Roy G Hemmings - Former lead vocals of The Drifters and The Dictionary of Soul

Name: Roy G Hemmings - Former lead vocals of The Drifters and The Dictionary of Soul
Start: 2025-07-26T19:30:00+01:00
Location: Thorngate Hall

Schedule

Sat Jul 26 2025 at 07:30 pm

UTC+01:00

Location

Thorngate Hall | Gosport, EN

Sensational Party Night Not To Be Missed!!!
Ticket information to follow.
Both critics and fans agree that Roy G Hemmings is a great showman and dynamic singer. Understood as the longest serving former member of legendary group, The Drifters, Roy had worked alongside founder Johnny Moore for more than 10 years.
He has entertained audiences around the world with his easy, relaxed style and fabulous voice in a career that spans four decades and includes appearances in several Royal Variety shows and twice at The White House.
As a highly respected artiste and singer he has a distinguished track record of fine stage craft. Roy has enjoyed major success when he signed a recording deal in the mid-seventies with the J.A.L.N. Band, one of the first bands to storm the British charts with the dance record, ‘Disco Music, I Like It’ produced by Pete Waterman.
After three well-received albums, the group disbanded and Roy launched his solo career. In 1997 Roy released his first solo album, ‘No Afro, No Sequins, No Flares’ to great critical acclaim.
He followed this in 1999 with his second solo album, ‘All Talked Out’ which includes a fine version of ‘The Drifters’ classic, ‘Like Sister and Brother’.
His current stage show includes the songs of Otis Reading, James Brown, The O-Jays, Temptations, Four Tops and other Motown and Soul greats.
The show is full of timeless songs performed with energy and sensitivity, creating emotions that touch the hearts of audiences everywhere. Audiences enjoy a musical cavalcade of all-time greats: Get Ready, Sitting on the Dock of the Bay, Under the Boardwalk, Can’t Help Myself, My Girl, Save the Last Dance for Me, and Love Train. Plus many more including The Drifters classics.
Roy G Hemmings embodies the golden era of mid-’60s simplicity, a period when creative expression surfaced in music. He triumphs at capturing the energy and magnetism of singers back then. Artistes who were renowned for captivating audiences for the sheer love of music. They who dominated night-life establishments created for rebellion and underground entertainment. Back then, music was soul, and it fed the appetite of those who fell into its lure. Years later, and Roy’s music has not lost its potency. It still incites, excites and delights and can pull at both the feet and the heartstrings!
Roy has ﬁnessed his infusion of rhythm and blues, soul and even jazz elements to entertain a wide selection of audiences. Born in Montego Bay, Jamaica, Roy left the island at a young age and lived in both the United States and Europe, consecutively. Ruled by his passion for music Roy went on to create his ﬁrst band in the ’60s, Stax Explosion – a British Soul campaign to capitalise on the success of Rhythm and Blues that had erupted onto the European scene.
Roy was seen performing by Faye Treadwell, a formidable businesswoman, who had inherited the role of managing the iconic Drifters – a band that had a host of singers passing through its ranks. Roy was enlisted for his soulful sound and is cited as being the longest-serving former member, working alongside founder Johnny Moore for more than 12 years.
A multi-talented singer-songwriter, Roy ﬁrst enjoyed success when he signed a recording deal with Magnet Records in the mid-‘70s with the J.A.L.N. Band, one of the ﬁrst bands to dominate the British charts with the dance record, ‘Disco Music, I Like It’ co-produced by Pete Waterman and featured on the BBC Top of the Pops, a British music chart television programme, popular between the 60s until the mid-2000s.
After three well-received albums, Roy launched his solo career with the release of his first critically acclaimed album in 1997; ‘No Afro, No Sequins, No Flares’. He followed this in 1999 with his second solo album, ‘All Talked Out’. The release of his latest album in 2017, ‘Philly vs Motown’ includes songs from his stage show and features an ode to ‘Drifters’ classic, ‘Like Sister and Brother’.
The Dictionary of Soul ® show includes songs by Otis Redding, James Brown, The O-Jays, The Supremes, Temptations, Four Tops, Drifters and other Soul / Motown greats.
Furthermore, Roy has unparalleled stage artistry. He consistently illustrates a sophisticated timeless charm in his performances, evocative of when music held a definitive and elegant sort of poetry. It’s easy for audiences to become entranced by the magical quality of the shows he delivers.
With a career spanning four decades, Roy’s appeal has been high-profile, with appearances in several Royal Variety shows and two performances at The White House for the then president, Bill Clinton. The shows also feature the Prim-ettes, who add a stunning dimension of smooth harmonies and slick Motown dance routines, jam-packed with timeless songs performed with energy and sensitivity. Interestingly, The Supremes, Diana Ross, and Mary Wilson were the founding members of the Prim-ettes.
Roy’s global audiences are often delighted by the musical assemblage of the well-loved classics such as: Get Ready, Sitting on the Dock of the Bay, Me & Mrs Jones, Under the Boardwalk, Can’t Help Myself, My Girl, Save the Last Dance for Me, and Love Train.
Amidst his list of accolades, Roy remains a very humble, down-to-earth guy who has an unquenchable passion for music. Showing no signs of stopping and still in possession of a rich voice – imbued with the warmth, intimacy and smooth approach to performing, he has succeeded with his fan-favourite classics and fresh innovations.
There is no end date to this. I love what I do, and I will continue to perform until I can do it no longer.
Roy’s classic style and performance impeccability will undeniably keep the RGH brand solidly embedded in music heritage always.