Breakthru formed in 1967 in Sutton Coldfield, near Birmingham, England, as a professional rock group. Original members included Keith 'Smoke' Abingdon on guitar, Bobby Booth on bass, Geoff Garratley on Hammond organ, drummer Jim Leyland, and lead vocalist Gary Aflalo. The lineup drew from semi-professional bands The Clampets, an R&B group from Kingshurst, and The Set, a pop group from Castle Bromwich. The band signed with Mercury Records in 1968 and recorded their debut single 'Ice-Cream Tree,' produced by Mike Batt, though members found it mismatched with their stage style. Lineup changes followed, with Jim Leyland replaced by Richard 'Plug' Thomas; the group gigged in Europe but disbanded after internal shifts, later recording sporadically in 1970 without a stable vocalist. Breakthru played energetic live sets blending R&B and pop-rock influences before their split.