John Dalton

John Dalton was educated at Cheshunt Secondary Modern School at the same time as Harry Webb (who later found fame as Cliff Richard). Dalton’s desire was to be a full-time musician, and in 1959 he joined Danny King and the Bluejacks as bass guitarist (although he claimed in a 2009 interview,[2] that he could not play a note when he joined). He played alongside Norman Mitham who had just left Cliff Richard’s first band.

Although successful locally, the Bluejacks recordings of “Say Mama” and Vince Taylor’s rockabilly “Brand New Cadillac” did not feature in the UK Singles Chart, and in 1962 Dalton left to become a founder member of the Mark Four along with Mick ‘Spud’ Thompson (rhythm guitar), Eddie Phillips (lead guitar), Jack Jones (drums) and Kenny Pickett (vocals).[3] Mark Four quickly became one of the most popular live bands in North London and shared billing with other London-based groups such as the High Numbers (later to become the Who), Cliff Bennett and the Rebel Rousers, and even sharing a stage with Little Eva.

However, the band’s singles failed to make the charts, making it difficult to earn enough money to support a family. In 1966 Dalton left Mark Four to join the building trade. Shortly afterwards Phillips, Jones and Pickett founded the Creation, one of the most influential bands of the late 1960s.