The group toured and performed in clubs in Germany, including a residency at the Star-Club in Hamburg, before returning to London where they were auditioned by producer Jack Good.
His first record, a cover version of Buster Brown's US rhythm and blues hit "Sugar Babe", with guitar by Big Jim Sullivan and produced by Chris Blackwell,[1] was released by Decca in 1962.
[2][3] In 1963, Powell moved from Birmingham to London and starting visiting the Marquee Club, where British musicians such as Alexis Korner and Cyril Davies performed.
Cennamo, Kattenhorn and Hogman, with other musicians, remained together for several months, billed as the 5 Dimensions and working as a backing band for Sister Rosetta Tharpe and Chuck Berry, before themselves splitting up in 1965.
[2] In the meantime, Powell recorded a solo single, a reworked version of "Sugar Babe" on which he was backed by session musicians Jimmy Page (guitar), John Paul Jones (bass) and Clem Cattini (drums).
They soon split up, and Powell took over a Coventry band 'Willy's Cult' comprising Dave Fulford (vocals), Rod Godwin (guitar), Willy Morris (bass – later replaced by Tony Lucas), Alan Shepherd (sax, flute), Stan Byers (trumpet), and Tom "Duke" Russell (drums).
However, according to Bruce Eder at Allmusic, "their singles failed to register with the public despite a high-energy sound strongly reminiscent of the early Stones, solid attack on their instruments... and a good feel for the blues.
"[6] Powell continued to record, at first on the short-lived Strike label set up by writer and producer Miki Dallon and, from 1967, back at Decca where he released three singles in 1967–68.
[1] Compilation CDs of Powell's recordings with the Dimensions and as a solo artist have included The R'n'B Sensation (See for Miles, 1992) and Sugar Babe (Castle Music, 2003).