Soul Boy - An Interview with Les Spaine
Learn about legendary music figure and POWER UP Executive Steering Committee member, Les Spaine
Motown Les by Photo courtesy of Spaine Music CompanyPOWER UP
Les Spaine emerged as one of the most important British club DJs of the 70’s with Residencies at The Pun Club and the legendary Timepiece Club in Liverpool, before moving onto a career in the music industry working for EMI, Motown and Capital Records.
LIFE Photo Collection
During this period he worked with such legends as Diana Ross, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, Lionel Ritchie, Rick James, Smoky Robinson, David Bowie, Tina Turner plus many more.
Les and Lionel by Photo Courtesy of Spaine Music CompanyPOWER UP
Les is currently the CEO of The Spaine Music Company - a Management & Live Agency for Artists such Soul II Soul, Aswad and Heatwave amongst many others. He is on the POWER UP Executive Steering Committee and also sits on the Liverpool City Regional Music Board.
POWER UP spoke to Les about Timepiece, Soul music and how he powered through the many hurdles in championing Black music. Below is an excerpt from the conversation.
Hands up by Photo courtesy of Spaine Music CompanyPOWER UP
“We had a situation were if you were into predominantly Soul/R&B/Reggae and Black Music in general you were starved of it…so it fell to us young club DJ’s to carry the banner."
“I’ve always had a vision that I wanted to recreate Soul Train in the UK and to that end I scoured the record companies to obtain 16mm films of our heroes that were leading the charge at the time."
“We also had a large contingent of Black and White American soldiers that would travel the length and breadth of the UK to come to our club.”
Liverpool Skyline (2011-05-31) by Paul ThompsonGetty Images
“I think the word spread because at that time there was a US Base in Burtonwood & they passed on the information to other bases that there was this club in Liverpool that was replicating the vibe of home.”
Les and Jazzie by Photo courtesy of Spaine Music CompanyPOWER UP
“The thing about The Timepiece is that all races were welcomed and looked a bit like the UN. The other reason The Timepiece lasted has to be credited to the owner, Roy Carrington who was a very nice English man who loved Black music.”
Motown Les by Photo courtesy of Spaine Music CompanyPOWER UP
“I think I can say without sounding conceited that The Timepiece and myself were the Man City of its time…"
Record:The Jackson 5: I'm So Happy / Sugar Daddy (1971) by Motown Record Corp.The Strong National Museum of Play
"…the vibe and music played was cutting edge and head and shoulders above any other club that was playing Black music in the UK which got me a lot of recognition and then lead to me going to work at Motown Records.”
Les and Stevie by Photo courtesy of Spaine Music CompanyPOWER UP
“Motown or as some people used to call it then – Tamla Motown – was the acceptable face of Black music and I think all credit for that would have to go to Mr. Berry Gordy.”
“[Gordy] always instilled - from the top to the bottom of that company – how you should conduct yourself whether an artist or one of the employees. It was also bloody good catchy music and went from toe tapping pop to questioning the social problems of its day.”
“I think my frustration back then with most A&R - and I hope it has or will change - is that in the UK record labels would fall over themselves to break a US artist when we had some fabulous talent here that was constantly overlooked.”
Les and Jazzie by Photo courtesy of Spaine Music CompanyPOWER UP
“As a manager you literally had to do everything and present it to the record company before they showed any faith in what you believed in and that could be disheartening.”
Keith and Ben (2022-04-09) by Just JonesPOWER UP
“One of the people who springs to mind is Lynden David Hall who was managed by my good friend Keith Harris (pictured, left with POWER UP co-founder, Ben Wynter)”
Les DJ (2023-01-01) by Photo courtesy of Les SpainePOWER UP
“His music, vocal ability and live performance would have made him a superstar if he would have lived in the US because I feel he would have got the financial push he would have needed”.
Photos courtesy of Spaine Music Company
