Dakotas
Originally formed in Manchester, the Dakotas—Mike Maxfield (b. 23 February 1944, Manchester, England; guitar), Robin McDonald (b. 18 July 1943, Nairn, Scotland; guitar), Ray Jones (b. 22 October 1939, Oldham, Lancashire, England; bass) and Tony Mansfield (b. Anthony Bookbinder, 28 May 1943, Salford, Lancashire, England; drums)—achieved fame as the backing group to Liverpudlian singer Billy J. Kramer. His success inspired the quartet's own recording career which enjoyed a promising beginning when their debut single, The Cruel Sea, reached the UK Top 20 in July 1963. This surf-influenced instrumental was succeeded by Magic Carpet, but this release failed to achieve a similar profile. When Jones left the line-up in July 1964, McDonald switched to bass in order to accommodate former Pirates’ guitarist Mick Green. The Dakotas continued to support Kramer, and over the next four years they recorded three further singles in their own right. The group was reduced to a trio in 1965 when Maxfield left to concentrate on songwriting. Another ex-Pirate, drummer Frank Farley, replaced Mansfield in 1966. He, Green and MacDonald later joined singer Cliff Bennett following the Dakotas’ demise in 1968.