On This Day in 1945 Vince Martel was born. He was the lead guitar player in a proto hard rock band Vanilla Fudge who recorded “You Keep Me Hangin’ On”.

The Fudge, formed in 1966 by Mark Stein and Tim Bogert were originally called The Pigeons. (There must be a series of posts about band’s original names that I can do). They then changed their name and were managed by a gangster related figure called Phillip Basile. (I should say that Basile was

allegedly

connected to the Luchese crime-familly).

Their biggest hit was “You Keep Me Hangin’ On” a reworking of the Supremes’ hit. Slowing it down and rocking it proved to be a success. While it only made number 67 in the USA it reached the 18th spot in the UK. It was also a forerunner in the growing hard rock movement. In fact during their 1969 US tour The Fudge had Led Zep supporting them!

The Fudge did many good covers, making the songs their own. There were covers of various Beatles’ songs and “Season of the Witch” a Donovan ditty.