Jeff Dexter

Born Dexter Jeffery Bedwell

August 15th 1946

Lambeth London

Dancer, singer, DJ, promoter, manager, record producer, club host, events organiser and lifestyle consultant.

Jeff Dexter has made almost every move in and around the entertainment industry. Starting with Mecca Dancing in 1961 a dancer & singer with Cyril Stapleton’s Orchestra at London’s Lyceum Ballroom, were he was previously banned for obscenity, he did The Twist on the dance floor. was band boy when on the road, which entailed looking after all the props, extra instruments & music. While at the Lyceum became a Disc Jockey and MC on the Record Hops, working with Ian “Sammy” Samwell, Jimmy Saville (then Ballroom Manager at Leeds Locarno).

Also worked with many other dance bands, and began HIS own promotions in other London venues presenting the new beat bands. He helped take Britain’s first mobile record hop to on the road in February 1962, beginning at Greenwich Town Hall followed by other regular promotions in Brighton and Croydon. Also became a partner in a record promotion company with Tony Calder. The first record they promoted together was “Love Me Do”. Jeff gave up his singing career when he had to follow Ike & Tina Turner at the Hammersmith Palais. Dexter and also Samwell hosted many late night record shows at night clubs, including The Flamingo Wardour Street, The Roaring Twenties Carnaby Street and The Crazy Elephant in Jermyn Street.

In 1959, Dexter became friends with a 12-year-old Mark Feld, who later became known as Marc Bolan and they used to visit the Lyceum together. Both had trouble gaining admission due to being small for their age, which they made up for with plenty of “front” and nice clothes. Neither could afford to buy expensive suits, so they would visit the children’s department of high street shops like Woolworths and C&A and adapt the clothes themselves with help from friends

In 1966-7 worked at Tiles Club in Oxford Street as host and DJ presenting all the soul & pop acts including Otis Redding. Started The Jeff Dexter Light & Sound Show with the emerging underground and psychedelic scene, with acts like Pink Floyd. Took up residency at Middle Earth Club in Covent Garden with John Peel, but did not take offer to join Radio One. 1968-73 Promoted and presented rock shows at The Roundhouse Chalk Farm, mainly under the Implosion banner. Helped organize and host nearly all major festivals, including many of the free concerts in Hyde Park. Hosted and arranged most of the acts that appeared at the 1971 Glastonbury Fayre. Managed a band called America, also co-produced their first album that made number one in the States, as did their first single for Warner Brothers Records. 1973-79 managed and produced several artists, negotiated deals with Atlantic Records (Isaac Guillory), Warner Brothers (Peter Sarstedt, BIM) and EMI (Alfalpha) and Hawkwind.