Trendsetters Limited

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Trendsetters Limited was a manufactured pop/beat group from the 1960s. They were formed in early 1964 in Bournemouth by Roy Simon. The lineup included drummer Michael Giles and his brother Peter Giles (who would later join Giles, Giles and Fripp and King Crimson), trombonist Mike Blakesley, guitarist and songwriter Geoff Robinson, and pianist Al Kirtley. Robinson soon left and Bruce Turner joined on guitar and vocals. All members had some singing ability.

They released their first single, In a Big Way, on Parlophone on 26 March 1964. There was a lot of publicity, including a TV appearance with Henry Mancini and a Juke Box Jury appearance, plus four Radio Luxembourg shows, but the song did not reach the charts. Al Kirtley left and Allan Azern replaced him on piano. The second single Hello Josephine and the third I’m Coming Home (1965) also failed to chart. They continued touring in England and Germany.

In 1966 Bruce Turner left. The group briefly performed as The Trend and then as The Brain. They recorded at Abbey Road, with Al Kirtley returning on piano and piano-accordion for some tracks. These were released in 2009 as part of The Giles Brothers 1962–1967 album. Trendsetters Limited disbanded in 1967.