In March 1970, at the age of 21, he joined Sherbet, a pop band that had already released a single, "Crimson Ships". That group had formed in April 1969 with the line up of Dennis Laughlin on lead vocals (ex-Sebastian Hardie Blues Band, Clapham Junction), Doug Rea on bass guitar (Downtown Roll Band), Sammy See on organ, guitar and vocals (Clapham Junction), Clive Shakespeare on lead guitar and vocals (Downtown Roll Band) and Danny Taylor on drums (Downtown Roll Band). They secured a residency at Jonathon's Disco, playing seven hours a night, four days a week for eight months. Braithwaite was hired as the group's second lead vocalist, but within a few months Laughlin left, and former bandmate, Worrall replaced Rea on bass guitar.