RAINBOW PEOPLE, THE

Lead Vocals: Anne Holgate nee Statton

Lead Vocals: Sami Milliner

Vocals, Guitar: Pete Budd

Vocals, Guitar, Keys: Roger Cotton

Vocals, Bass: Dave Holgate

Vocals, Drums: Chas O’Brian

A brief mention for this adopted local band who are credited as being a Bristol outfit, a statement that doesn’t fully take into account their origins. Their roots lie in the Mecca retained function band The Tempos, who formed in Norwich in 1964, and were the support ensemble to The Ken Stevens Band at The Samson & Hercules Ballroom, Norwich. In March 1967 the group were offered a three month residency at  Mecca’s Lyceum Ballroom, London after which they found themselves at Tiffany’s, Bristol. The group’s guitarist John Urquhart had between venues returned to Norwich and was back at The Samson with The Ken Stevens Band. The newly named Rainbow People extended to a six piece by adding local musicians, most notably Budd who went on to join The Wurzels. The group’s first single in July 68 is well publicised with both performances on BBC Bristol’s, radio and TV shows. The group’s second release The Sailing Song,  featuring the Holgate penned track Rainbows was picked up for release in Australia and New Zealand. In Vernon Joynson’s, Tapestry Of Delights their track Living In A Dream World is  noted as a Northern Soul favourite and in 1979 was reissued on the retro label Casino Classics.

"Rainbow People were formed by David and Anne Holgate who were employed by Mecca, they came from the Lyceum in London they auditioned in London and found Chas our drummer who now lives in Baltimore USA and Roger who passed away last year. They came to Bristol two band members short. I think John Miles was contacted and he recommended Pete, they recommended me. I was only 15 and still at school, David gave me an arduous audition but I was doing O level music and had been going to singing lessons since I was 7years old so I sailed through it and got the job. Our reputation grew locally and we were regularly on local TV. We were picked up by a local entrepreneur Jim Buckingham who introduced us to Guy Fletcher who was a songwriter/producer for Pye records, he wrote our first three singles. We had our own television series Seeds of Love then we were signed up by Arthur Howes agency, but they couldn't agree on a record deal with anybody so we were trying to find work with no record to promote, after a year on the road traveling all over Europe, David decided to wrap it all up and our last gig was at the ABC theatre Blackpool [20/08/1970 UC]. I did work with Pete again in a big band where I met my pianist husband, Pete left to join The Wurzels and I went off to Italy. We have made recordings together and last week we played a charity gig to raise money for Alzheimer's as Pete's wife has it." Sami Milliner 15/10/2018

Discography:

7” The Walk Will Do You Good b/w Dreamtime

Pye Records 7N17582 released 12/07/68

7” The Sailing Song b/w Rainbows

Pye Records 7N17624 released 15/11/68

Astor Records AP1571 released 1969 (Australia)

Pye Records 7N17624 released 1969 (New Zealand)

7” Living In A Dream World b/w Happy To See You Again

Pye Records 7N17759 released ??/06/69

Residencie

Tiffanys, Bristol 1967-68

Mediography:

Tempos change H&N EEN 22/07/68 (P)

New Records Reviewed H&N EEN 22/07/68 (P)

TV:

BBC Bristol 68

Radio:

Radio One Late Night Extra 68

Bibliography:

Tapestry Of Delights (expanded edition) by Vernon Joynson

Publish by Borderline Productions 2014 ISBN 1899855193