The name was given to the group by their mentor and Manager Tony Hall
The idea actually came to him while he was sitting at traffic lights at Piccadilly Circus in London.
He badly needed a new name for the new group he had just signed because they were about to perform on the hugely popular Opportunity Knocks talent show with its presenter Huey green , He wasn’t happy with The present one “vocal perfection”.
Tony noticed a Coca Cola sign blinking and suddenly he had his name the group with lead singer Cris Amoo having potentially the best voice Tony had ever heard from a “uk” artiste were truly “The Real Thing”.
Note opportunity Knocks was the X factor of the early 70s
The Real Thing are Chris, Eddy Amoo and Dave Smith. The group with its founder members Cris Amoo and Dave smith began in the Liverpool inner city area of L8 Toxteth back in 1972 though the Story really began back in 1962.