Originally known as Dean Ford And The Gaylords, this Glasgow-based quintet enjoyed considerable success on the Scottish club circuit between 1961 and 1967. Eventually, they were signed by agent/manager Peter Walsh and, after moving to London, changed their name to Marmalade. The line-up then comprised: Dean Ford (b. Thomas McAleese, 5 September 1946, Glasgow; lead singer), Graham Knight (b. 8 December 1946, Glasgow; vocals/bass), Pat Fairley (b. 14 April 1946, Glasgow; rhythm guitar), Willie Junior Campbell (b. 31 May 1947, Glasgow, Scotland; lead vocals) and Alan Whitehead (b. 24 July 1946, Oswestry, Shropshire, England; drums).
Unpretentious and irresistibly commercial, the group reached the UK charts in May 1968 with "Lovin' Things" and enjoyed a number 1 with an opportunist cover of John Lennon/Paul McCartney's "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da".
After several successes with CBS, Walsh negotiated a deal with Decca via Dick Howe and Marmalade became the first New Musical Express UK chart toppers of the 70s by displacing Rolf Harris’ "Two Little Boys" with the moving "Reflections Of My Life", a more serious work which ably displayed their underused compositional skills.
In 1971, the group suffered a severe setback when Campbell, their producer and main songwriter, quit to attend the Royal College of Music. With replacement Hugh Nicolson (formerly of the Poets), they enjoyed several more hits, including "Cousin Norman", "Radancer" and "Falling Apart At The Seams". The latter proved a prophetic title, for the group were dogged by line-up changes during the 70s. Changes in the pop marketplace lessened their appeal, and a saucy 'sex on tour’ story in the salacious Sunday papers caused them embarrassment. With Knight and Whitehead surviving from the original line-up, Marmalade was resuscitated for cabaret purposes later in the decade.
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