Dansette

The Early Years

Dansette is a band which prides itself on playing 1960's soul music with a truly authentic feel. Formed originally in 1981 Dansette's approach was less slapstick than Jake and Elmore's Blues Brothers and have more in common with Roddy Doyle's Commitments who they pre-date by a decade. However, the one thing all three have in common is a genuine love of the music that came out of Memphis, Tennessee.

Dansette started life in January 1981 when a Barry trio comprising guitarist Paul Somers, bassman Dave 'Happy' Harper and drummer Mike 'Pokey' Doyle found themselves in desperate need of band members to fulfil a long standing commitment to play at Valentine Night's gig at the now-defunct Dow Corning Social Club on the Moors in Barry. Their first port of call was the multi-talented Pete Donovan who they brought out of premature retirement to provide the necessary musical nous and cutting edge on guitar and he then drafted in lead vocalist Paul Rebane. A name was needed for the band and just days before the gig the band was replete with the moniker Dansette, named after the favoured record player of the 1960's.

In just 2 weeks the band put together an energy-fuelled set that opened with Robert Palmer's 'Bad Case of Loving' You' and ended with the Spencer Davis Group's 'Gimme Some Lovin' The gig was a roaring success and even the sceptics among the Barry crowd were forced to admit that while there may have been a few rough edges there was certainly enough there to warrant a second look.

Despite the success of the Dansette's maiden outing the original line-up was not to last long and soon happy opted to leave to pursue a career in country music - his true love. If the band was to continue a new bass player was urgently required and so it was that Teesider Steve Macquade, a teaching colleague of Paul's from Cardiff's Cantonian High School was drafted and he was soon followed by Ralph Blake, on saxophone and harmonica.

With the changes in the band's line-up came changes in the set as Pete and Paul determined to focus the band's attention on soul and Motown.