JOHN GARRYMORE
Never had the pleasure of working with John, or seeing his show, but did get out to see a band who used to have us in stitches...
This, That & the Other.
John played bass, sang, and took part in their comedy.
Steve the drummer was the outrageous camp character, while Jimmy, who played some great guitar, and John took the mickey out of anything and everyone - especially the committee.
Brilliant show!
TONY KIDD. He was a good friend for many years. I met Tony when I started working for Mike Batty at Northern Star Agency in Gateshead. He worked with Mike as an Agent/Rep, and I did many gigs with him over the years. A smashing singer.
Engelbert was his hero and he did some of his songs, as well as a good variety of favourites. So sad we lost him so young.
DAVE BERRY & THE CRUISERS. Did a whole week with Dave and his band at a theatre club in Sheffield, and we had a fun time. How suprised was I when he turned up at one of my gigs - Prudhoe Social - one night, and we had a good chat. He was staying in Prudhoe with friends for a few days during a sixties variety tour.
ANDY WILLIAMS & HIS BAND
Great roots-rock and roll from this trio. The DJ at our rock and roll club, which has events at Gateshead Social on Coatsworth Road every Sunday night, is Dave Williams. He plays all the tracks we love to remember and this is his son Andy on guitar and vocals. So talented, sadly we lost him recently.
I took the above photo at Dunston Social Club, where they also have R&R nights with their DJ, the Geordie Jiver playing between the band spots.
We had a great night, and Andy's band were brilliant, they kept us all jiving - he was such a great guitarist and singer. We were all shocked at the sunday night venue when we found out what had happened.
I had not realised that Andy had been so famous, and played with all the top people , such as Carl Perkins as shown on the photo on the left.
We are all hoping to get back to our sunday nights
with Dave Williams, we really miss what was our regular session until the covid crisis. He always plugs the monthly R&R magazine 'Now Get This',
and it really is a must for anyone who loves that music of the good old fifties.
Great Line-up of famous bands here, and the TOFFEES - A top class local Hartlepool group I used to see often when I lived at Seaton Carew.
Saw FREDDIE STARR many times in the 70's - Last time when he was on at the Dolce Vita in Newcastle. So very funny - a very talented man in many ways (great singer).
BRUCE WELCH
Giving a talk at one of the many Shadows Yearly Conventions at the Fed. Brewery Club in Gateshead
It was around 1971 when I met these two canny lads, we had the Atlantics on the go working locally, and had them on the same bill as us many times with Jimmy Dunn Agency.
Jimmy always had them here on net weeks, and it was always a pleasure to spend time with them, they were loads of fun.
When we started doing net weeks away, we never saw them very much after that - hope they are still with us.
MIKE MEMPHIS and the Memphis Belles. Great Elvis voice, and the Belles bring glam to the show. Great!
RECALL. Tony Dare the Bass off camera,
Ron McEnzie drums, Ron Norton left, and Dave Percy with Monaco Yellow Stratocaster.
MIKE METCALF. A great singing and comedy performer
and very close friend of many years. We had some good times doing the clubs, but dont see him a lot now as he runs his own hotel in Blackpool.
LACKENBY
MAGGIE MILES This is the first poster pic of Maggie I remember when working with her many times. Happy days.
THE PIGGIES
Many years now since
I saw this brilliant
Beatles Tribute band,
I was their support
at a big club near
Newcastle, and
really enjoyed their
program, being a
real fan of the
music of the fab four.
They were the
first Beatles Tribute
I'd ever seen, and now
there are a few, mainly
the fab Bootleg Beatles,
but these lads led the field for a while. Well
done to them.
RUE AND THE ROCKETS
JUST LIKE THE REAL THING!
Grace and I went to see this fabulous show at Gosforth and Coxlodge Social Club. If you are into fifties Rock n' Roll you've got to see them. They sound bigger than a four-piece, and each band member is truly top-rate. We were jiving all night.
PAUL SQUIRE
THE SEARCHERS as they were
in 1964. My ticket to see them at the City Hall in Newcastle.
I was playing guitar in the resident band at Michael's Country Club, near Ryton, and we backed these two one night, not long before they took off on TV. They were then called the HARPER BROTHERS, did little comedy, but their vocals and harmonies were great.
TONY DARE and LES ROBERTSON were founder members of
our band RECALL for over twenty years, and in this pic were playing at a Shadows event; they are both very familiar with all the Shadows arrangements having played with Shadzband, a tribute to all those guitar hits.
THE SHADOWS. The Shadows are so famous, yet I had to include them on our Clubland Pals page because
three of these great lads have always taken the trouble to join our Shadows Club meetings and gigs. Namely
Bruce Welch, who has given us many talks and brought with him the famous red Stratocaster that Hank made famous, Brian 'Licorice' Locking - who gets everyone involved in playing along with him on stage at whatever club venue we are at, and Mark Griffith - in my photo - who was never a fully-fledged member of the band, but has often been to our special get-togethers and played some brilliant solo guitar. Hank and Brian are committed to tight schedules, but have managed to get their sons to join us - and they are both great musicians. We have always been grateful to them all for joining us, and hope it might continue.
Two shots of all-time favourite comedian TERRY KING, one of them getting his slippers ready in dressing room before going onstage. He was known as 'Slipper-man' for his hilarious slipper routines. The best of comedians, sadly missed by everyone.
Two good pals here, JIM CLARKE and TONY REA. They had great success here in the North East, and Tony moved to Bolton where he built a career as a top solo act...TONY GARCIA. This photo was sent to me by Niki, Tony's daughter.
She told me that Jim was still playing and singing with country and western bands around the clubs and pubs until covid.
DESMOND DECKER
ALLEN CUTLER
The one-man
MUSIC HALL
entertainment
for the older
audience.
Allen has been
doing his shows
at many care
centres for many
years, with great success. He hopes to continue after
covid.
BRIAN 'LICORICE'LOCKING A master on Harmonica.
THE PARISH Seen this band many times, and always at an outdoor gig. They play in Cullercoats Harbour at the Lifeboat Centre every year, and the same at Tynemouth Fish Quay, raising funds for this good cause. Great selection of pop, and they don't just play easy numbers, it's Dire Straits and all standard stuff. Fantastic sounds.
TONY McLAUCHLIN He was a great drummer, and played with our band RECALL for many years. Great memories of a real nice genuine guy who was a good friend. We started to get a band together again with him just a few years ago, but he became ill, and we lost him soon after - such a tragedy. A never-forgotten pal.
CLINTON FOGGART
I used to know Clinton quite well about forty years ago, as he was a pal of Alan Bartleys, and we used to see him a lot when we were away on net weeks. A real fun guy.
In the days I was in a duo and working with Jimmy Dunn Agency, we were often on the same bill as two super star acts, one was Roy Walker, and the other was this brilliant vocalist, Jean Bennett. She used to put a spell on her audience with her lovely singing voice. I heard she moved to Blackpool to perform, and run an agency, then more recently I heard she had passed. Very sad, she was a great artiste.
THE WILDCATS This photo takes us way back to the very early sixties I think, showing these North Shields lads before Hilton joined the Animals.
(L to R) Harry Dixon - Bass, Tappy Wright - Rhythm guitar, Hilton - Lead guitar, and Ron McKenzie - Drums.
THE
BURN
BROTHERS
JON PONTONI
DAVE BERRY
MAX FORDre.
The lovely Lisa, worked with her many times - a true artiste with a fine voice. We lost her this year, very sad for all who remember her great talent.
REGULAR ARTISTES WHO PERFORM TO RAISE FUNDS FOR THE BLYTH BATTERY EVENTS.
Absolute tip-top music acts I have seen many times when attending the big events on Blyth Beach. They have all sorts of armoured vehicles and jeeps on display. (actually Tony Hodge, who is pictured on this site as drummer of the Tynesiders and the Piranha Brothers, is here at every event in full uniform with his splendid American Jeep.) Alan, the George Formby tribute act, sounds exactly like the man - and plays his banjo just as well. Anthony plays brilliant jazz guitar and his arrangements of forties tunes go great with the setting of these regular events. Well worth a visit!
PIPELINE Ian Belsham, Richie, Dave Percy. 1967
TAPPY WRIGHT
Another bit of sad news when I read the Evening Chronicle to read that one of the great characters of music had passed. I first met him when our band, Recall, played at the Sands Club in Whitley Bay with the famous Hilton Valentine and his band Rock Bottom.
It was a ticket event, and all tickets sold except twelve, which Tappy kept with him on the door in case we had any visitors who wanted to come in.
We all had a good night, and I enjoyed Rock Bottom, as I hadn't seen them before. It was a late nighter, and on our way out with the gear Tappy handed us some more money, on top of the fee we were paid, telling us that this was for the twelve tickets he collected cash for at the door. I was impressed with his honesty, and from then always regarded him as a friend, and we got to know him well through lots of other people.
He was a real genuine lad, and such a shame he went so young. But he must have enjoyed touring with the Animals, and meeting all those stars - including Elvis.
Photo opposite when he played in the Wildcats.
(L to R) Ronnie McEnzie - Drums, Tappy Wright - Guitar,
Hilton Valentine - Lead Guitar, Harry Dixon - Bassist.
Marilyn was singer with the BLACK RIVER BLUES BAND for a while, and moved on to singing jazz with various bands, and solo work. At home singing pop, soul, blues and old standard songs.
PORT & LEMON Great duo, and these lads were skilled electronics engineers, they built amps and speakers working with Dave Darko of DARKO ELECTRONICS, Shields Road. I bought one of their PA amps, and used it for many years.
Anne Starr. I remember her from many years ago, did a charity event and she was a brilliant trained singer doing big standard songs, from musicals etc.
TIM HEALY.
I worked many clubs supporting Tim when he was a very young actor at Live Theatre and doing the social clubs as a comedian. Always was a pleasure to share the bill with him, he was a lot of fun, but we saw less of him when his acting career took off.
FRANK & CYRIL.
Worked with these two so often they became pals. Very funny act.
TERRY O'CONNOR (Terry Hart) and his son Chris, both members of the band 'Flingel Bunt', visiting us from Southampton for a couple of days and having a bash on my guitars. Always great to see them!
CHARLIE DAZE
BRENDAN HEALY
Worked with this great singing duo many years ago, LYNNE SMITH, left, and SUE SWEENEY right.
REIVER were a five-piece band based in Brampton, near Carlisle - Grace and I went across to a few of their gigs when they played regular across there, and they played a good selection of rock. ALAN BEST (junior) played bass, and AL BROWN was
on lead guitar. Real good musicians, and a singer with a voice that could handle the gritty stuff they did. We always enjoyed them, pity they went their own ways - they are still all good friends. They might just resurface after retirement from their regular work, and they'd still be younger than the Rolling Stones!
DEREK COSTELLO Great friend of many years.Excellent drummer, and sang with duo MACK & TOON. He did drums with us for a while when our drummer was ill.
Worked with him many times over the years, and met him again just last year when he did one of Billy Clark's Charity Event nights at Killingworth Social. He told us that his memory was not good now, but did a great spot.
Nice Roots Rock n' Roll Sounds. Can anyone tell me their name?
BRIAN 'LICORICE' LOCKING on harmonica, with guitarist JOHN MINTO playing at Dunston Fed. Club.
THE FABS. Always a great occasion to see this band. Great!
ALAN FOX Great comedian of many years, well known on T.V., all over Clubland, and in Theatre Shows across the country
THE MILLIONAIRES
MARILYN MARTIN here.
CHARLIE GRACIE
from the U.S.A. performed with a live band at our Rock n' Roll Society night at Coatsworth Road Social Club in Gateshead. Grace and I are members, and they have a great DJ on every sunday night, and now and then they engage a great band or singer, which always fills the place. Charlie was touring the country, and has done our club for many years.
What a great singer he still is, and he makes his guitar talk. He
told us the Guild he played has been with him for 60 years.
GERRY and the PACEMAKERS
THE DRAGONI BROTHERS
Been a fan of Reggae music
for many years, mainly because of this man's record output, and it was great to see him perform - with his band - at Newcastle Town Moor several years ago. It was a free show, part of a festival, and he did a great spot, in spite of his guitarist turning up late and playing from the third number. When I met him, he said 'Hello brother,' and signed my programme for me. A real nice bloke.
DAVE WATSON. One of my favourite clubs, the backing here was great, and the room had a nice acoustic sound.
As the Up & Down Duo, we were doing a week in S.Wales for Don Tyrer, and every night after our gig, we were allowed to get into this night club free because we were an act, and five nights in a row we enjoyed the Grumbleweeds show - one of the best we ever saw. They all had their own sketches, so versatile - soon after we saw them on TV a lot, although they seem to have reduced to a three-man outfit now.
THE MIDDENS Saw this modern young rock band at North Shields Fish Quay, and they impressed the crowd with their high-energy covers. They were great, but have not seen or heard anything of them for a while.
THE PARISH again at the North Shields Fish Quay Festival Day raising funds for the Lifeboats. One of the many bikers in the crowd wearing the monster outfit got up onstage with the band and borrowed a guitar from band member on the left to pose for some photos. He really looks worried about his guitar being a bit unsafe,
it's a Gibson Les Paul Junior.
From Portadown in Northern Ireland, he played football for their pro team before moving to England and getting into showbiz. He did TV's The Comedians and Blankety-Blank. Very funny man, came up North now and then, met him when we were in BBC's 'Dracula'.
Many will have worked with Dougie when he was half of the Alexander Brothers many years ago, my band the Atlantics did, and he was great fun. Not suprised he has done so well as a solo act.
A great family, knew them well when Frankie, 4th. from the left, was the drummer with our band. We were doing well with the band doing social clubs, but Frankie's family act were starting to fill the City Hall in Newcastle - so we understood why he had to leave us, they had records and T.V. and still ran an ice cream and cafe business. Later in life, Frankie had the brilliant band called 'Frankie's Cafe'.
THINGYBOB. The funniest comedy show I've ever seen.
DOUGIE SMALL
JUNE PASTELLE I found this very old photo recently, it must be 40 years or so since I used to be on the same bill as she was so many times when working for Northern Star Agency in Gateshead. Very nice person, great club act. I printed 500 of these photos for her when I had my own Print Shop on Heaton Road.
Well known as member of the Millionaires, his live theatre work led him to his own TV series. In his own words, the cameras didn't like him, and he went back to work the theatres for the rest of his career. Passed too young in his mid 60's.
Many fun nights supporting Brian - last time at Lemington Labour Club, always a great act. He was really funny with his fellow rogue Alan Snell in TV's Supergran.
A great selection of our favourite Clubland Comedians. ALAN FOX, the cleanest and funniest in the business, ALAN SNELL, the world's craziest Geordie, BOBBY PATTINSON, had us all in tears of laughter.
Thanks to Terry Hart for sending me these
photos, they remind us of great nights down at the Club. Many no longer with us now, but we'll never forget them.
THE MOAT BROTHERS & FRIENDS
F.A.B. If you are a fan of sixties pop, you will like these lads. Nice tight sound, and good renditions of all the tunes you know and love. We saw them at Bedlington Station Club, and the ceiling is so high it seriously affected their sound, but we still enjoyed the show.
THE CONCORDS
John was guitarist and singer in a sixties group I saw many years ago, THE CONCORDS. His bandmates John Thomson and John Hall later started up the West End Agency for club acts. John started up a very successful open mic night at the Lochside in recent years. He also became a popular jazz singer, and here he is singing with the Vieux Carre Jazzmen.
Went to see this act many times, very entertaining show, and of course, PAUL SQUIRES did great as a solo and on TV.
BLACK AND WHITE
Ronnie is on the photo above left when he was drummer in The Wildcats. He has played in many local bands, including ours - Recall, and as far as I know, is still playing.
TONY GARCIA
A very popular act, never worked with him, but several of my pals did. Went to see him once when he was in our area. Very nice lad, billed as the man with the big voice - a 'proper' singer, not many of his calibre around.
Brilliant comedy double. Saw this act several times many years ago, and supported them at a gig. They influenced many a duo for years to come. Fake big-shot Italian singer and noisy, argumentive tray-dropping waiter! Wonderful situation stuff. These lads were the tops!.
Saw these lads a couple of times in the olden days, when groups were all copying the Beatles. (L to R) ROB GREEN, JOHN THOMSON, JOHN BRUMWELL, JOHN HALL, RON GRAHAM. They were a good band, streets ahead of my band.
PERCY & THE PIGLETS.
Good old Rock n'Roll Rockabilly.
LINSEED AND ANISEED
REIVER A good action shot of these blues-rock musicians belting out their thing at a pub in Brampton Centre.
Great memories working with this lad, always plenty laughs.
I just watched a video of him on YouTube gigging in Benidorm
twelve years ago at the age of 78, so I guess he may be retired now and enjoying a quiet life. The Benidorm show was great by the way, still as funny as he always was.
MAX AND HARRY WARD. These two were entertaining in the
mid-fifties as a 'Harmony Duo', and got lots of work as part of theatre packages, supporting the big stars of the day. They worked with Danny Kaye, and Frankie Laine, and many names from the U.S.A. that I'd never heard of. I first met Max when we did a show together in the early seventies, now known as as MAX FORD.
SPIKE RAWLINGS
Dave's Guitarland
Tony started playing at the age of only 17 with Irish Showbands before coming to the North East, where he was with The Russelles, and many top acts including BLACK AND WHITE. He moved to the Bolton area where he was soon in demand as a solo singer, and worked his way up to being a recording artiste with regular TV work. Very sad to say we lost him in July, and a big thanks to his daughter Niki Ashton for sending me these photos.
ROY WALKER. The only pic I could find of Roy, worked with him many times in 70's - absolutely brilliant comic. Seen him start with many a tough audience which he had in the palm of his hand after just about ten minutes of his act. Great!
I had a great night with Les supporting him at Manors Club in Newcastle, always had a good night there as the resident band were terrific.
BILLY J. CRAMER When I was in the ATLANTICS we did a gig with him at a big club, forget the name of it, but it was Teesside area. He was working solo (without the Dakotas), and he was a really excellent singer - did all his hits, plus some lovely standards. The resident band were
excellent. With us he was one of the lads, real nice bloke.
Here's Shirley Ann, a great favourite of club acts, and very popular to all the clubs, we all had a good gig when we were doing the same show. Lovely singer, she started very young singing with the big bands, very experienced act.
THE PIRANHA BROTHERS. Never got to see this band, great reports about them. The only one I know is TONY HODGE (far left) as he played with Tex and Leon for a while - well known as a terrific drummer. (see Tony pic below on right.)
Ronnie was born in Northern Ireland, and
he married Millicent Martin. He had a great career, and died in 2015 at the age of 81. I saw him in an old Morcambe & Wise show on TV this week, he was great at comedy stuff.
DAVE CARR
VINCE ST. JOHN & RED RIVER ROCK
THE RAVONS These lads started in 1960 when I was only 16, so never got to see them play - but I knew of them, as Jim Pearson, the lead guitarist, is my cousin. They did the Mayfair, and Jim's older brother was their Roadie. He did that job for us when we played there as 'Hinge'. The family emigrated to Canada shortly afterwards, and we all lost touch.
FRANK IFIELD
I believe that we got this photo from him when he appeared at Percy Main Club. He did many of the big clubs back in the 60's and 70's
Many years ago I heard these lads were a good show, so a few of us went to see them. They had just started, when the 'Fish Man' came in with his big tray of Mussels, Crab Sticks and the like. One of the lads jumped up to buy something off him, but he started arguing with the turn.
Very convincing comedy, as the fish man was part of the act. Great show, shades of Lambert and Ross here.
'THE HOLLIES' Tribute band. Rob Quinn on vocals, toured Clubs and Theatres.
PHIL HALEY & HIS COMMENTS
THE BLUE CAPS at Old Stillington Club - 1964. This goes back a bit, heard of them but it was so early in the sixties, can't remember seeing them - been told they did all the clubs around Newcastle, and were great.
Rue and the Rockets
TOMMY MEMPHIS
This was in Ibiza, but in an earlier year before we saw him in Portinatx. A great busker, using just his voice and guitar unamplified. He would sing for about a minute, then stop moving as though he was a statue - then would only start singing again when someone chucked money into his guitar case. Good fun, and he did request songs and lots of comedy quips. This must have kept him busy until his evening shows. He had a really good Elvis voice.
TYLER'S TROUBLE
BILL YOUNG Played with RIVER CITYJAZZMEN.
I met Bill when he was in the backing band at Prudhoe Social Club. When, in conversation, I mentioned that I ran a Print Shop, he became a good customer - as he had a fair bit of work for me to do with his inventions. While at Prudhoe Club he did some touring abroad with the River City, and sent me a couple of postcards from where they were playing. He was a good friend, and I was shocked when this picture was in the Evening Chronicle with the story of his passing.
I remember many good nights at Prudhoe Social, he was an excellent drummer - and his keyboard player, whose name escapes me, was great too. In the audience was always a lad from my class in school called Michael Shane. We left Chillingham Road School on the same day aged 15.
JEAN BENNETT
PETER LA SCALLA
CHARLIE GRACIE.
This is a press photo of when he was a young star, with hits like 'Butterfly' and 'Wanderin' Eyes'. I was a fan of his when I was 13, and had his records. Had the pleasure of meeting him last year when the North East Rock and Roll Society had him doing a show at Gateshead Social Club. Lovely fella, had quite a good chat with him.
THE CAFFREY BROTHERS
took the stage at this
Annual Event to raise
funds for the running of
boats and equipment on
NEWBIGGIN LIFEBOAT DAY.
The atmosphere was
great, and the band
was excellent.
THE MOAT BROTHERS & FRIENDS.
Tex and Leon have been around for many years, and lots of you will remember when they were Tex, Leon and the Tynesiders in the sixties. More recently they were known as Tex, Leon and Friends, and still very popular. This year, the brothers decided to retire, so their band are looking for other projects.
Grace and I used to go to their gigs often, and it was always a pleasure to listen to their great harmonies and expert musician-
ship. They will be sadly missed by many.
GERRY MARSDEN with his recent touring band, although when I saw him last year in the Sixties Show at Gateshead Sage he was backed by the fantastic Vanity Fayre - and he was great. He sang really well, although his movements were as they should be for a lad his age, (I'm the same way) he put on a real good show. I saw something in the newspapers that suggested he was retiring for good, so having been a fan of his since the sixties, I'm so glad to have got to see him. In my opinion, of all the sixties bands he was the best singer, front man, guitarist of them all - great personality and stage presence.
THE HOLLYWOOD BEES
The lovely Maggi, on the same bill with her many times - great voice and lovely person. Her hubby was in the resident band at Manors Club in Newcastle, worked with him too. Top band.
Grace and I ran into her in Morrisons a few years ago and had a quick chat, a good pal - sadly missed by all club acts.
Lisa Glenn
TONY KIDD
Good old Spike, worked with him so many times - and when I didn't I often waved to him from the car when driving home from some faraway gig somewhere. Brilliant fella.
THE SEARCHERS ORIGINAL LINE UP.
(L to R) Chris Curtiss, Mike Pender, Tony Jackson, John McNally. They brought out some classic sixties records with a new distinctive guitar sound, with fantastic vocal harmonies. They also picked some great songs to record in their own style. ''Needles and Pins'' and ''Don't throw Your Love Away'' were beautiful studio arrangements and recordings. Works of art in their day!
''LICORICE'' again, back on his bass playing with some of the Shadows Club members, he really does manage to play with just about everyone at these yearly events.
News Update: Very sad news, Brian passed today, the 8th. October 2020. He had been ill for nearly a year, our thoughts are with his family, he will be much missed.
BARRY IRWIN has played drums in resident club bands for many years, and most club acts who visit this site will have worked with him.
TAPPY WRIGHT
On the WILDCATS photo on the left you can see Tappy as their rhythm guitarist. While Hilton joined the ANIMALS as their guitarist, Tappy joined them as their Road Manager for many years. Tappy's book about their times on the road did very well, and here he is signing a copy for Grace.
CLUBLAND PALS
JOHN BRUMWELL
ADAM FAITH & EMILE FORD
TERRY HART. Great pal for many years. Terry was a real Tailor (ex. Jackson the Tailors) and he made shirts and suits for just about every act in the North East. A solo act for years, then did very well with a band called FLINGEL BUNT, playing alongside his four sons. Saw them many times, great tight band.
TEX AND LEON & THE TYNESIDERS. Going back a while when these lads were popular in the clubs, they made a good name for themselves. (L to R) Alan Best - Bassist, Leon Moat - vocalist, Tex Moat - Rhythm guitar, Drummond Amin - Lead guitar, and
Tony Hodge - Drummer. After many years as Tex, Leon and Friends, the brothers have now decided to retire. Sad news.
DENNIS 'LURCH' MARTINE and MAX FORD - two wonderful acts, and great pals as well. Worked with them both many times, very funny character comics. We once did a big charity event at a club near South Shields together - all three of us, plus two other acts, and what fun we had. Miss those days, Max no longer with us, and havn't seen Dennis for a long time.
TOMMY MEMPHIS A very talented lad from the Midlands, working at Vincent's Bar in Portinatx, Ibiza.
Grace and I were on holiday here in Ibiza, and Portinatx is a beautiful place - plenty to see during the day, but not a lot going in entertainment. We'd never been to Benidorm, so weren't spoilt for choice - just quite happy to see this entertainer on most nights of the week, and he was on every night in a different guise.
His Elvis night was the best for us, but he did a nice variation of songs all nights. ( See Elvis busker below)
What a night! Brian Bennett's band with Gavin Lee on sax, Marilyn Martin on vocals, and myself on guitar.
There were some great jivers on the floor that night.
THE LINDA WRIGHT FOUNDATION Last time I worked with her was at Dudley big Club, and it was a New Years Eve (about 40 years ago). What a night! Her and the band were terrific, the resident band and myself sat near front and enjoyed the show. I got extra money as they over-ran by half an hour as the crowd wouldn't let them off. Brilliant!
EMILE FORD was a regular around the clubs singing all those great songs he did. He built all his own sound systems, both for himself and others. A fantastic act.
Copyright © David Percy