The band built up a following playing at US airbases and dancehalls. Their first big break came in '61 when they turned professional and were booked by the BBC for the popular radio show "Saturday Club" that summer. That appearance led to them becoming regulars on radio. Towards the end of that year, they were offered an audition by Decca. The audition was held on New Year's Day 1962. The producer of the session was informed that he could sign one of the two groups who were vying for a contract that day. He chose Brian Poole & The Tremeloes. The band to miss out was The Beatles.

They scored several hit records between 1963 and 1965, beginning with a cover of The Isley Brothers' "Twist And Shout", which, ironically, had also been covered by The Beatles on their debut album. This was followed with another "dance" song, a version of The Contours' "Do You Love Me", which went to the top of the charts and outsold a rival version by the Dave Clark Five. Other notable covers included Roy Orbison's "Candy Man"and the Strangeloves' "I Want Candy".

After the hits dried up Poole left in 1966 for a solo career which was to prove unsuccessful and he soon retired to work in the family's butcher business.

Contrary to expectations, The Tremeloes prospered without him and carried on making successful records until 1971.