There is a book about the sixties that I can’t wait to read when it finally comes out. Jeff Dexter is in the process of writing his memoirs and I predict that this will be the seminal book on the thriving music scene of the 1960s and ’70s. Born Dexter Jeffery Bedwell on August 15, 1946 in Lambeth London, Dexter started out as a dancer and singer, progressing to becoming a well-known DJ, promoter, rock band manager, record producer, club host, and event organizer.

Jeff Dexter has made almost every move in and around the entertainment industry. Beginning with Mecca Dancing in 1961, he was a dancer and singer in the Cyril Stapleton Orchestra at London’s Lyceum Ballroom, where he was banned for obscenity after performing The Twist on the dance floor. Dexter was also a boy in the band when he was on tour, which involved taking care of all the accessories, extra instruments, and sheet music. During his days at the Lyceum, Dexter became a Disc Jockey and MC at Record Hops, working with Ian “Sammy” Samwell, and also Jimmy Savile (then the ballroom manager at Leeds Locarno). Dexter also worked with many other dance bands, and elsewhere in London, he started and introduced new rhythm bands.

Dexter helped bring Britain’s first record jump to the road in February 1962, starting at Greenwich Town Hall followed by other regular promotions in Brighton and Croydon. He also became a partner in a record promotion company with Tony Calder. The first album they promoted together was Love Me Do. Dexter abandoned his singing career after having to follow Ike & Tina Turner at the Hammersmith Palais. Dexter and Samwell put on many late-night shows in London’s West End nightclubs, including The Flamingo on Wardour Street, The Roaring Twenties on Carnaby Street, and The Crazy Elephant on Jermyn Street.

In 1966-7, Dexter worked as a presenter and DJ at Tiles Club on Oxford Street featuring all soul and pop acts, including the late Otis Redding. It featured the lunchtime record shows, immortalized in Tom Wolfe’s book Noonday Underground. Then Dexter started The Jeff Dexter Light & Sound Show with the emerging psychedelic and underground scene, with acts like Pink Floyd. Dexter also took up residency at the Middle Earth Club in Covent Garden with John Peel, but did not accept an offer to join the BBC’s Radio One.

From 1968 to 1973, Dexter promoted and hosted rock shows at the legendary Roundhouse on Chalk Farm, primarily under the Implosion banner. Dexter helped organize and host almost all the major festivals, including many of the free concerts in Hyde Park. He also renamed Eric Clapton & Friends as Derek & The Dominos. Dexter organized and hosted most of the acts that appeared at the 1971 Glastonbury Fayre. He also directed the band America, and also co-produced his first album that reached number one in the States, as well as his first single for Warner Brothers Records.

Between 1973-79, Dexter directed and produced numerous artists, negotiating deals with Atlantic Records (Isaac Guillory), Warner Brothers (Peter Sarstedt, BIM) and EMI (Alfalpha) and Sire Records (Hawkwind). Dexter also toured the UK, US and Europe, held merchandising awards for many acts and his own music publisher.

During 1979-81, Dexter moved between Milan and New York, worked with well-known Italian groups and made disco records, but also worked with some of his favorite musicians.

In 1981-83, he returned to the UK to lead a new band called BIM (Cameron McVey was on vocals and Andy Harley was on keyboards), and signed them to Arista Records, then Warner Brothers Records. Dexter then began promoting retro record shows in West End clubs, and during 1983-89 he promoted a regular club, called The 2I’s on Tottenham Court Road in Empire Rooms, worked with Time Out, hosted music and entertainment at large corporate parties. .

In 1990, Dexter started managing rock bands again, took on new partnerships, made multiple records, and wasted too much time and money. He joined a group of old friends to bid for a radio license and joined a consortium with the goal of relaunching programs in Roundhouse.

Jeff Dexter, who is currently a successful lifestyle consultant, is separated from his wife Simona Perlasca (after 30 years), with two children Wesley (Events Manager and DJ Loki) and Lincoln (Art History student).

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