Marmalade

Before moving to London and changing their name to MARMALADE, the group were originally known as Dean Ford & The Checkmates. The Glasgow based Quintet enjoyed considerable success on the Scottish club circuit between 1961 & 1967. The line up then consisted of Dean Ford, Graham Knight, Pat Fairley, Junior Cambell & Alan Whitehead.

Described as being unpretentious and irresistibly commercial the group scored in the UK charts in May 1968 with Lovin’ Things and enjoyed a number one with the Marmalade anthem, an opportunist cover of The Beatles classic Ob La Di Ob La Da.

After several successes with CBS, Marmalade moved to Decca and became the first New Musical Express UK chart toppers of the seventies by replacing Rolf Harris’ Two Little Boys with Reflections of my Life.

In 1971 Junior Cambell left and his replacement was Hugh Nicholson who wrote several more hits including Cousin Norman, Back on the Road and Radancer.

1973 saw Hugh leave to be replaced by Sandy Newman on lead vocal and guitar.

It was three years later that Falling Apart at the Seams charted at No 6.

Despite several line up changes during the seventies and a saucy “Sex on tour” story in the Sunday papers causing considerable embarrassment, Graham Knight survivor of the original group and the current line up which has been together for some eighteen years are now more in demand than ever before.

With their unique harmonies and dynamic live performances Marmalade have delighted audiences and the record buying public from the mid sixties through to the present day, and have achieved multi-million selling No 1 records Ob La Di and Reflections of my Life which was number one in the USA proving that Marmalade are not only a good time band but a musical entity capable of transcending all types of music.

Since the heady days of the 60’s Marmalade although having gone through various incarnations have always retained their Scottish roots and remain one of the worlds finest acts. Marmalade have done for Scotland what the legendary Liverpool group did for England, put their native country on the worlds musical map!

Marmalade today are; Sandy Newman – Lead guitar/lead vocal, Glen Taylor – drums/vocal, Alan Holmes – guitar/keyboards/vocal and Graham Knight – bass guitar/vocal.

Marmalade have spent a total of 130 weeks in the UK charts with the following classic songs: