Guys 'n' Dolls
| Company type | Pop music group |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1974 |
| Founder | Paul Griggs, David Van Day, Dominic Grant, Thereza Bazar, Martine Howard, Julie Forsyth |
| Defunct | 1985 |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom |
| Products | Music recordings |
Guys 'n' Dolls emerged as a British pop ensemble in 1974, initially consisting of three female and three male members, later transitioning to a lineup of two women and two men. They secured top ten positions on the UK charts during the mid-1970s with singles such as "There's a Whole Lot of Loving" and "You Don't Have to Say You Love Me". Towards the end of the decade, their popularity extended to the Netherlands, where they achieved a number-one single with "You're My World".
Career
In November 1974, Guys 'n' Dolls was assembled following auditions conducted by Ammo Productions, which selected three male and three female vocalists for the group. The founding members included Paul Griggs, David Van Day, Dominic Grant, Thereza Bazar, Martine Howard, and Julie Forsyth, daughter of entertainer Bruce Forsyth.
Their debut hit, "There's a Whole Lot of Loving", released in January 1975, originated as a recording by session vocalists for a McVitie's biscuit commercial. Although Guys 'n' Dolls were formed to leverage the tune's success, they did not re-record it before its release; thus, the original session singers’ vocals were retained. This single climbed to No. 2 on the UK charts, propelling the group into mainstream recognition.
In 1976, their rendition of "You Don't Have to Say You Love Me" reached No. 5 on the charts. While subsequent singles attained moderate success, their sole charting album was Guys 'n Dolls (1975). By 1977, they achieved a No.1 hit in both the Netherlands and Belgium with "You're My World", marking an important milestone in their career trajectory.
Midway through 1977, Van Day and Bazar departed following creative disagreements regarding the band's direction; they subsequently formed Dollar, which enjoyed success through the late 1970s and into the 1980s. Continuing as a four-member group, Guys 'n' Dolls released their third album Together (1977). After a minor UK chart appearance in 1978 and losing their contract with Magnet Records, they concentrated efforts on the Dutch market where they sustained chart presence for several years. Notably, in late 1978, they served as opening act for Frank Sinatra during his London performances.
In 1979, Guys 'n' Dolls participated in the A Song For Europe contest with "How Do You Mend a Broken Heart?", aspiring to represent the UK at Eurovision. However, due to a strike at the BBC, the contest was cancelled; judges later placed their entry tenth out of twelve submissions.
The year 1980 saw Forsyth and Grant welcome their first child; meanwhile, Martine Howard married producer Gerard Stellaard and relocated to the Netherlands, leading to her exit from the group. In 1981, Forsyth’s sister Laura briefly joined before being replaced by Rosie Hetherington from dance group Legs & Co..
After eleven years together, Guys 'n' Dolls disbanded in December 1985.
Following the split, Grant and Forsyth performed as Grant & Forsyth and achieved five hits in the Dutch market. In 1988, Forsyth composed "Go," which became the UK's Eurovision entry performed by Scott Fitzgerald; both also contributed backing vocals during its second-place finish.
The original members reunited in March 2008 for a prominent Dutch television special that included media appearances and interviews.
Paul Griggs authored Diary of a Musician, chronicling the history of Guys 'n' Dolls among other subjects.
Dominic Grant passed away unexpectedly at age 71 on 18 November 2020.
Discography
- Guys 'n' Dolls (1975)
- The Good Times (1976)
- Together (1977)
- Our Songs (1980)
- Happy Together (1982)