The Smokey group, the legendary British band of the 70s with a vivid musical personality, is still actively touring. The nearly forty-year history of the group is a story of ups and downs, a story of talent and professionalism. But it all started with a simple school friendship.
The path to popularity
Christopher Ward Norman and Allan Sillson were classmates in a school in the small town of Bradford. Deciding to create a rock group, they invited two more students to it - Thierry Attley, who plays the bass guitar, and drummer Peter Spencer. The group was named Elisabeth. First played at school parties, the repertoire consisted of Beatles songs. Then the guys began to write their songs and, changing the name to "Kindness" ("Kindness"), in 1968 went to conquer London. But the
group did not achieve much success. I had to perform in small pubs and clubs. Even with great difficulty, the recorded two records went unnoticed by the public. Only in 1974, young musicians were noticed by fashionable authors Nikki Chin and Mike Chapman, working with Suzy Quatro. In their face, the group receives producer support and again changes its name - now it is the group "Smokey". In 1975, the first breakthrough to the top of the charts. The single "If you think you know how to love me" was released, which became an international hit, and then the album "Changing all the time" awaits the same luck. After the album of the new group goes to the USA, an awkward situation arises: in America there is already an artist with the name "Smokey" - Smokey Robinson. In order to avoid misunderstandings and disputes, the group corrects its name. Now and forever it's a Smokie.
At the peak of success
The Smokey group gains huge popularity, its new songs immediately become hits. The four are touring the world with great success. We had to make a separate tour in Australia - the music and songs of the Smokey group are incredibly in demand. 1978 becomes a year of triumph for musicians. But a lot of work was done for this: the disc came out “The Montreux Album”, named by music critics as the best disc of 1978. Chris Norman and Peter Spencer composed the single "Mexican girl", which became the biggest hit of the year. Jointly performed by Chris Norman and Susie Quattro, the song "Stumblin 'in" immediately appears in the Top 10 of Billboard magazine. According to surveys of European music magazines, the public named Norman and Spencer the best composers of 1978. Musicians become true superstars. Smokey Group is accompanied by commercial success. Disks are sold in millions of copies, concerts are held with unchanged sold-outs. As often happens, in the 80s the group had a certain creative crisis.
In 1982, Smokey announced self-dissolution. But in 1985, the musicians came together to play in their native Bradford at a charity concert. The reason for this action was a fire at a football stadium in which people died. The Smokey group performed so successfully that it was decided to continue working together. But Chris Norman had already begun to take on a solo career, and in 1986 he finally left the group.
Smokeys continue their creative career, recording many new compositions. And although the rock band Smokey was not able to return to its former popularity, its work continues to delight fans all over the world.