Peter Bradshaw finishes his review of the film Northern Soul: Still Burning (Thumping celebration of the legendary underground club scene, 13 May) with a question: “What did the American acts themselves think of it [the Northern Soul scene of the 1970s]? Were they ever tempted (or invited) to play live at the Wigan Casino?”
Well, as someone who was thrilled to attend Wigan Casino all-nighters as a teenager, I’d say they fell in love with the scene, playing Wigan and other popular venues on the northern circuit (including Manchester’s Twisted Wheel, The Torch in Stoke-on-Trent and Cleethorpes Pier). A couple of these legends even came to settle down in the Midlands and north of England.
Those who played live at the Casino included Edwin Starr, Junior Walker & The All-Stars, Jackie Wilson, Tommy Hunt, Martha Reeves, Betty Wright and The Elgins.
Tommy Hunt, formerly of Chicago doo-wop group The Flamingos recorded a live album from the Wigan stage. He later moved to West Yorkshire and died last year at his home in Pontefract. Motown giant Edwin Starr moved to England in the early 1980s and is buried at Wilford Hill cemetery in Nottingham.
But the records and the DJs were the regular stars. With Russ Winstanley and Richard Searling in pole position at Wigan Casino, they spun sounds so rare, most fans had to travel long distances – and stay up all night – to get to hear them.
Jez Waterfield
Leicester
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