The Fortunes, an English harmony beat group, were formed in Birmingham in 1961. The original lineup included Rod Allen, Glen Dale, and Barry Pritchard as vocalists, Chris Capaldi on piano, Gary Fletcher on drums, and Tony Britnell on saxophone. The three singers were initially known as the Merrie Men, backing Robbie Hood before evolving into The Fortunes. Their early career saw them supported by an instrumental group called the Cliftones, with whom they released the Swan Lake-inspired "Cygnet Twitch" on a compilation album Brumbeat. In 1963, they signed with Decca Records and released their first single "Summertime, Summertime", credited to Fortunes and Cliftones. The band's breakthrough came in 1965 with the release of "You've Got Your Troubles", which reached number two on the UK Singles Chart and topped the charts in Canada. The Fortunes continued their success with hits like "Here It Comes Again" and "This Golden Ring". In 1967, they left Decca for United Artists Records. Notable releases during this period included "Storm in a Teacup" and "Freedom Come, Freedom Go". The band also recorded the Coca-Cola jingle "It's the Real Thing", which became widely recognised. Throughout the 1970s and beyond, The Fortunes experienced lineup changes, with Rod Allen continuing as the frontman until his death in 2008. Significant achievements include a gold album for All the Hits and More in 1987 and numerous tours across Europe and North America. Posthumous releases and performances continued to honour their legacy.
