The Tempests

North Carolina group the Tempests cut a good album and a few non-LP singles in the late '60s full of assertive, brassy, good-time soul in the beach music tradition, though they didn't quite break out nationally. They were formed by brothers Roger Branch (guitar) and Michael Branch (keyboards), eventually growing into a ten-piece band that was large even by beach music standards. Including two trumpets, two saxophones, and an organ, the group was all-white with the exception of lead vocalist Hazel Martin, whose powerful yet slightly melodramatic singing was one of their key ass...