The Dynamite Orchestra

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In 1966, before the inevitable demise of local Washington, D.C. faves The British Walkers , lead vocalist Bobby Howard recorded a "solo" single with the current crop of band members at the time (Jimmy Carter/guitar, Jack Brooks/bass and Steve Lacey/drums) backing him. That single eventually attained Northern Soul cult status in the UK, while pretty much sinking without a trace in the US. Under the name of Mr. Dynamite, Bobby and the band recorded "Sh' Mon", a track that could very easily be mistaken for a Soul music workout by James Brown. The instrumental B-Side "Sh' Mon Part 2" was credited to The Dynamite Orchestra. The late, great Jazz musician and Howard Theater Band Leader Charlie Hampton did the song's arranging and conducting - the horns on the track (especially the saxophone) bear his unmistakable stamp. As stated in his obituary in the August 26, 2005 edition of The Washington Post, Charlie worked with hundreds of noteworthy singers and musicians when they played The Howard Theater, including Sarah Vaughan, Earl "Fatha" Hines, Marvin Gaye, B.B. King, Bobby Darin, Gladys Knight, Stevie Wonder, Billy Eckstine, Pearl Bailey, Otis Redding and The Temptations. "Sh' Mon" was the one and only release on manager Bobby Poe's Soultime label in the US and was licensed to Sue Records in the UK. Copies of the original single command a premium price by collectors, going for $400 to $600 and up on eBay. The band's manager Bobby Poe relates the humorous tale back then of how he t

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