DAVID ST JOHN -CALL UP THE GROUPS 3!

This is now page 3 following from my previous two webpages dedicated to 'Mushbeat' - the sounds of Southampton going back to the late Fifties through the Swinging Sixties for the moment. Many of these early line-ups carried on playing right through the Seventies and beyond with many still at to this day! I am constantly receiving e-mails from all over the world as news of my website gets around as well as people just surfing and searching. They often just drop in a few keywords of people or places and are often gobsmacked to see themselves mentioned or old family and friends that were part of that exciting time. It has often resulted in old mates being reunited as well as some very personal and touching stories where family members have been able to find out more about those that are no longer with us and much more.

Please come back from time to time as I am constantly adding more info and terrific photos that get sent to me from all over the globe! I get a kick out of seeing them as well as sharing them with so many people who are linked in some way or for music lovers of all ages who just simply enjoy getting the feel of what it must have been like in the early days of pop music. Once again - please enjoy this and other webpages which can be found by clicking the Site Map links and I look forward to hearing from YOU if you have any input or queries etc. I cannot promise anything but there may well be a chance that I can put you in touch with someone by sending messages out to my many contacts although discretion and confidence will naturally be considered.

I uploaded a photo plus very basic info on one of the earliest bands that played at the Pier as well as backing many of the local and visiting singers. This is my first entry from a few years back and can be found on Call Up The Groups

Early Avenue Artistes band who used to back many of the local and visiting artistes such as Danny Davis, Tex Roberg, Shirley Gaye and Roy Vance amongst others. Included:

The original drummer Tony Hart has just discovered my website and was knocked out to see his old band 'immortalised' in my Hall of Fame! He sent these e-mails plus more rare vintage photos that give great glimpses into what it was like all those years ago.

Hello David

I would like to say a big thank you and congratulate you on your web site, given to me by an old friend of mine Mike Nevitt of the 'Nevitt Brothers'. It sure brought back some memories.

My name is Tony Hart and I was the drummer with "The Hi Fi". Our times at Royal Pier started in 1958 under the watchful eye of dear old Len Canham ... in fact we were the first group that Len made 'Pros' by giving us a weekly wage and not paid by the gig. You can imagine how many times we played, Fridays, Winchester Lido, Saturday mornings, The Gaumont, Saturday evenings The Pier and Sunday evenings Shirley Working Mans Club, to name but a few. As we came from Portsmouth, we'd stay at Lens flat overnight at the Pier, with the armchairs for beds. His mother was a lovely person who would make wonderful apple dumplings .. can still taste em!. and always remember their lovely Golden Retriever.

We did shows with most .. if not all of the guys mentioned on your site possibly more with Tex Roberg and Barrie James and remember all of them, including those from the Larry Parnes 'Stable'.

In 1962, 'The Hi Fi' were booked to go on tour in Australia with the well known pianist Winifred Atwell, they went, but had to find another drummer due to my family commitments, so I went back to Jazz clubs and house bands and also did a stint with Emile Ford and the Checkmates.

Since then I continued playing and up until a few years ago. I was part of a Cockney Comedy double act, unfortunately my stage partner passed away suddenly, so I decided to call it a day. I wouldn't mind starting again .. but I think at 74 humping drums around would be a bit much.

Here's a photo I've attached of 'HI FI' Butlins 1961 Season .. L- R: Brian Odgers, Bass .. Pat Marshall, Sax ... Tony Hart, Drums ... Tony Bailey, Guitar, Tex Roberg was not on stage at the time of Photo.

Thanks again for the site ....... Happy Days. If you can put me in contact with any of the "Lads" I'd be grateful.

Sincerely

Tony Hart

The cheeky faced Tony (aw..... bless) seen playing at the N.A.F.F.I. social club in Portsmouth and the poster suggests that a party from the Saints FC (Southampton) were visiting the club on that night. Not a good idea these days! Tony was the resident drummer of the club band so gave him a great grounding for the years ahead.

The second photograph above was taken after the Hi-Fi days and playing at the prestigious Modern Jazz Club alongside many top names in the field.

This photograph below is a copy of the other image now uploaded on the first Groups page and shows Hi-Fi in action at Butlins Holiday Camp in Bognor Regis. Tex Roberg was the lead singer on this gig but the lads were either playing an instrumental or perhaps Tex was just having a beer and chatting up the birds?

L- R: Brian Odgers (Bass) Pat Marshall (Sax) Tony Hart (Drums) Tony Bailey (Guitar)

Some years later, Tony went in a completely different direction when he teamed up with a great character Roy Denny and formed a very successful 'Cockney' style comedy duo called The Barrow Boys. This is one of their very early publicity handouts and tells the story perfectly:

"COCKNEY ENTERTAINMENT AT IT’S VERY BEST …" so says The Stage newspaper. A self-contained act, (that doesn’t mean backing tapes). With its cheeky ditties, a ‘Cor Blimey,’ humorous repartee with the audience, and all the ‘sing-a-long’ favourites. This is an hour’s Cabaret that’s different — a must for your ’Cockney Nights’ and variety bill.

Roy Denny and Tony Hart formed The Barrow Boys act in 1986. Friends for many years, and frequently working together in various shows they decided that the present computerised, electronic world of pop music was not for them—hence the creation of this fine act with its wealth of entertainment, experience, personality and musical ability.

Recent notable successes include live broadcasts from the BBC Radio Kent, regular Summer Cabaret at Ladbrookes Family Holiday sites, Butlins Hotels and Leisure Centres, seasons at Chessington World of Adventure, featured at Gravesend Edwardian Fair and numerous appearances in Cabaret with Mike Reid of Eastenders.

ROY DENNY -A Londoner, who started his musical career as a schoolboy ‘Boogie Woogie’ pianist, and after a musical education in the RAF, worked the jazz club scene with great success. He formed his own Big Band and performed along side the big names of that era. The late Eric Winstone was so impressed he featured the band on Southern Television. Inevitably, followed tours of top venues, accompanying many star names of the day. Several LP recordings featured the band. Following the decline of the ‘Big Band Days’ Roy has made a name for himself as an MD for variety and summer shows, and has nine successful pantomimes with top artistes to his brand of ‘Cockney Humour’ and love of the ‘variety scene’, for which he has had notable successes, led to this new venture in his career—the highly successful "Barrow Boys".

TONY HART– Tony had his first drum kit at 9 years of age and his first stage appearance at the age of 13. He was soon recognised, not only as one of the top drummers, but also for his considerable vocal talents as well.. Quickly he was being sought after by many Agencies as support and backing to well-known stars of the day, one of these being the late and great Winifred Attwell. Tony toured major Theatres of Great Britain, including Shows at the Albert Hall alongside: Cliff Richard, The Shadows and Joe Brown. Later he joined Emile Ford and the Checkmates, which included an appearance on TV’s Sunday Night at the London Palladium. He then formed his own vocal harmony trio and cruised with major shipping lines. After numerous Summer Seasons, he went into musical comedy with his friend Roy Denny. Tony’s sense of humour and vast experience of Theatre adds to the success of ..…. "The Barrow Boys".

Tony's stage partner and good pal Roy passed away a few years ago, so I'm glad that he can be remembered in these pages and here is a picture of the two lads!

Within days of hearing from Tony Hart, I received another amazing e-mail from Rick Champion - a musician I knew of from way back in the early Sixties and another young group that started out at the legendary Royal Pier Ballroom. These great youngsters called the Infereds (not quite the proper spelling!) were managed by the same guy who later took the Eastleigh based 'Planets' and turned them into the 'Unforgiven' Tony Cook. Tony was the second very influential person after Len Canham had 'discovered' me as a ten year old rock n roll singer at the Pier just a few years before I joined the ranks of pop groups from around '63/64. I joined the Unforgiven in 1965 and this story can be seen on my other page named Biography and teamed up with the very talented Eddie Harnett who later joined forces with Rick Champion.

Both Rick and Eddie moved to the USA in the Seventies and are still in touch with each other. Eddie is mentioned on my Groups 1 page and Rick has been living in Las Vegas, still playing bass and singing with a resident house band till 2am!

    Gary Rowe - rhythm
    Dave Mitchell - lead
    Steve Faithful - drums
    Ian Rogers   - lead vocals
    Rick champion - Bass

Note the old favourite Linear Concord amp on the bottom left! We all remember those glowing valves through the mesh grille and only some 30-50 watts to use as a p.a. amp! Many a careless musician placed a jacket or something else on top which soon started to burn as well as blowing the valves up as they overheated - great days.

We Three also worked on a cruise ship - The Monte Toledo out of Bilbao Spain and when later joined by Eddie Harnett and Danny Barbour they became a heavier land based band called Parrot. This photo sums up one of Rick's stunts when riding a motorbike in drag! (No - he's not.......)

How about this rare photo of Danny Barbour when out in Holland with the band! They set him up for this picture and his expression really sums up the daft things we all did - and still do! Danny stayed in Holland and has little contact with the UK and I am told that he no longer plays drums, but is remembered with much fondness by so many Southampton musicians who knew and/or played with him. Many drummers are slightly 'mad' and Danny certainly had some crazy moments in between being a superb musician, playing with loads of different groups over the years.

Parrot is also listed in Southern Roots with Jim Hewson (keys) and being formed out of Charleys World Premiere. Eddie later went into 'Hair' the West End musical for a year as an acting/singing role for a year. He then teamed up with Rick and Jim Hewson with new bands of Creation and Lazy Face before moving to the USA in the late Seventies as did Rick who is currently playing with a house band in central Las Vegas. If you ever pass by then check out Harrah's Casino which features top rated entertainers with the very popular Toby Keith Showbar and featuring a very talented C&W singer Tony Marques. Rick plays bass and vocals with loads of crazy stage antics that the Americans and foreign tourists love to pieces - here is a recent photo in which a scary 'lounge lizard' gets in amongst the girls as he belts out 'Sweet Caroline' Lucky sod..........

STOP PRESS: August 2008

Just had a mail from John Walker - he drums and sings on alternate Wednesdays at J.V.s Restaurant at Falls Church Virginia - not far from Washington D.C. on the East Coast. Great houseband called the Martha Capone Band who kick off the open mike/jam sessions. Not sure if Martha is related to Al so be careful how you speak to her if passing!

Go to this YouTube link to see them in action!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-MilLU2Juw

Or go to J.V.S own website: http://www.jvsrestaurant.com/index.php

Hi Dave still keeping up to date with your fantastic website. Have been in contact with two ex band members Ricky Champion in Las Vegas and Steve Faithful back home in Southampton thanks to your site. Just finished a 10 week gig in Majorca and managed to find the 3 photos that I have attached. Hope you will have room to add them the first Misty Blue were Gerry Gurr - John Bendall, - Leanne, Dennis on keyboards, Graham on bass cant remember the tenor sax players name. Silhouette picture taken on the stairs of the club must have been 1970/1971 Gerry Gurr, John bendall, Neil Hibberd on bass, George on keyboards, Tina . Pluto picture taken in Kuala Lumpur 1972 Gerry Gurr,John Bendall, Ricky Champion on bass and Steve Faithful on drums. I first started playing drums in 1966 with Mike Nevitt Mike Gaston and Steve Wholegate.Many thanks Dave please keep up the good work. John Bendall

I scrolled down the page and found Mail from John Bendall (as above)

The sax player was me! How I came to be in the band is as follows . . .

I had received a phone-call from Gerry Gurr when I was working full-time at Lonsdake Technical in Shirley. The conversation went something like "You don't know me, my name is Gerry Gurr and I run a band called Misty Blue. We've got an audition for Warners Holiday Camp in Hayling Island and the booker has asked for a sax player. I usually use Ronnie Taylor (!) but he's not available". He paid me a days money and gave me that amazing blue shirt to wear at the audition. It went well and Misty Blue got the job. Gerry said "we wouldn't have got it without you". And offered me the gig. So, for 14 weeks I became a member of the band. I remember Leanne and the guys were great to work with. I heard from Gerry many years later that Dennis Smith (Smev) had gone on to work as a producer at the Police's studio in Montserrat. I think Graham moved to Germany where he pursued a career in music. I haven't seen or heard from John Bendall so here's your chance John . . . drop me an e-mail!

My history, in brief:

1957 The Bert Turner Quintet Cliff Turner Drums

Pete Dawkins Guitar

John Betts Trumpet

Paul Baker Piano (later of the Playboys)

Sid Carter Clarinet + vocals

1960 The Malcolm John Five Alan Grandy Guitar

Harry Kenny Piano

Alan Tizzard String Bass

Brian Rickard Drums

Sid Carter Clarinet + vocals

George Powell Vocals

The MJ5 played at the Sir Walter Tyrell and was very successful there. Alan Grandy was a strong minded leader and the band played material that was a million miles away from any of the other local bands. The only concession to popular music was me playing the Monty Sunshine instrumental Petite Fleur and Acker Bilk's Stranger on the Shore. George Powell was a powerful vocalist and a great hit with the ladies. I recently met up with Alan Tizzard and Brian Rickard. It was our first meeting for well over 40 years! If anyone has any Sir Walter Tyrell reminiscences I'd love to hear them.

I have continued to play. In the 70's I took a band (Hallmark) to Germany. The drummer was Larry Tolfree (who went on to play with Joe Jackson) and the Bass player was the sadly missed Pat Bond. I still have my own band, Sunflower, which has been going for over 30 years. I'm fortunate to be working with Pete Smith guitar, Bob Phillips Bass, Rich Daniels Keyboard and Stewart Marshall on drums.
I hope you find something of interest in this mail!

Cheers! Sid Carter

I am in regular contact with Rick Champion and he will be sending me some more photos and info on his very long career in the business and he is still one of us lucky ones who are still making a living out of it after all these years. Likewise - check out Jimmy Keys who also emigrated to the USA and developed a very successful comedy musical act and is working nonstop all over the world! His own website has some great video-clips of Jimmy in action and he has established himself as one of the top Brit acts across America and beyond. He would also love to hear from any old pals who worked with him during his own years on the group scene. This is a recent e-mail that Jimmy sent:

Hi David,

WOW I have just been browsing your web site plus all the amazing history of the Southampton bands and musicians. I take my hat off to you, what a superb job you have done pulling all this information and photos together, it is mind blowing!

I was born Jim Hewson & originally from Gravesend Kent (which along with the Dartford area, also produced many great musicians and famous bands) but moved down to Southampton in the 70's.

I was originally in a band with Southampton guys Rick Champion (great bass player/vocalist who has lived and still plays in bands in Las Vegas) Eddie Harnett (guitar) & Ronnie Allan (drums). I am still in touch a lot with Rick Champion, I will tell him to get in touch with you as many musos in Soton will know him. I know he drops back there from time to time to see family and friends. Also later with Steve Faithful whom I am certain you know. We played around town quite a bit through the 70's under various band names including: We Three/Parrot/Lazy Face we also worked a lot in Holland, Germany & Scandinavia as well as on a cruise ship out of Southampton called "The Monte Toledo"..Aznar Line. We also were the backing band for the great female singer/comedienne Marti Caine & played many of the top northern clubs.

In 1981 I went solo and had a stage name of Jimmy Keys, which I later legally changed my name to and after many years of living and performing in Bermuda I moved to the States where I still live, now in Naples SW Florida. I perform about 120-130 shows a year all over the States, Canada, Bermuda & other countries.

I would love to be in touch with any musicians from Southampton that remember me!! I also used to jam a lot with various guys around the pubs in the area, and recognise quite a lot of the names from your great website.

My website is:

www.jimmykeys.com (made that up all by myself!) plus see video clips on you tube at:

www.youtube.com/jimmykeysLIAR

Please come back soon as this new page will be loaded with so many more memories