Delite Radio ANNOUNCE FINAL ACT CONFIRMED FOR SUMMER SOULSTICE 2018

The Real Thing: Summer Soulstice 2018’s Headline Act!

Quoted by the Guinness Book Of Records as the “UK's best selling black group of the late 1970s”, only fellow Liverpudlians, The Beatles & Frankie Goes To Hollywood have had more singles in the all time top 100… Ladies & gents we are privileged to welcome UK soul royalty: The Real Thing!

These hard working Toxteth boys have continued to share & perform their music well into the 21st century, but the sad passing of group member Eddy Amoo has recently cast a cloud over proceedings. Despite this, brother Chris Amoo & Dave Smith (the two surviving original members) have decided to continue as a duo, backed by their band.

Founded in 1970 their live, progressive soul-influenced covers of American hits attracted enough attention for them to secure an early recording deal with EMI Records.  The initial releases from the original line-up of Chris, Dave, Kenny Davis & the late Ray Lake, gained modest success & they also appeared on TV talent show Opportunity Knocks around the same time. But the turn-around for their career began with a collaboration with David Essex & Pye Records. They toured internationally with Essex, recording a number of popular songs with him, though none were big hits. When Kenny left & Eddy joined the band, The Real Thing finally found chart success with the pop soul single 'You To Me Are Everything' which reached No.1 on the UK singles chart & on the US Billboard charts, peaked at No.28 in the R&B singles & No.64 on the Hot 100. Their follow-up, 'Can't Get By Without You' reached No.2 in the UK.

In 1976, they released their first album 'Real Thing' which included both hit singles as well as a third UK hit, 'You'll Never Know What You're Missing'. A number of albums & top 40 singles followed during the rest of the decade & in 1979 they released the epic ‘Can You Feel The Force which was a top 5 UK  hit for the guys.

They continued to work during the 1980's with a K-Tel collection of their Greatest Hits released in May 1980. Two years later they returned to work with David Essex, performing as backing vocalists on his tour and  performing backing vocals on his top 20 hit 'Me & My Girl (Nightclubbing)’. The Real Thing then scored a dance floor hit with 'We Got Love' (1984) which was followed not long after by more chart success & a string of new mixes on several of their previous hits.

Another classic Amoo brothers’ composition 'Children Of The Ghetto' has been covered worldwide by artists such as Phillip Bailey (EW&F), Mary J BligeCourtney Pine & The Swingle Singers (live @ Ronnie Scott’s). The song was also featured in the Spike Lee movie ‘Clockers’.

In 2002 French house duo Together consisting of Thomas Bangalter (Daft Punk) & DJ Falcon released ‘So Much Love To Give’ which sampled The Real Thing’s ‘Love’s Such A Wonderful Thing’. Another version of ‘So Much Love To Give’ using the same sample, was released three years later by The Freeloaders & reached No.9 in the UK charts.

Chris says "The fans' outpouring of support makes us realise how much love there is out there for The Real Thing, & we're doing this for them, & for Eddy, who was the greatest showman. It would have been Eddy's wish for us to carry on & still feel the force."

We are looking forward to The Real Thing gracing our main stage immensely & headlining at this year’s Summer Soulstice.

Tickets via https://www.summersoulstice.co.uk/tickets-2018/

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