Real Thing

Real Thing Band members: Eddie and Chris Amoo, Ray Lake, Dave Smith, Kenny Davis
Hometown: Liverpool
Biggest Hit Singles: You To Me Are Everything, number one, 1976, Can’t Get By Without You, number two, 1976, Can You Feel The Force, number five, 1979
Career Highlights: Named Britain’s Best Selling Black Group of the 1970s

Real Thing formed in the late 60s out of a love for American R&B, and haboured hopes of becoming a big musical force. They started by covering all their favourite hits by the Temptations and Barry White before going on to pen the huge hit You To Me Are Everything. That single, out on David Essex’s Pye Records in 1976, took them straight to number one and was even covered by Frankie Valli.

Meanwhile, vocalist Kenny Davis left. The band carried on, having a string of singles out, all of which made the Top 40. But real success evaded them for some years, until they released So Much Love To Give in 2005. The single reached number nine in the charts and suddenly everyone was looking for Real Thing greatest hits albums.

Lead vocalist Chris Amoo has a life outside the band too. He’s a regular on the dog show circuit and in 1987 his Afghan hound was crowned Supreme Champion at Crufts!