Percy Sledge

[Shane (Skirky)]

Did I hear right that you played with Percy Sledge? The Percy Sledge? How did that come about and can you tell us any stories from the time?  

[kevin dempsey]

Hi Skirky,
yes it's true I did play with Percy Sledge and I think it is the Percy Sledge, I don't know of any others.
I was asked by his management/agent to play in his band and go on tour. This was back in 1979 or something like and I was very suprised myself. I'd got no idea at the time how popular he still was. I only knew the 'When a Man Loves a Woman' song,from the sixties. I didn't realise he'd had, in america anyway, loads of hits.
He was certainly a 'character' and had a great amount of charm, bit of a cheeky grin, and could get away with almost anything, particularily with the ladies.
I'm afraid most of the storiea from that time involving Percy are probably  not best suited to the 'Talk awhile' site!
I do remember the last 20 minutes or so of every show was taken up with band playing endless rounds of 'when a man loves a woman' and Percy going of and coming back on and bowing, blowing kisses, crying, going off then coming back on and doing it again and then going off and coming back on and going off and coming back....................

quite a time,
thanks

kev

[Cocker Freeman]

No, Kev, Skirky meant Percy Sledge who used to compere at the Steamboat in Ipswich.

[kevin dempsey]

Oh THAT Percy!!
Never played with 'lm