The Dakotas (band)
The Dakotas | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Manchester, England |
| Genres | Pop, rock |
| Years active | 1962–1968, 1989–2021, 2025–present |
| Labels | Parlophone, Imperial |
| Members | Toni Baker Eddie Mooney Pete Hilton Robin Hill |
| Past members | Robin McDonald Tony Mansfield Bryn Jones Ian Fraser Ray Jones Mike Maxfield Mick Green Frank Farley Richard Benson Alan Clare Paul Rafferty[1] Marius Jones Ronnie Ravey |
| Website | Link |
The Dakotas are a group of British musicians, which initially convened as a backing band in Manchester, England. They originally backed club singer Pete Maclaine, but after signing to Brian Epstein, he had Maclaine replaced with the singer Billy J. Kramer, a Liverpudlian who the band backed during the 1960s, performing on two UK number ones sung by Kramer.[2] The band also recorded singles by themselves, usually instrumental. In North America, they are regarded as part of the British Invasion.
The lineup that recorded on Kramer's hit records was guitar players Mike Maxfield and Robin McDonald, bassist Ray Jones, and drummer Tony Mansfield. Kramer stopped working with the Dakotas in 1967 and by the time they disbanded in 1968, the band was a trio of McDonald on bass, guitarist Mick Green and drummer Frank Farley. The Dakotas reformed in 1989, and in 2004, performed the music for the comedy show Max and Paddy's Road to Nowhere. By the time the Dakotas disbanded again 2021, the band had no original members, as Maxfield suffered a stroke and retired from performing in 2004.
History
[edit | edit source]Origins: 1962—1963
[edit | edit source]The group's name arose from an engagement at the Plaza Ballroom in Oxford Street, Manchester. Their manager asked the group to return the next week dressed as Indians and called the Dakotas, founded in September 1960 by rhythm guitarist Robin MacDonald (born 18 July 1943, Nairn, Scotland, died 9 September 2015), with Bryn Jones on lead guitar; Tony Mansfield (born Anthony Bookbinder, 28 May 1943, Salford, Lancashire / Elkie Brooks older brother) on drums, and Ian Fraser on bass. Ray Jones (born Raymond Jones, 22 October 1939, Oldham, Lancashire – died 20 January 2000) joined the band as bassist replacing Ian Fraser, and Mike Maxfield joined the band in February 1962 as lead guitarist replacing Bryn Jones after being with a Manchester band called the Coasters.
In addition to backing Kramer on his hits, the group itself is perhaps best known for their instrumental single called "The Cruel Sea", a composition of Maxfield that reached No.18 in the UK singles chart in July 1963.[3] The track was re-titled "The Cruel Surf" in the U.S., and was subsequently covered by the Ventures.
The band released "Magic Carpet" by George Martin in September 1963. It was not a hit.[2] Their next single, "Oyeh" (November 1964), was not a chart success either.
Backing Billy J. Kramer: 1963—1967
[edit | edit source]The group first backed Pete MacLaine (February 1962 – January 1963). However, Brian Epstein, who was managing Billy J. Kramer, made the Dakotas an offer to become Kramer's backing band, which they accepted. Epstein insisted the name was "Billy J Kramer with the Dakotas", not "...and...". The group and Billy J Kramer then went to Hamburg to perfect their act.[4]
After a row with Epstein, Ray Jones left the group in July 1964. Robin MacDonald moved to bass to make way for a new lead guitarist, Mick Green from Johnny Kidd and the Pirates,[2] and the band continued to record with Kramer and under their own name. Maxfield left to concentrate on songwriting in 1965, leaving the Dakotas as a trio, while ex-Pirate Frank Farley (born Frank William Farley, 18 February 1942, Belgaum, British India) replaced Mansfield on drums in 1966.[2] However, the decline of Kramer's career through alcoholism also caused the decline of the Dakotas' career. He parted from the group in September 1967, and the band folded the following year. MacDonald, Green and Farley then joined Cliff Bennett's backing band.[2]
Reformed: 1989—2021
[edit | edit source]The Dakotas re-formed in the late 1980s and recruited vocalist Eddie Mooney and session musician Toni Baker. After original drummer Tony Mansfield left to pursue a career in finance and Mike Maxfield suffered a stroke, drummer Pete Hilton and guitarist Alan Clare were added. In recent years, the band appeared on nostalgia 1960s package tours in their own right, as well as backing artists such as Peter Noone of Herman's Hermits, Wayne Fontana and John Walker of the Walker Brothers. In 2004 the Dakotas worked with British comedian Peter Kay on hit TV series Phoenix Nights and Max and Paddy. Toni Baker co-wrote all the music with Peter Kay.
Maxfield suffered a stroke in August 2004 and left the band, leaving no original Dakotas.
In December 2007, Eddie Mooney was invited to front the Fortunes whose lead singer, Rod Allen died after a sudden illness.[5] This led to him joining the band full-time. In December 2010 the Dakotas gained a new bass player in Marius Jones, and a new frontman in Ronnie Ravey, taking the band back to the original formula of a five-piece outfit.
The Dakotas still tour and record, but none of the members from the 1960s play with the group,[6] although Mike Maxfield, the original guitarist, was still involved behind the scenes. The Dakotas ended in 2021.
Years after and Maxfield tribute concert: 2025—2026
[edit | edit source]Ronnie Ravey passed away on 10 November 2025.[6]
On 6 December 2025, it was announced that the Dakotas would reform for a one-off gig at the Butlins Skegness' 60s weekend on 3 Jaunary 2026, made in honour of Mike Maxfield.[6] The lineup will include Toni Baker and Pete Hilton, plus Eddie Mooney returning from 2007, and new member Robin Hill.[6]
Personnel
[edit | edit source]Current members
- Toni Baker – keyboards (1989—2021, 2025—present)[6]
- Eddie Mooney – bass (1989—2007, 2025—present)
- Pete Hilton – drums (1999—2021, 2025—present)[6]
- Robin Hill – guitar (2025—present)
Former members
- Robin MacDonald – rhythm guitar (September 1960—July 1964), bass (July 1964—1968)
- Tony Mansfield – drums (September 1960—August 1966, 1989—1999)
- Bryn Jones – lead guitar (1960—February 1962)
- Ian Fraser – bass (1960—November 1961)
- Ray Jones – bass (November 1961—July 1964)
- Mike Maxfield – lead guitar (February 1962—1965, 1989—August 2004)[7]
- Mick Green – lead guitar (July 1964—1968)
- Frank Farley – drums (August 1966—1968)
- Richard Benson – lead guitar (August 2004—December 2006)[7]
- Alan Clare – lead guitar (December 2006—2021)[8][7]
- Paul Rafferty – bass guitar (2008—December 2010)
- Marius Jones – bass guitar (December 2010—2021)
- Ronnie Ravey – lead vocals (December 2010—2021)
Timeline
[edit | edit source]<timeline> ImageSize = width:900 height:auto barincrement:18 PlotArea = left:100 bottom:100 top:5 right:10 Alignbars = justify DateFormat = dd/mm/yyyy Period = from:01/09/1960 till:27/05/2026 TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal format:yyyy Legend = orientation:vertical position:bottom columns:3 ScaleMajor = increment:5 start:1961 ScaleMinor = increment:1 start:1961
Colors =
id:lvocals value:red legend:Lead_vocals id:lead value:teal legend:Lead_guitar id:rhythm value:green legend:Rhythm_guitar id:bass value:blue legend:Bass id:keys value:purple legend:Keyboards id:drums value:orange legend:Drums id:bars value:gray(0.93)
BackgroundColors = bars:bars
PlotData =
width:12 textcolor:black align:left anchor:from shift:(11,-4) bar:Pete Maclaine from:01/02/1962 till:01/01/1963 color:lvocals bar:Billy J. Kramer from:01/01/1963 till:01/09/1967 color:lvocals bar:Ronnie Ravey from:01/12/2010 till:01/01/2021 color:lvocals bar:Bryn Jones from:start till:01/02/1962 color:lead bar:Mike Maxfield from:01/02/1962 till:01/08/1964 color:lead from:01/08/1964 till:01/06/1965 color:rhythm from:01/01/1989 till:01/08/2004 color:lead bar:Mick Green from:01/08/1964 till:01/06/1968 color:lead bar:Richard Benson from:01/08/2004 till:01/12/2006 color:lead bar:Alan Clare from:01/12/2006 till:01/01/2021 color:lead bar:Robin Hill from:06/12/2025 till:end color:lead bar:Robin MacDonald from:start till:01/07/1964 color:rhythm from:01/07/1964 till:01/06/1968 color:bass bar:Ian Fraser from:start till:01/11/1961 color:bass bar:Ray Jones from:01/11/1961 till:01/07/1964 color:bass bar:Eddie Mooney from:01/01/1989 till:31/12/2007 color:bass from:06/12/2025 till:end color:bass bar:Paul Rafferty from:01/02/2008 till:01/12/2010 color:bass bar:Marius Jones from:01/12/2010 till:01/01/2021 color:bass bar:Toni Baker from:01/01/1989 till:01/01/2021 color:keys from:06/12/2025 till:end color:keys bar:Tony Mansfield from:start till:01/08/1966 color:drums from:01/01/1989 till:01/01/1999 color:drums bar:Frank Farley from:01/08/1966 till:01/06/1968 color:drums bar:Pete Hilton from:01/01/1999 till:01/01/2021 color:drums from:06/12/2025 till:end color:drums
</timeline>
Discography
[edit | edit source]Singles
[edit | edit source]| Year | Label | A-side | B-side |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1963 | Parlophone | "The Cruel Sea"[9] | "The Millionaire" |
| "Magic Caprtet"[9] | "Humdinger" | ||
| 1964 | "Oyeh"[9] | "Hallo Josephine" | |
| 1967 | Page One | "Im 'N 'Ardworkin' Barrow Boy"[9] | "Seven Pounds Of Potatoes" |
| 1968 | Philips | "I Can't Break The News To Myself"[9] | "The Spider And The Fly" |
| 2013 | Spoke | "Magic Potion"[9] | "The Spider And The Fly" |
EPs
[edit | edit source]| Year | Label | Title | Tracks |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1963 | Parlophone | Meet The Dakotas[9] |
|
Singles with Billy J. Kramer
[edit | edit source]- 1963: "Do You Want to Know a Secret" (UK #2)
- 1963: "Bad to Me" (UK #1)
- 1963: "I'll Keep You Satisfied" (UK #4)
- 1964: "Little Children" (UK #1)
- 1964: "From a Window" (UK #10)
- 1965: "It's Gotta Last Forever"
- 1965: "Trains and Boats and Planes" (UK #12)
- 1965: "Neon City"
- 1966: "We’re Doing Fine"
- 1966: "You Make Me Feel Like Someone"
Additional information
[edit | edit source]- Tony Mansfield (Tony Bookbinder) is the brother of the British vocalist, Elkie Brooks (Elaine Bookbinder).
- Eddie Mooney appeared on PBS television in the U.S. as a member of the Walker Brothers.
- Toni Baker co-wrote all the music with Peter Kay on hit TV series Phoenix Nights and Max and Paddy's Road to Nowhere.[10]
References
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- ^ a b c In August 2004 tragedy struck, when guitarist Mike Maxfield suffered a stroke and had to stop performing, although he is still actively involved behind the scenes. Richard Benson, who had worked with Toni on the Max & Paddy recordings, joined the band as lead guitarist but due to his heavy teaching schedule, couldn't commit to long-term involvement. Alan Clare has now taken over the role of the band's lead guitarist.
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- ^ [1] Archived 31 March 2008 at the Wayback Machine
- Sleeve notes of Billy J Kramer with the Dakotas EP Collection 1995 Miles Records SEECD422
External links
[edit | edit source]- Official site
- The Zone online magazine featuring an interview with Toni Baker of the Dakotas Archived 15 October 2017 at the Wayback Machine
- The Dakotas discography at Discogs
- Billy J. Kramer & The Dakotas discography at Discogs
- The Dakotas at IMDb
- Billy J. Kramer and the Dakotas at IMDb
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