Ricky Wolff

c. Summer 1970

Ricky Wolff

Born Richard Wolff, 8 July 1945, Pretoria, South Africa

Passed away on 1 October 2023 in Krugersdorp, South Africa

Bands:

The Dyno-Mites (c. 1961-1963)

Ricky and the Martinets (Sept 1964 - 1965)

Kalimba (1965 - early 1966)

[Band Name Unknown] (Winter 1968)

J.J. Jackson's Backing Band (c. early Spring 1968)

Melody Fair (Spring 1968)

The Flower Pot Men (Oct 1968 - Oct 1969)

White Plains (Oct 1969 - early 1971)

Crucible (1971)

Harley Quinne (1972)

Bryn Haworth (Session) (March 1974)

Free Ride (1974 - 1979)

City Limits (1979 - early 1982)

Rick Wolff (Solo) (1981)

[Producer/Engineer/Songwriter] (early 1980s - 2022)

The Dyno-Mites (c. 1961-1963)

The Dyno-Mites were a Shadows-style band formed in the early 1960s by Ricky Wolff and a few of his Pretoria Boys' High classmates. Like most high school bands, they started out playing parties and talent shows. Fellow classmate Martin Sack often visited their rehearsals and soon learned to play rhythm guitar under the tutelage of band member, Roy Ogus. In time, he was asked to join the band as their second guitarist. The five-piece subsequently entered and won a radio talent contest where they performed a cover of "Twist and Shout". Roy Ogus soon left the band and Martin Sack took over on lead guitar, while Ricky took over on rhythm. This band lineup would become Ricky and the Martinets.

Members: 

Ricky Wolff - vocals

Roy Ogus - lead guitar

Martin Sack - rhythm guitar

Alec van der Post - bass

Owen Wolf - drums

Thanks to Martin Sack for providing info.

The Dyno-Mites, c. 1962
L to R: Owen Wolf, Ricky Wolff, Martin Sack, Alec van der Post, and Roy Ogus
Photo courtesy of Martin Sack

L to R: Owen Wolf, Alec van der Post, Ricky Wolff, Martin Sack, and Roy Ogus
Photo courtesy of Roy Ogus via Martin Sack

Ricky and the Martinets (September 1964 to 1965)

Ricky and the Martinets were a South African beat group formed in September of 1964. Locally popular, they toured the region, were featured in teenage magazines and were three-time winners of Springbok Battle of the Beats. In mid-1965, fifteen year old Owen Wolf left the band and was replaced by Les Markowitz.

Members:

Ricky Wolff - vocals, rhythm guitar, sax, organ

Martin Sack - lead guitar, vocals, piano

Alec van der Post - bass

Owen Wolf - drums (up to 1965)

Les Markowitz - drums (from 1965)

EP (S.A.):

Well, Look Who's Here, Brigadiers, 1965

"The Night Has A Thousand Eyes" (Weisman, Wayne, Garrett)

"Brand New Love" (Fielding, Wilde)

"Grandma's Lizol" (Trad.)

"Seven More Years" (Sack, Wolf, Van der Post)

Albums (S.A.):

LM Radio Special Occasion, Brigadiers, 1965

Thanks to Marq Vas's Southern African Music Collectibles for providing info/photos

Martinets in studio
L to R: Martin Sack, Ricky Wolff, Alec van der Post, and Owen Wolf
Photo courtesy of Marq Vas

EP cover, 1965
L to R: Owen Wolf, Alec van der Post, Martin Sack and Ricky Wolff
Photo courtesy of Marq Vas

Kalimba (1965 to early 1966)

Ricky and the Martinets changed their name to Kalimba in mid 1965, with the music having a more African influence. The band travelled to London in September of 1965 and stayed there for six months, performing and attending band auditions. In the Spring of 1966, with no contract and no permit, Les, Martin and Alec returned to South Africa, sans Ricky, who stayed on in London. Martin Sack went on to record with The Falling Leaves.

Members:

Ricky Wolff - vocals, rhythm guitar

Martin Sack - lead guitar, vocals

Alec van der Post - bass

Les Markowitz - drums

EP (S.A.):

Private Pressing, 1965

"Pezulu Kalima"

"Jungle Fever"

"Mamwane"

"Kufiki Munda"

"The Wind"

Thanks to Marq Vas's Southern African Music Collectibles for providing info/photos

Kalimba, 1965
L to R: Ricky Wolff, Martin Sack, Les Markowitz, and Alec van der Post
Photo courtesy of Marq Vas

[Band Name Unknown] (Winter 1968)

In the early Winter of 1968, bandmates Ricky Wolff, Martin Sack, Tex Marsh, and Colin Wood, toured Germany for several weeks. They played a residency gig at a Tanz bar in Giessen, entertaining the American GIs who were stationed nearby. They then moved on to gigs in Marburg and Kiel. Colin soon left the band and went back to the UK. He then played with Monty Sunshine and later did session work with David Bowie and Uriah Heep, among others. Ricky, Tex, and Martin soon joined J.J. Jackson's backing band for a short tour and afterward recorded a single under the name Melody Fair.

Members:

Ricky Wolff - vocals, bass

Martin Sack - guitar

Colin Wood - piano

Tex Marsh - drums

Thanks to Martin Sack for providing info.


J.J. Jackson's Backing Band (c. early Spring 1968)

In the early Spring of 1968, Ricky Wolff toured the UK as part of American Soul Singer J.J. Jackson's backing band, along with two of his former bandmates: Martin Sack and Tex Marsh. Also in the group was organist Roy Sharland, who would later join Arthur Brown's Crazy World in January of 1970. J.J. Jackson is best known for his hit "But It's Alright", which was released on Calla Records in 1966.

Members:

J.J. Jackson - vocals

Martin Sack - guitar

Ricky Wolff - bass

Roy Sharland - organ

Tex Marsh - drums

Thanks to Martin Sack for providing info.

J.J. Jackson, c. 1967
Pic from discogs.com

Melody Fair (Spring 1968)

In the Spring of 1968, Producer Alan Moorhouse put together a band to record a single written by himself, composer Gordon Rees, and former Syn vocalist, Steve Nardelli. This was the band's only single. Another former member of The Syn, keyboardist Andrew Jackman, co-wrote the B-side.

Members:

Rick Wolff - lead vocals, bass

Martin Sack - guitar, vocals

Roy Sharland - keyboards

Tex Marsh - drums

Singles (UK):

"Something Happened To Me" (Moorhouse, Rees, Nardelli) b/w "Sittin', Watchin', Waitin'" (Moorhouse, Nardelli, Jackman), Decca, 21 June 1968

Thanks to Martin Sack for providing info.

German 45 picture sleeve
L to R: Martin Sack, Tex Marsh, Roy Sharland, and Rick Wolff
Pic from 45cat.com

Below: The four members, along with singer Frank Sheen (ex-Frank Sheen Sound), in Luxembourg for a one-off gig put together by Producer Alan Moorhouse, c. Spring 1968. (Gig unrelated to Melody Fair)

© Tex Marsh
L to R: Roy Sharland, Ricky Wolff, Frank Sheen, Martin Sack, unknown, and Tex Marsh

The Flower Pot Men (October 1968 to October 1969)

The Flower Pot Men started out as a studio project created by John Carter and Ken Lewis (formerly of The Ivy League). Their best known hit, "Let's Go To San Francisco", peaked at number 4 on the UK charts in August of 1967. Ricky Wolff joined The Flower Pot Men backing band (aka Sundial) around early October 1968. By early 1969, one of the four main vocalists, Neil Landon, had left to join the band Fat Mattress, which he had formed in the Summer of '68 with Jimi Hendrix Experience bassist, Noel Redding. Neil was quickly replaced by Ricky. By now the band was under the production team of Roger Cook and Roger Greenaway and one last single was released on 28 March 1969, "In A Moment Of Madness". The band continued to tour and in late October they went into the studio to record what would become White Plains' first and biggest hit, "My Baby Loves Lovin'".

Members (October 1968 - October 1969):

Tony Burrows - vocals

Robin Shaw - vocals, bass*

Pete Nelson - vocals, piano*

Neil Landon - vocals (up to Jan 1969)
Ricky Wolff- vocals (Jan 1969 - Oct 1969) and guitar, keyboards, flute, sax (Oct 1968 - Oct 1969)

Robin Box - guitar 

Gordon Haskell - bass (until mid-October 1968)

Tony Hall - sax (until early October 1968)

Roger Hills - drums 

* Gordon Haskell originally joined from May to July 1968, with Tex Makins returning to take his place from July to August. He then returned in September, but left again in mid-October to join Cupid's Inspiration [per NME article, 19 Oct 1968]. It's believed that Robin Shaw then took over on bass. By early 1969, the main core of what would become White Plains was established, with three of the main vocalists taking over bass, piano, and rhythm guitar from their former backing band. 

Singles (UK):

"In A Moment Of Madness" (Cook, Greenaway) b/w "Young Birds Fly" (Swofford), Deram, 28 March 1969 [Recorded on 17 Feb 1969]

The Flower Pot Men, April 1969
L to R: Pete Nelson, Robin Shaw, Ricky Wolff, and Tony Burrows

Cutting from the NME, March 1969
L to R: Tony Burrows, Ricky Wolff, Pete Nelson, and Robin Shaw

White Plains (October 1969 - early 1971)

See full biography HERE

In early 1969, Roger Greenaway and Roger Cook took over as Producers of the Flower Pot Men from John Carter and Ken Lewis. On 28 March 1969, one last single "In A Moment Of Madness" was released, but the track failed to chart. Early that Summer, after what he describes as a "particularly harrowing" tour of Israel and Hungary, Tony Burrows made the decision to leave the group. It's not known exactly when Tony stopped gigging with the group, but they continued to play live shows throughout the rest of the year. The Producers sought to give a hit single one last shot and White Plains were regrouped that October to record four new tracks with Ricky Wolff on lead vocals: "Today I Killed A Man I Didn't Know", "You've Got Your Troubles", "Show Me Your Hand", and "My Baby Loves Lovin'". The group played at least one gig after these recordings that November (Middlesbrough Showboat on 21st November 1969). By the end of the year, the band had dissolved and the recordings were shelved. Not long after, Decca A&R man, Dick Rowe, decided he wanted to release these recordings under a new name and chose White Plains after the town in New York. Their first single was "My Baby Loves Lovin'", purposely released after the holidays on 2 January 1970. Due to Ricky Wolff being unavailable during the early promo period, Roger Greenaway took over on lead vocals for all promotional appearances. Upon Ricky's return in early Spring, Roger resumed his main position as co-producer. Over the next four years, two albums and thirteen singles were released. After several lineup changes and dwindling chart success, the band called it quits in late 1974. In 1975, the remaining members of the band released two singles under the name Zenith. Then in 1976, the name was loaned out to a new lineup and the single "Summer Nights" was released. White Plains was revived once again in 1978 by original members Pete Nelson and Robin Box and two last singles were released on PVK Records.

Members (October 1969 to early 1971):

Pete Nelson - vocals, rhythm guitar, piano

Ricky Wolff - vocals, rhythm guitar, keyboards, sax, flute

Tony Burrows - vocals (1969)

Robin Shaw - bass, vocals

Robin Box - lead guitar, vocals

Julian Bailey - drums (Spring 1970 to mid-1970)

Roger Hills - drums (1969, mid-1970 onwards)

Brian Johnston - keyboards, vocals (Spring 1970 - Autumn 1970)

Albums (UK):

White Plains (self-titled), Deram, Sept 1970

When You Are A King, Deram, Oct 1971

Singles (UK) (1970-early 1971):

"My Baby Loves Lovin'" (Cook, Greenaway), 2 Jan 1970

"I've Got You On My Mind" (Cook, Greenaway), 3 Apr 1970

"Lovin' You Baby" (Cook, Greenaway), 14 Aug 1970

"Julie Do Ya Love Me" (Bahler), 9 Oct 1970

"Every Little Move She Makes" (Macaulay, Cook, Greenaway), 19 Feb 1971

"When You Are A King" (J. Hill, R. Hill), 7 May 1971**

** This single was recorded on 1st April 1971, however it's not known exactly what date Ricky left the band. It's possible he may not have been there for this session.

White Plains songs with Ricky on lead vocals:

"An Eye For The Main Chance" (LP track)

"Carolina's Comin' Home" (B-side)

"Cinnamon Girl" (Unreleased Neil Young Cover recorded 14 Oct 1970 - BBC Session) (also with Pete Nelson)

"Home Loving Man" (LP track)

"Lovin' You Baby" (Single)

"My Baby Loves Lovin'" (Single)**

"Show Me Your Hand" (also written by Rick) (B-side)

"Sunny, Honey Girl (Version 1)" (LP track)

"Today I Killed A Man I Didn't Know" (with Tony Burrows duetting the middle section) (B-side)

"When Tomorrow Comes Tomorrow" (LP track)

"You've Got Your Troubles" (LP track)

** It's been a longstanding myth that Tony Burrows sang lead on this hit song. According to the liner notes in Cherry Red Records' official release "White Plains: The Deram Records Singles Collection", this is not the case. The band have stated this themselves, according to a 5 Dec 1970 article in the NME. This was also verbally confirmed by Producer Roger Cook in a 19 October 2017 episode of The Strange Brew podcast.

Cutting from the 5th Dec 1970 issue of the NME

Liner notes written by Phil Hendriks (Nov. 2014)

Roger Cook's interview with The Strange Brew can be found HERE. The discussion on "My Baby Loves Lovin'" starts around the 34 minute mark.

Quote from the interview:

Interviewer: "That was an off-shoot of Flower Pot Men?"

Roger Cook: "Yes it was. With a different lead singer. What was his name? He came from South Africa. Nice lad. I think he's back there now."

Top of The Pops, 5th Nov 1970
L to R: Ricky Wolff, Pete Nelson, Robin Box, Robin Shaw and Roger Hills
Pic from 1973 Panini sticker (Picture Pop #24)
For more pics of Rick on TOTP, see TV Page

At the Cookaway offices, Spring 1970
L to R: Robin Shaw, Brian Johnston, Ricky Wolff, and Julian Bailey

Danish 45 picture sleeve, 1970
L to R: Tony Burrows, Ricky Wolff, Robin Shaw and Pete Nelson
Pic from a 1969 Flower Pot Men photoshoot

White Plains live at the NME Poll Winners Concert, 3rd May 1970
L to R: Robin Box, Pete Nelson, Julian Bailey (drums), Ricky Wolff, and Robin Shaw
(organist Brian Johnston not pictured)

Crucible (1971)

In early 1971, Rick Wolff left White Plains to pursue a solo project, which involved other members of White Plains, along with Gordon Haskell (ex-Flower Pot Men, Fleur de Lys) and Martin Sack (ex-Martinets, Melody Fair). The recordings were shelved and an album was never released. At some point Rick's project was combined with that of fellow White Plains member, Robin Shaw, and was given the name Crucible. A combined total of sixteen tracks were recorded, but only four have ever been released. 

See full biography HERE

Members:

Rick Wolff - lead vocals, harmonium

Robin Box - guitar

Gordon Haskell - bass

Martin Sack - bass

Roger Hills - drums

Robin Shaw - lead vocals, bass

Julian Bailey - drums

Albums (UK):

Extremes (Excerpts From The Soundtrack), Various Artists, LP, Deram, 1972

Extremes (Excerpts From The Soundtrack), Various Artists, CD, Gonzo Multimedia, 7 April 2017

Extremes tracks with Rick on lead vocals:

"Elvish Queen" (Wolff)

"Hit It" (Wolff)

"We Gotta Watch Out" (Wolff)

Thanks to Gordon Haskell and Martin Sack for providing info.

back cover of the 2017 CD release

Bryn Haworth (Session) (March 1974)

Bryn Haworth is a British singer-songwriter and former guitarist/vocalist of '60s Southampton psych pop band The Fleur De Lys. Rick Wolff is credited with playing chinese flute on the album track "All I Need Is A Home", which was recorded at Island Studios, London in March of 1974. Rick's old Flower Pot Men bandmate, Gordon Haskell, plays bass on this album as well.

Albums (UK):

Let The Days Go By, Island, 1974 (Track #10 only)

LP Cover

Free Ride (1974 to 1979)

Free Ride were a rock band formed in 1973 in Cape Town, South Africa. The band had already been active prior to Rick Wolff's involvement. It's not certain at what point Rick joined the band, but most likely mid to late 1974, after Rick's return to South Africa. Previous members included sax player Gary Horne and vocalist Dennie Loren. The band played the club circuit until their split in 1979.

Members (1974-1979):

Rick Wolff - vocals, guitar, keyboards

Bobby Louw - bass, vocals

Jethro Butow - guitar, vocals

Steve Spangenberg - drums, vocals

Peter Hubner - keyboards, trumpet (until 1977)

Trevor Cranfield - bass

Ralph Gorksie Madeira - bass

Also occasionally: Martin Sack - keyboards

Singles (S.A.):

"I Wanna Be With You" (Wolff) b/w "Tell It Like It Is" (Butow), EMI-Brigadiers, 1975

Thanks to Martin Sack for providing info.

Free Ride live, 1977
L to R: Rick Wolff, Steve Spangenberg, Bobby Louw, and Jethro Butow
Pic from Bobby Louw's site

City Limits (1979 to early 1982)

City Limits was an AOR band formed by Rick Wolff in 1979, after the dissolution of Free Ride. They released one self-titled LP in 1980 and had two top 20 hits on Springbok Radio in South Africa: "Shouldn't Fall In Love" (which peaked at #8 on 14 Nov 1980) and "When You Gonna Love Me" (which reached #20 on 29 May 1981).

Members:

Rick Wolff - lead vocals, keyboards, guitar, sax, percussion

John Weddepohl - lead vocals, keyboards

Joe Alves - lead guitar, vocals

Chris Ghelakis - bass

Neil McKellar - drums

Also:

Robbie Jansen - sax on "I Want You Babe"

Albums (S.A.):

City Limits (self-titled), Minc, 1980

Tracks with Rick Wolff on lead vocals:

"Let Me Go While I Can" (Wolff) (also with John Weddepohl)

"When You Gonna Love Me" (Ghelakis, Angelopulo)

"Oh Girl" (Ghelakis, Angelopulo)

"Miracle" (Wolff, Butow)

"Maybe" (Wolff, Butow)

LP cover, 1980
L to R: Rick Wolff, Joe Alves, John Weddepohl, Chris Ghelakis and Neil McKellar

Rick Wolff (Solo) (1981)

At some point in 1981, Rick recorded and released a solo single on the Minc label in South Africa. It appears this single was released while Rick was still a member of City Limits, but no further information is available on this recording. 

Singles (S.A.):

"Fools Love" (Rick Wolff) b/w "Should've Been Thinking" (Rick Wolff), Minc, 1981

Information on this single provided by Marq at Marq Vas's Southern African Music Collectibles

[Producer/Engineer/Songwriter] (early 1980s to 2022)

After City Limits disbanded in early 1982, Rick became a full-time music producer, engineer and songwriter. In the '80s, Rick frequently collaborated with artist Pat Shange. Other South African artists that Rick has produced include: Dennis & The Whizz Kids, The Rockets, MarcAlex, Freeway, Margino and Umanji.

In 2013, Rick Wolff released a song he wrote and recorded in honor of Nelson Mandela. "Goodbye Nelson Mandela" is currently available on streaming services and Amazon.

If you have any corrections, can fill in any gaps, or have photos that can be added, please contact me (Kelly).

posted by Kelly Kinsley

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