and between them these seasoned and accomplished players carry an impressive CV which includes Edwin Starr, Gwen Dickie, The Four Tops, Paula Abdul, Anastacia and Bitty McLean.
The Foundations sound is full, exciting, authentic and Clem's melted-chocolate-over-razor-blades vocal tone is the same as it ever was - only now it comes in velvet.
There are but a few original artists of the 60s still performing and while it may be great to pay tribute, Clem Curtis and The Foundations are the real deal.
The Foundations sample play list -
- We still have a dream
- Knock on wood
- Babynow that I found you
- My first my last my everything
- Let's stay together
- Easy
- Bad old days
- Aint no stopping us now
- Just my imagination
- The trouble with me
- Superstition
- Build me up buttercup
- Love train
- Celebration
- Mustang sally
- My Girl
