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The Syndicats were an English popular music group, notable for being the first band of future Yes guitarist Steve Howe's first band. When Howe left for Tomorrow in 1965, he was replaced by Ray Fenwick. Fenwick played lead guitar on the band's most famous song "Crawdaddy Simone", which he co-wrote it with Jeff Williams, the bands' keyboardist. Further members were Tom Ladd (lead vocals; born 1940), Johnny Melton (drums; born 1941), John Truelove (drums), Kevin Driscoll (born 1945; vocals and guitar), Johnny Lamb (lead vocals), Paul Holm (drums on last single). Co-founder Driscoll died in London on 16 August 1982.

Their three singles on Columbia (EMI) were produced by Joe Meek. "Crawdaddy Simone" is played over the end credits of Telstar, a film biopic of Meek, released in June 2009.

Singles [link]

• "Maybellene" (Berry) / "True To Me" (Ladd/Howe) (8 April 1964, Columbia DB 7238)^[1]
• "Howling For My Baby" (Dixon) / "What To Do" (Howe/Truelove/K. Driscoll/T. Driscoll) (January 1965, Columbia DB 7441)^[2]
• "On the Horizon" (Leiber/Stoller) / "Crawdaddy Simone" (Fenwick/Williams) (September 1965, Columbia DB 7686)^[3]

Two pieces by the band were released on Howe's compilation album Mothballs (RPM Records 1994): "Don't Know What to Do" (Howe) and "Leave My Kitten Alone" (Little Willie John/Titus Turner/James McDougal).^[4]

References [link]

External links [link]

• Rayfenwick.com