Biography
Brian Waldman, an Edinburgh club proprietor, put the Boston Dexters together in Scotland’s capital during 1964. Tam White on vocals and drummer Toto McNaughton, both former Heartbeats, were augmented by guitarist John Turnbull and bassist Alan Coventry. Their look consciously echoed 1930s American gangsters, complete with tailored pin-striped suits and stage prop revolvers. Although the quartet delivered solid R&B, their opening single ‘I’ve Got Something To Tell You Baby’ was supplied by Tin Pan Alley songwriter Bill Martin and sat oddly with that style. The B-side, a charged version of Ray Charles’ ‘I Believe To My Soul’, gave a clearer indication of the band’s strengths and especially White’s voice. Turnbull helped compose the follow-up ‘Try Hard’, which drew from Curtis Mayfield’s approach. An abortive stay in London led to the original lineup’s dissolution in 1966. White and Turnbull next formed the fleeting Buzz, while McNaughton retained the Boston Dexters name for several months with singer Linnie Patterson, later of Writing On The Wall. White subsequently launched a solo career as a pop balladeer before establishing himself as an R&B and jazz performer. His voice appeared in the acclaimed BBC Television series Tutti Frutti.