Obscure Bands Of The 50's & 60's: 2011

Mike Dee & The Jaywalkers

This Semi-professional West London band first went under the name of "Denny & The Jaywalkers" in late 1960, but their then singer Denny De Banks, who was two years older than the other band members, soon retired. So the rest of the band - lead guitarist Brian Cell, rhythm guitarist Brian Mansell, bass player Dave Tippler and drummer Terry Mabey - auditioned for a replacement and Mick Wheeler from Twickenham eventually came into the picture. Wheeler was originally playing rhythm guitar for another local band The Paragons but wanted to do more singing. Thus they became "Mike Dee & The Jaywalkers" in early 1961 (1).

They were managed by DJ Phil Jay who worked for promoter Larry Parnes, compering his "Star Spangled Nights" tours and rhythm band competitions.

Jay discovered Denny & The Jaywalkers during one of these competitions in Twickenham. He was also managing Frankie Reid & the Casuals and The Conchords, whose vocalist was future Mungo Jerry Ray Dorset (2). The Conchords did some supports to The Jaywalkers and some other gigs and eventually the Sunday night residency at the White Heart pub on the Uxbridge Road in Southall.

Mid-1961, they went for an audition for Don Arden, Gene Vincent's manager, at the 2 i'S coffee bar but Arden was not keen on Brian Cell so they were partnered up with Ritchie Blackmore (3) who was known as "Blackie" at that time, then-lead guitarist with the Dominators, and responded to the advert after missing out on a job with Screaming Lord Sutch.
They therefore got their first big break in early August 1961 when they first supported Gene Vincent at Slough Carlton Ballroom (4).
Then they joined a package tour called "A Star Spangled Night" and headlined by Billy Fury with a bill that consisted of Eden Kane, Karl Denver, The Allisons, Chas McDevitt & Shirley Douglas, Dave Sampson, Gordon Peters... and Peter Jay & The Jaywalkers in November 1961. It was, in fact, only because Shirley Douglas took ill that they got such a prodigious gig as Mick Wheeler recalls (5). Because they were Last minute stand-ins the presence of Peter Jay & The Jaywalkers, who were backing Eden Kane (and later recorded with Joe Meek, "French Can Can '62"), caused some confusion for Wheeler and his pals…
A few days later, Mike Dee & The Jaywalkers supported Gene Vincent again at the Community Centre, Southall.
Blackmore thus took up music professionally, going on the road with them, and gave up his day job as an aircraft radio technician at the Heathrow Airport. By this time he purchased his cherry red Gibson ES835 guitar, identical to the one Chuck Berry used.
The first record he ever made was "Stolen Hours" c/w "My Blue Heaven" with The Jaywalkers for Decca Records, in 1961. They wanted it rocked up , but it got turned down and unfortunately remained unreleased.

During winter 1961, Terry Maybey was hospitalised and Derek "Degsy" Sirmon (who was just 15 at the time), drummer with The Conchords, got asked to step in for The Jaywalkers who gave him a regular job with them...

Mike Dee & the Jaywalkers renamed themselves as the Condors and acted as backing group during a short tour Kestrels and Danny Rivers.

By April 1962, because of the confusion with Peter Jay’s lot, they decided to change their name to the Condors unbeknownst to them… Johnny Milton’s Condors… they were mistakenly booked on the Gary 'US' Bonds/Johnny Burnette/Gene McDaniels package tour… the Kestrels and Danny Rivers… all of whom the Condors were employed to back (package tour - April 21 to May 13, 1962).

When Bernie Watson left the Savages, Blackmore accepted the gig… had to fulfill his commitments as guitarist for The Condors.

Mike Dee later formed The Prophets with Mel Wayne (sax) and Kenny Hope (drums) among others. The band changed name to The All Night Workers in early 1965.

(1) Brian Hosking
"The Jaywalkers were probably the first live band I saw and I was probably about 14... They went under the name of "Denny and the Jaywalkers". Denny looked ever so old to me at that age so he probably retired and they auditioned for a replacement which was the opening for Mick Wheeler who was playing rhythm for another local band but wanted to do more singing. This would have been around 1961.
Throughout this time the line up was Brian Sell Lead guitar, Brian Mansell Rhythm, Dave Tippler Bass and Terrry Mabey drums. The next time I saw them they were "Mike Dee and the Jaywalkers.
This continued for a while until they went for an audition for Don Arden at the 2 i'S coffee bar but Arden was not keen on Brian Sell so they were partnered up with Richie Blackmore who was known as "Blackie" at that time. This was fairly short lived however, as he soon moved on to Sutch and The Outlaws and Brian came back."

(2) Ray Dorset
"The Conchords got mixed up with a DJ called Phil Jay, who had something to do with a local band Frankie Reid & the Casuals and also managed another local band, Mike Dee & The Jaywalkers, their guitarist at the time was Brian Cell and when he left the band he was replaced by Ritchie Blackmore... We did some supports to The Jaywalkers and some other gigs and eventually the Sunday night residency at the White Heart pub on the Uxbridge Road in Southall...
Deg’s was a great natural drummer and one night got asked to step in for The Jaywalkers who gave him a regular job with them and it wasn’t long after that he joined the band of Screaming Lord Sutch that Ritchie Blackmore went to play with."

(3) "Record Collector" #228, August 1998
RC: Your pret proper job was as an aircraft radio technician. When did you decide to take up music professionally?
Ritchie Blackmore: "I was in this band, Mike Dee & the Jaywalkers, who wanted to go on the road. I was sixteen and that was how I started in the profession. We travelled up and down the M1 in a Bedford van, with the back door half-open. It would get really cold.
The first record I ever made was with them in 1961. It was called "My Blue Heaven" and they wanted it rocked up. We did it with Decca Records, but we got turned down."

(4) Mike Dee & The Jaywalkers supported twice Gene Vincent: on Tuesday August 1st 1961 at the Carlton Ballroom, Slough, and then on Sunday November 26th at the Community Centre, Southall, England.

(5-A) Mike Dee & The Jaywalkers were last minute replacements for Shirley Douglas on package tour headlined by Billy Fury & Eden Kane and promoted by Larry Parnes, on Monday November 20th at the Granada , Dartford (Matinee show starting at 6.40pm) and evening show at 8.50pm) and on Tuesday November 21st 1961 at the Guildhall, Portsmouth (Matinee show starting at 6.20pm and evening show at 8.45pm).

(5-B) Mike Wheeler
"We got a phone call… could we come on, at Dartford, and replace Shirley Douglas who took ill. We only did 3 or so gigs. Funnily enough the other Jaywalkers were on that tour because they were backing Eden Kane…"

Derek Sirmon
"Also played Semi-professionally with Mike Dee and the Jaywalkers, when their drummer (Terry Maybey) was hospitalised. That was the band where I first worked with Ritchie Blackmore. It was Ritchie who persuaded Screaming Lord Sutch to recruit me into "The Savages" - Without doubt the hardest driving (and loudest) band in U.K."

Mike Wheeler:
"I knew something was up because it was at Southall Community Centre where we were playing. Sutchy came down and Ritchie was chatting with him and I knew he hadn’t come to see us… The reason Ritchie left really was because we were averaging £10-£15 a week and Sutch offered him £20, plus he was the best payers on the road… a really big pull. That’s why all the big guitarists played with him because he paid so much."

Discography

Singles

Mike Dee & the Jaywalkers
"Stolen Hours" c/w "My Blue Heaven" (Decca, 1961) - Unreleased

Various Line-ups of Mike Dee & The Jaywalkers/The Condors

Denny & The Jaywalkers (Late 1960 – February 1961)

Denny De Banks (Lead Vocals)
Brian Cell (Lead Guitar)
Brian Mansell (Lead Guitar)
Dave Tippler (Bass)
Terry Mabey (Drums)

Mike Dee & The Jaywalkers #1 (February - May 1961)

Mick Wheeler (Lead Vocals) "Mike Dee"
Brian Cell (Lead Guitar)
Brian Mansell (Rhythm Guitar)
Dave Tippler (Bass)
Terry Mabey (Drums)

Mike Dee & The Jaywalkers #2 (July 1961 - April 1962)

Mike Wheeler (Vocals) "Mike Dee"
Ritchie Blackmore (Lead Guitar)
Brian Mansell (Rhythm Guitar)
David Tippler (Bass)
Terry Maybey (Drums)
Derek Sirmon (Drums)

The Condors (April - May 1962)

Mike Wheeler (Lead Vocals) "Mike Dee"
Ritchie Blackmore (Lead Guitar)
Brian Mansell (Rhythm Guitar)
Dave Tippler (Bass)
Terry Maybey (Drums)

Johnny Del & The Deltones

The Deltones were a Croydon-based Rock and Roll band that evolved out of a skiffle group called The Discord Skifflers.
The group is notable as having two fantastic guitarists in their line-ups: Jim Duncombe and Jeff Beck.
Modelled themselves on Gene Vincent & The Blue Caps, they were first known locally as the Blue Caps, backing various Vincent's impersonators such as Johnny Del (real name Derek Burchall), Cal Danger and Ricky Sarsted (before he topped the British charts as "Eden Kane" with "Well I Ask you"). Their original lead guitarist Jim Duncombe was regarded as the ultimate Cliff Gallup disciple (1). Duncombe started to play Neopolitan Mandoline with Rod Lyward & the Hot Rods, and then switched to electric guitar with The Hi Fi Rock’n'Roll Band. By late 1960 he left to visit Hamburg with Sonny Stewart & The Dynamos. Strangely, this is the guy that Rod Lyward had recruited in his latest version of The Hi Fi's who stepped into his shoes: an art school student of sixteen called Jeff Beck (2). But his condition for joining the group was they had to take his school friend John Owen on Rhythm guitar (4).
The band was managed by Roger Jarvie who was very skeptical the first time he saw Beck... with a long cardboard box under his arm (3).
In late 1961, Johnny Del left to join The Crescents, their main competition (4). The Deltones thus became an instrumental band, covering the Shadows hits (5). They auditioned for BBC radio's Saturday Club, playing a rendition of "Cherry Pink Apple Blossom", and financed their own private disc which was recorded at R.G. Jones Studios in Morden (6), Surrey. They also made private recordings during a practise session, which included "Apache", "Sleepwalk" (one of Jeff's favourites even then) and "Driftin' " (7).
They later backed American bluesman Memphis Slim at the Eel Pie Island.

Bass player George Clarke and drummer Mick Godfrey joined Jim Duncombe to play in Germany with his new band, The Continentals in late 1962 (8).
Meanwhile Jeff Beck ended up joining Johnny Del (9) in The Crescents as a replacement for their more oriented Blues lead guitarist Ed Hamilton, just before they changed their name to The Nightshift and appeared at the 3rd National Jazz & Blues Festivals, at the Richmond Athletic Grounds, Surrey.
Beck brought Clarke in The Nightshift for the 4th Richmond Jazz & Blues Festival, on 7 August 1964.

Cal Danger recorded a couple of singles for Fontana records, which were produced by Joe Meek in 1962: “Teenage Girlie Blues” and “Restless”. Danger wasn't related to the late Tony Dangerfield, who also worked with Joe Meek, recording "I've Seen Such Things" in 1964, and was the bassist of Screaming Lord Sutch's Savages for more than 3 decades.
Ricky Sarsted topped the British charts as "Eden Kane" with his 2nd release, "Well I Ask you" in August 1961.

Their Story by Bassist George Clarke

"My first meeting with Jim Duncombe was around 1957 / 58. At the time I was working as an apprentice at a company called Trojan Engineering in Croydon, which had an apprentices club which was allowed to use the works canteen for recreational purposes. My parents had bought me a Stewart accoustic guitar which I was attempting to learn to play and eventually Jim came into the picture and suggested we form a group with him on lead guitar and vocals and me on rhythm guitar. Not being very good, I recall trying to play along on the E string using single notes and eventually Jim asked me to get a bass guitar and play that instead. As we improved, I think Mick Godfrey came in on drums and we started playing at local pubs, with our best gig at the Park Lane Ballroom in Croydon. We were joined by a pianist, Ernie Able who played rock and roll like a maniac! For some reason he didn't stay with us for long.
After a while, Jim came to me and told me he was leaving the band and handed me a piece of paper with a name and address on it and suggested I went to see him with a view to becoming Jim's replacement.
As it happened, the address was familiar to me as I grew up in Wallington and the address was close by.
The name on the paper was... Jeff Beck. I went to see him and asked him if he would like to join the band.
We had a chat about his favourite music, and, like Jim, he idolised Gene Vincent and Cliff Gallup, so he fitted in a treat. More to the point, we fitted in with him!
We styled ourselves on the Blue Caps to the extent of wearing blue suits, white shoes and blue caps. Needless to say, our repertoire was strictly Rock and Roll and we were at the time, known locally as the Blue Caps.
During the following years we played at some of the main dance halls in the area and established a regular weekly booking at the Dowgate Hall in Tonbridge, Kent.

By this time we had collected a rhythm guitarist, John Owen who was a friend of Jeff's and a singer, called Derek Burchall. Somewhere along the line we changed our name to The Deltones, Del being a nickname for "Derek".
Because we had established ourselves locally, in order to improve our sound, Jeff bought a Fender Strat, John a Telecaster and I bought a Fender Precision Bass. Jeff frequently used John's Telecaster as it had more treble than the Strat.
Our amplifiers left a lot to be desired, but we probably didn't know that then!
One thing we did buy was a Watkins Copy Cat, but the tape kept breaking so eventually we bought a Binson Echorec, a vast improvement.
I think, at the time Jeff was very much into Cliff Gallup and also Scotty Moore with some Les Paul thrown in.

During the life of the Deltones, we met up with another local singer by the name of Ricky Sarsted, better known as Eden Kane.
We auditioned with him to become his backing group, but at the time we were not into doing dance steps, and Jeff was adamant he wasn't going to do it, so it didn't go any further. We did, however back Eden at local events, some of which were entirely unsuitable for a rock group with a lead guitarist who played with so much treble it would cut your ears off at 50 metres!!
Eden became established and we continued on our merry way.

Another stage in my association with Jeff was the arrival on the scene of a character named Cal Danger who modelled himself on Gene Vincent, complete with limp, black leathers and a similar hairstyle.
On one occassion we were late due to the fact that the van carrying our gear had two punctures on the way there, the first being easily dealt with by fitting the spare wheel, but we had to get the second puncture repaired which is what made us late. Del was still with us at this point. Needless to say, the hall manager was not happy and our manager who I think was Roger Jarvie said to him "pay us more and we'll be on time" The manager's response was to inform, us that this would be our last booking; ie we were sacked!

A while later either Roger Jarvie or his friend unbeknown to the band, phoned the Dowgate Hall manager under a false name and asked him if he would like to book Gene Vincent and the Blue Caps at his venue. Naturally, he said yes.

We played the gig with the lights in the hall off, ostensibly to promote "atmosphere", but in truth, the main reason was to prevent any-one getting a good look at "Gene" - Cal Danger. The evening was a great success and we went down well with the crowd.

Next came a phone call to our manager asking if he had Gene Vincent on his books, the upshot being we were booked to play in Newmarket which was about 90 miles away from my home.
It transpired that the rest of the group, including the manager were asked to meet up with the promoter in London, which they did. Upon arrival Roger Jarvie was approached and asked if Gene Vincent was in the van, to which he replied in the affirmative. At this point, I think the group was arrested, as the promoter was Don Arden, the real manager of Gene Vincent in the UK. I missed all the excitement cause I was not in the van with the rest of the group !! I had gone to Newmarket straight from work on my own.

To conclude, we were ordered to attend the The Old Bailey to face charges of deception. The press were all over us so we were sort of basking in the glory, but we didn't have to go in and all that happened was that we had a restraining order placed on us never to wear blue caps etc..
Cal Danger broke down and was in a sorry state and the press walked away!

Some of our best gigs were at venues such as Eel Pie Island where we backed Memphis Slim.
I am not sure what happened from there on with the Deltones. Jeff may have left the band or I may have just drifted away... I recall getting involved with a group called the Nightshift at the Richmond Jazz Festival..."

Notes
(1) Jim Duncombe
"About 1957 after a dispute I left the Hi Fi’s and joined “The Deltones”. We rehearsed at the Trojan Works in South Croydon on Thursday nights and Jeff Beck used to come along to watch. I’m the ultimate Cliff Gallup disciple and could play some of his soli and had made an Echo Machine from an “Elizabethan” tape recorder.Jeff couldn’t wait to play over it."
Jeff took my place when I left the Deltones to join “Sonny Stewart & the Dynamos”.

(2) Jim Duncombe (from his website)
"So a guy called Jeff Beck a friend of my school days, attended all our rehearsals. Later Jeff filled my place as lead guitarist and became a famous musician himself.
I can't really remember how Jeff and I first met, so I'll start with the "Deltones" rehearsals at the "Trojan" works. Jeff appeared there with his friend Ian Buisel. I was lead guitar with The Deltones....and I had made was the first "Tape Echo" unit in the UK.

The Echo consisted of an "Elizabethan" tape recorder with a second reply head glued onto the deck to give the same delay Gene Vincent's early albums had... Jeff and I used to jam together at the rehearsals and occasionally, somewhat reluctantly, I'd let him plug into my Echo box.
Jeff may have been about 16 or 17 then and the year could have been 1959/60.

I remember that Sonny Stewart asked me to join his band "Sonny Stewart & The Dynamo's".
Jeff took my place with "Derek Burchall & The Deltones" and I last saw him play with them at Saint Margaret's Hall in Putney. He had progressed amazingly and had a (Watkins "Copy-Cat" I believe) echobox. They played Gene's "I've Got to Get to You Yet" and it sounded too good."

(3) Jeff Beck, Crazy Fingers (2001) - Annette Carson p.14-15
It was while playing the Burns that Beck made the next significant move in his career, which involved approaching a band that had quite a following in the local area (South of London): they were called The Deltones.

"That was the hot item around our way. I used to see this van with 'Deltones' written on it, and I loved the name, and they also had pink jackets, which I thought was great. Then I was asked to go down to see them, and this guy called Ian Duncan (Jim Duncombe), who was fabulous, was leaving them, and I thought, 'My God, how am I going to fill his shoes?' He said, 'Look, I'll bugger off for a cup of tea, so you have a play and see how you get on,' and from that moment on, I realized there was a job for me there, because I was playing the solos off pat - but that was what they wanted, solos like the record. If they'd asked what else I could play, I'd have been finished… so I was knocked out, skipping home, and they said, “You’re playing at Putney Ballroom.”

The Deltones had metamorphosed from a skiffle group, the Discord Skifflers, into a pop group with the arrival of their boyish new lead singer, Derek Burchell-rechristened Johnny Del by the group's manager, Roger Jarvie - who bad a nice line in Cliff Richard songs like "Living Doll". So they'd switched to successful covers of the chart-topping Cliff, featuring on lead guitar "a little lefthanded genius named lan Duncan," (Jim Duncombe) as Jarvie describes him. Their previous gigs around the jazz clubs gradually gave way to regular spots at dance halls like the Wimbledon Palais, Hammersmith Palais, Park Lane Ballroom, and Tonbridge Dance Club; they even auditioned for BBC radio's Saturday Club and financed their own private disc.

Beck's chance came when Duncan (Duncombe) accepted a job as backing guitar for a new young singer, the brother of one of Britain's already rising popstars, Eden Kane; the young singer in question was Peter Sarstedt. The Deltones knew Beck as one of the regulars in their audience, but the idea of auditioning him was another proposition altogether-the lad was an art school student of sixteen, and the rest of the band members were in their early twenties. But they had nobody else lining up for the job, so one Thursday night they asked him along to a rehearsal in Croydon at Bowaters' Canteen on Purley Way. Beck appeared with a long cardboard box under his arm, leading the skeptical Roger Jarvie to wonder what kind of junk ay inside. "Then he opened it," Jarvie continues, "and took out an instrument that made all the rest of our equipment look ready for the scrap yard: the most beautiful red and gold Burns London guitar. And when he started playing we simply froze in disbelief - he was magic."
Beck’s condition for joining the group was they had to take his school friend John Owen on Rhythm guitar...

"About that time my mate bought a Telecaster. £107 it cost him. It was a beauty, and I was stuck with this bloody Burns thing. So while I was in the group he played the Burns and I played the Tele."

(4) John Owen
"Jeff Beck and i were school friends and both liked this great sound that the Blue caps were making. .. It is true that Jeff used to play my Telecaster and i played the Burns ,he used to make it sing !Even when he got his Stratocaster he still used to use the Tele for some of the songs."

(5) Harvey Hinsley
"Our manager Paddy Jones liked Johnny Dell and stole him from the Deltones. This would be late '61 or early'62."

(6) R.G. Jones Studios
were recording studios run by Sound engineer Ronald Godfrey Jones Jr. in Morden, Surrey.
The Crescents recorded their demo disc “Wedding Bells” b/w “Morgan” there, as well as The Rollingstones "It's All Right Babe" b/w "Pretty Thing I".

(7) George Clarke
"Our main interest in the Shadows/Hank Marvin was to try to be the first group to play their hits on stage."

(8) Jim Duncombe
"Jeff Beck auditioned for Rhythm guitar part for my cover band in Germany but although we got on great, he wasn’t right for the band - much too erratic, meaning creative. Lucky for posterity I turned him down…"

(9) Derek Burchall (Johnny Del) who preferred the likes of Frank Sinatra, re-joined and left The Crescents several times between late '61 and spring '63.

Recordings
The Deltones made a demo record: "Cherry Pink Apple Blossom"
Private recordings: "Apache", "Sleepwalk" and "Driftin'".

Line ups of The Deltones

The Discord Skifflers/The Blue Caps/The Deltones (Late 1957 - Late 1960)

Jim Duncombe (Lead Guitar/Vocals)
George Clarke (Rhythm Guitar)
Ernie Able (Piano)
Mick Godfrey (Drums)

Johnny Del & The Deltones (Late 1960 - Late 1961)

Derek Burchall (Lead Vocals) "Johnny Del"
Jefferey Beck (Lead Guitar) "Jeff Beck"
John Owen (Rhythm Guitar)
George Clarke (Bass)
Mick Godfrey (Drums)

Cal Danger & The "Blue Caps" (Late 1961)

Gordon Patterson (Lead Vocals) "Cal Danger"
Jefferey Beck (Lead Guitar) "Jeff Beck"
John Owen (Rhythm Guitar)
George Clarke (Bass)
Mick Godfrey (Drums)

The Continentals #1 (Late 1962 - Summer 1963)

Jim Duncombe (Lead Guitar/Vocals)
Joe Cunningham (Rhythm Guitar)
George Clarke (Bass)
Ian Thomas (Tenor Sax)
Mick Godfrey (Drums)

The Nightshift #4 (August 1964)

Brian Wiles (Lead Vocals/Harmonica)
Jeff Beck (Lead Guitar)
Tony Finch (Rhythm Guitar)
George Clarke (Bass)
Dave Elridge (Drums)

Special thanks to Jim Duncombe, George Clarke, John Owen, Harvey Hinsley, Ed Hamilton, and many others

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Pat Cresswell & The Cresters

In 1957, Pat Cresswell was working as an interior designer at Hadfields Paint Company in Western Road, Mitcham, Surrey, when he put together his first group “The Blue Hounds” with Colin Johnson on bass and Ian Robinson on Drums. After winning a Skiffle competition at the Baths Hall in Mitcham, covering Carl Perkins' "Honey Dont", Cresswell decided to play only Rock'n'Roll and reorganized the band. He then hired lead guitarist Peter Budd (who worked at Hadfields as well) and his friend Geoffrey Fraser on rhythm guitar (1). Fraser however left shortly after and was replaced by Brian Maidment.
The name was changed to “Pat Cresswell & The Crescents”, after Pat's surname, just because it was thought that the Crescents sounded better for the group (2). At the time, they were playing mostly Gene Vincent and Eddie Cochran material.

In late 1958, while they were supporting Bert Weedon at a Saturday morning show at the Hammersmith Odeon Cinema, the Crescents were asked to back a new singer who had the same clothes that Pat Cresswell had: a Light Gray jacket, black shirt and black pants. His name was Brian Holden, and was later changed to Vince Taylor...

Pat Cresswell & the Crescents later recorded some demos that were never released for sales, and included "What I'd Say", "Whole lotta Of Shaking Going On", "Brand new Cadillac", "I want You To Know", "Dreaming", "Living Doll", "Never Mind", and "Cresta Run" (an instrumental written by Peter Budd).

By then they became very well known in the West London area - playing residencies at large ballrooms such as the Boat house at Kew Bridge, the Airport Bowl at Heathrow - playing five nights a week.
By mid-59, Peter Budd moved to Rodney Ward & the Hi Fi's, replacing a young Jeff Beck (3), who then joined The Deltones (as a replacement for Jim Duncombe).
As a result, Pat Cresswell recruited bass player Ray Halsey and guitarist Harvey Hinsley both from Davy & the Cats.
He later threw Ian Robinson out and brought the remaining Cat, John Aldridge in on drums. They were also augmented by saxophone player Neville Hounslow. They needed him for Duane Eddy and Johnny & the Hurricanes stuff. But this was a fairly short-lived line-up as Cresswell finally left in turn at the end of 1960 and tried to form a band with a lead guitarist and a bass guitarist plus Mitch Mitchell (Georgie Fame, Jimi Hendrix ect.) who overplayed. The quartet played for the one and only gig in Southall Middlesex but it didnt work (4). So that Pete Lindsey, promoter of gigs, wouldn't take them on.

Pat Cresswell then decided to form the Cresters , after the name "Crester Run", with Peter Budd on lead, and the remaining Cats, Sydney Hayden on Rhythm Guitar and John Aldrich on Drums, plus Dave Strugnall on Bass guitar. After this Lindsey gave them gigs. A few months later, Cresswell left and the Cresters kept together with a new singer before resuming as an instrumental band.

Peter Budd left in 1962 to join Sonny Stewart & The dynamoes in Germany. He later worked with Dave Dacosta & the Strollers, Rory Blackwell, Earl Sheridan & the House Shakers, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Gene Vincent amongst others.

In the meanwhile, Pat Cresswell joined a band called "The Starfires" as the singer... He then formed a couple of duos and finished up playing guitar and singing on his own with backing tracks (5)."

(1) Peter Budd and Geoffrey Fraser both from a South London-based outfit called the “Blue Suedes”

(2) Pat Cresswell
"After the skiffle went out of style, we started "The Blue Hounds" group. It was when Pete Budd and Brian Maidment joined that the name was changed to the Crescents because of my name Cresswell. It was thought that the Crescents sounded better for the group."

(3) Peter Budd
"When I first practiced with Rodney Ward there was a reel to reel tape recorder sitting there and I asked Rodney who is belonged to? He said the last guitar player. It had an extra head to get an echo sound so I used it for the rehearsal. Suddenly the door opened and in walks this young kid and swore at me as it belonged to him. He took it away and his name was Jeff Beck...
Jeff and I went to the same school. Elmwood Park high School in Beddington South London. He was a couple of years younger..."

(4) Pat Cresswell
"When I left the Crescents, I met a lead guitarist and a bass guitarist and we got together to try to form a band, I phoned a drummer who I think was Mitch Mitchell and we played for the one and only gig in Southall Middlesex...It was rubbish!"

(5) Pat Cresswell
"I met Peter Budd again, and with the drummer from the Crescent, the Cresters were formed, with Sid Hayden and a bass guitarist.
Peter played more instrumentals--and the same as the crescents "hits" of the day and rock/roll etc.
I think the Cresters were from the name "Crester Run".
After a while I left , the Cresters kept together and in the meanwhile I joined a band called "The Starfires" as the singer... That was the last band I was in, since then I've been in a couple of duos and finished up playing guitar and singing on my own with backing tracks."

Discography

Demo LP: "What I'd Say", "Whole lotta Of Shaking Going On", "Brand new Cadillac", "I want You To Know", "Dreaming", "Living Doll", "Never Mind", "Cresta Run"...

Line-ups of The Crescents, The Crestas and of Davy & The Cats

Davy & The Cats (1957 - Mid 1959)

Sydney Haydon (Lead Vocals/Rhythm Guitar)
Harvey Hinsley (Lead Guitar)
Ron Maun (Rhythm Guitar)
Ray Halsey (Bass)
John Aldrich (Drums)

Pat Cresswell & The Crescents #1 (Late 1957 - Mid 1959)

Pat Creswell (Lead Vocals)
Peter Budd (Lead Guitar)
Geoffrey Fraser (Rhythm Guitar)
Brian Maidment (Rhythm Guitar)
Collin Johnson (Bass)
Ian Robinson (Drums)

Pat Cresswell & The Crescents #2 (Mid 1959 - Late 1960)

Pat Creswell (Lead Vocals)
Harvey Hinsley (Lead Guitar)
Brian Maidment (Rhythm Guitar)
Ray Halsey (Bass)
Neville Hounslow (Tenor Sax)
Ian Robinson then John Aldrich (Drums)

Pat Cresswell & The Crestas (Early 1961 - 1962)

Pat Creswell (Lead Vocals)
Peter Budd (Lead Guitar)
Sydney Haydon (Rhythm Guitar)
Dave Strugnall (Bass)
John Aldrich (Drums)

The Crestas (1962 - 1963)

Peter Budd (Lead Guitar)
Sydney Haydon (Rhythm Guitar)
Dave Strugnall (Bass)
John Aldrich (Drums)

Pat Cresswell & The Starfires (1962)

Pat Creswell (Lead Vocals)
Rich ?? (Lead Guitar)
Terry Dwyer (Rhythm Guitar)
Ron Price (Bass)
Les Green (Drums)

Special thanks to Pat Creswell, Peter Budd, Harvey Hinsley, John Aldrich, Sydney Haydon and many others

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Sonny Stewart & The Dynamos

Arthur Champerlain alias "Sonny Stewart" and his professional band "The Dynamos" were very popular first in southern London and then in Western Germany during the early 60's. Their repertoire was the hits of the US charts and some Country and Western, playing Marty Robbins, Bob Luman, The Everly Brothers, Little Richard, Chubby Checker with his famous "Twist again" and The Fly".
The original Dynamoes consisted of guitarist Pat O'Grady, bassist Douggie Reece, pianist Les Smith who was then studying architecture, and drummer Ernie O'Malley. They all met up while working at the 2i's coffee bar in Old Compton Street, Soho. They started playing in the local clubs and the US airbases like Chicksands, Laken Heath, Brise Norton and Bushy Park and performed even on BBC Radio show "Saturday Club" during 1959.
By 1960, Tony Collins replaced O'Grady. At the end of the year, there was some unrest with Sonny Stewart and his management, so it was decided to part company. When Chris Wayne was asked to supported Gene Vincent again in early 1961, he recruited drummer Laurie Jay, from Nero & The Gladiators, and the rest of The Dynamos - apart from Ernie O'Malley (1) - to be his new set of Echoes (who later backed Dusty Springfield from 1963).
Meanwhile Stewart formed another group, recruiting guitarist Jim Duncombe (2) from the Deltones and bass player Frank Jackson formerly with Rodney Ward & the Hi Fi’s. The Dynamos then went off to find other work, first doing some gigs with Eden Cane before finally moving to Hamburg, Germany.

In August 1961, they started an engagement in Hamburg's famous scene club, the Top Ten at Reeperbahn 105, taking over from the Beatles. They played there nonstop daily from 17.00 hrs to 07.00 hrs in the morning.

After a gig in Hanau, Germany, in which Duncombe took over vocals, a local club owner called Aaron Brown supported his intention to found his own band, when finally he left the Dynamos in late 1962.
Peter Budd from The Crestas, an acquaintance of Jackson's, stepped into his shoes (3). They kept playing clubs in Hamburg, but also in Frankfurt and other towns in Germany, France, Belgium, Italy and the Scandinavian countries. They opened up for Bill Haley's band many times at American Bases.
In late 1964, drummer Dave Constable and Peter Budd went with Dave Dacosta & the Strollers.
Sonny Stewart eventually teamed up with the Tony Dangerfield's Thrills and toured Star Club circuit in Germany whilst their singer was in the UK promoting the record "I've seen sutch things."

Peter Budd kept playing guitar with Earl Sheridan & the House Shakers, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Gene Vincent amongst others. David Constable kept beating the skins for Dickie Pride. Jeff Pullem later joined Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band, and he's now a reknown Language Author.
Arthur Champerlain (Sonny Stewart) left music business and now lives in Adalaide, Australia.

Notes:

(1) Ernie O'Malley later played with The Cy Laurie's jazz band, The Blues By Six and then Long John Baldry & The Hoochie Coochie Men

(2) Jim Duncombe
"Jeff beck took my place when I left the Deltones to join “Sonny Stewart & the Dynamos”...
Sonny Stewart and his professional band "The Dynamos" was already popular in southern London when I joined end of 1960. We played in the local clubs and the US airbases and came even as far as Birmingham.
In August 1961 we started an engagement in Hamburg's famous scene club, the Top Ten at Reeperbahn 105, shortly after the Beatles had played there. Certainly hard work as we stepped into their path, playing nonstop daily from 17.00 hrs to 07.00 hrs in the morning. During this time I learned a lot from Tony Sheridan, the club's singer. During a replacement due to illness of both Tony and Sonny, I started singing, too...
During a gig in Hanau, Germany, Aaron Brown, a local club owner, supported my intention to found my own band late 1962, when finally I left Sonny Steward and the Dynamos."

(3) Peter Budd
"One day I got a letter from Frank Jackson, an old friend and bass player who I played with in the “Rodney Ward and the Hi Fi’s” band some time back. The letter was from Germany and asked if I knew a guitarist that would want to replace Jimmy Duncombe who was leaving “Sonny Stewart and the Dynamos”. Jimmy was a great guitarist, and even gave Jeff Beck some lessons at one time. I left for Germany the same week!
I spent a few years with Sonny Stewart, playing clubs in Hamburg, Frankfurt and about every city and town in Germany, France, Belgium, Italy and the Scandinavian countries. One of these clubs was the Star Club - now famous as an early ‘learning’ venue for the Beatles and other (then) ‘undiscovered’ groups... By and large we were treated well, but it was still a good idea to keep an eye on the ‘backstage door’ when the patrons got “good and tanked”!... With Sonny's band we opened up for Bill Haley's band many times at American Basses.
After the stint with Sonny Stewart, Dave Constable and I went with “Dave Dacosta and the Strollers”.

(4) Ron - "The Elf" - Blackie
"I was known as the Elf in Tony Dangerfield & the Thrills!!... whilst Tony was in UK promoting the record 'I've seen sutch things' and we were working in Germany for Sonny Stewart - we were then his Dynamos and played with King Size Taylor too."

Various Line-ups of Sonny Stewart & The Dynamos

Sonny Stewart & The Dynamos #1 (Early 1959 - Late 1960)

Arthur Champerlain (Lead Vocals) "Sonny Stewart"
Pat O'Grady (Lead Guitar)
Tony Collins (Lead Guitar)
Douglas Reece (Bass/Vocals) "Douggie Reece"
Lester Smith (Keyboards) "Les Smith"
Ernie O'Malley (Drums)

Sonny Stewart & The Dynamos #2 (Late 1960 - Late 1962)

Arthur Champerlain (Lead Vocals) "Sonny Stewart"
Jim Duncombe (Lead Guitar/Vocals)
Frank Jackson (Bass)
Roger King (Keyboards)
Dave Constable (Drums)

Sonny Stewart & The Dynamos #3 (Early 1963 - Late 1964)

Arthur Champerlain (Lead Vocals) "Sonny Stewart"
Peter Budd (Lead Guitar)
Frank Jackson (Bass)
Jeff Pullem (Keyboards)
Dave Constable (Drums)

Sonny Stewart & The Dynamos #4 (Early 1965)

Arthur Champerlain (Lead Vocals) "Sonny Stewart"
John Bedder (Lead Guitar)
Ron Blackie (Bass) "The Elfe"
Mike Benson (Keyboards)
Neil Norman (Drums)

Special thanks to Jim Duncombe, Peter Budd, and many others

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Messageboard

The Ealing Club Blue Plaque Gigs
To raise the final funds for the Ealing Club plaque, we have managed to put together three nights of music, featuring many musicians who realise the importance of the venue and are offering their time and input to help celebrate it.

22nd November:
The Hubcaps - Blues Covers and Original Material, with a very accomplished Harmonica Player at the helm.
The Bolaji Blues Band - Searing Blues Guitar will be on offer from this local band, who are rapidly sealing a reputation for their interpretation, of well known blues classics.
Brace Yourself - Following their brushes with Banksy in their former guise as Exit through the Gift Shop, this band entertained and went down a storm at their last Ealing Club Fringe performance. Guitar covers of 70′s/80′s 90′s and 00 $B!ls classics.

23rd November:
Live music on Wednesday, will have a tinge of Jazz with the band Fallen Heroes, who have already graced the Liverpool Jazz Festival and Ronnie Scotts. Cyril Davies may not have approved of the brass section but maybe Alexis would have given it a go.
The night will be hosted by Swamprock Dj’s Carol Lateman and Nigel Bewley. Sure to be lively, upbeat and of the highest quality. http://thefallenheroes.com/

24th November:
The Blues Tribute night on Thursday will serve up the Blues ……Robert Hokum/Guvnors, Norrie Burnett (British Blues pioneer who even played with C yril Davies) Doc Stenson (Singer, Guitar and Harmonica player, who played with Alexis Korner and entertained audiences at the July Ealing Fringe Gigs) with Ramon Goose and Geoff Garbow

Please e-mail us to reserve a place on the door, as we will limit the audience to 100 per night.

Please find enclosed a copy of the poster. More details available on the websites:

many thanks

Alistair

www.ealing-club.com
www.facebook.com/ealingclub

About The Prowlers

Alan Davies (singer) worked as a clerk then joined the British Army in the 1970s.
We heard that later he had become a journalist and was living in Denmark.
It is not known if he continued with his singing.
We would love to get in touch with him if anyone knows his present contact details.

The League of Gentlemen

Bruce Welsh from Canada is doing some work on a mid 60s British band The League of Gentlemen for his forthcoming encyclopaedya.

If you have info about The League of Gentlemen whose line-up included Jonathan Kent - vocals, Ron Cleave - guitar & vocals, Ron Thomas - rhythm guitar, Jeff Bartley - bass, Joel James - sax, Ray Steadman - drums.

This was a different band from the Bournemouth band, whose original line-up included Gordon Haskell and Robert Fripp. Those one were the backing group for various black US soul stars who toured the UK, released a couple of singles for Columbia and Planet in 1965/6, and played at Manchester Oasis in spring '66.

Please contact us at tomusicstorytellers@gmail.com

Blues by Five Resurected are playing at The Moraira Music Festival in Spain 12th June 2011.

Original members Len Ashley Vocals / Harp and Ron Faulkner Lead Guitar Vocals

Wanted

Lauren said...: Hiya, i wondered if anyone could help me, i am looking to get in touch with a John Cobb aka Johnny Vance, If anyone has any details of his whereabouts i would be extremely grateful

Thanks

If you can have information about Brian Howard & his Silhouettes
Please contact us with any further information at: tomusicstorytellers@gmail.com

If you are searching for something on bands of those faraway decades too,
you can also leave a message here or at the bottom of this page

Buddy Britten & The Regents
Alan James about Buddy Britten & The Regents
"I played bass for the Simon Raverne Trio 1968-1969.We toured Europe doing us bases ect. and was resident band at Les Arches in Jersey.I have very fond menories of that time...It would be nice to hear from Simon (Geoff or Eddie Thorpe) or anybody else who knew us or played in the band before or after me"
http://www.forgottenbands.blogspot.com/2009/10/buddy-britten-regents.html

Winston G The Wicked
LEE JONES about Winston G The Wicked
"Hi my old man was the bass player in the fox... I'm not sure what era of the band he falls into but his name is Chris Jones and did record with the band and toured Germany with them. I'm actually trying to find out which recording he is featured on. If anyone could help please contact me." LEE JONES

Saxplayer Ian Thomas
Peter C.Budd would like to get in touch again with saxplayer Ian Thomas who played with Jimmy Duncombe and in Dave DaCostas band in Germany and France.
If anyone knows what happened to Ian, please contact us at tomusicstorytellers@gmail.com

CAN ANYONE HELP?

My Name Is TONY CHARMAN
Back In The 60s I Was The Bass Player In A Band With CARL DOUGLAS (Kung Fu Fighting) When The Band Ended I Started
Rehearsals With A Band (Please See Picture) I Am Top Right In The Picture
I Can’t Remember The Name Of The Band Or The Members
Can Any Body Help ?
If So Please Contact Me
Tony Charman
At tonys.taunton@hotmail.com
Thank You

Musicians Index

·Guitarists

Jeff Beck [The Yardbirds, Jeff Beck Group]

Johnny Del & The Deltones (1960-1962)
Brian Howard & The Silhouettes (1962)
The Crescents/Nightshift (1963)
Screaming Lord Sutch & The Savages (1964)

Ritchie Blackmore [Deep Purple, Rainbow]

Bobbie & The Dominators (1959-1961)
Mike Dee & The Jaywalkers (1961-1962)
Screaming Lord Sutch & The Savages (1962/1965/1966)
The Outlaws (1962-1964)
Heinz & The Wild Boys (1964)
Rikki Maiocchi & The Trip (1966)

Pete Budd [Gene Vincent Band]

Pat Cresswell & The Crescents (1957-1959)
Pat Cresswell & The Cresters (1961)
Sonny Stewart & The Dynamos (1963-1964)

Jim Duncombe [Jimmy & The Rackets]

Johnny Del & The Deltones (1959-1960)
Sonny Stewart & The Dynamos (1960-1962)

Ed Hamilton [The Outlaws, Black Claw, Fast Buck]

The Crescents (1961-1963)
Nightshift (1963)
The Outlaws (1965)

Tony Harvey

Vince Taylor & The Playboys (1958 - 1959, 1960 - 1963)
Clay Nicholls & The Blue Flames (1959)
Nero & The Gladiators (1961)

Ernie Hayes [Sonny Childe & T'N'T]

Derry Wilkie & The Others (1964 - 1965)
Screaming Lord Sutch & The Savages (1965-1966)

Harvey Hinsley [The Doves, The Rebel Rousers, Black Claw, Hot Chocolate]

The Crescents (1959-1963)
The Outlaws (1964-1965)
Screaming Lord Sutch & The Savages (1965)

Mick Jones [Foreigner, Wonderwheel]

Nero & The Gladiators (1963-1964)

Al Kirtley

Dave Anthony & The Ravers (1960)
Screaming Lord Sutch & The Ravers (1960)

Joe Moretti

Jimmy Page [The Yardbirds, Led Zeppelin]

Malcolm Austin & The Whirlwinds (1959)
Red E. Lewis & The Redcaps (1960)
Neil Christian & The Crusaders (1961-1962)
Carter-Lewis & The Southerners (1963-1964)
Brian Howard & The Silhouettes (1963-1964)
Mike Hurst & The Method (1964)
Mickey Finn & The Blue Men (1964)
Screaming Lord Sutch & The Savages (1964)

Ged Peck

Chris Lamb & The Universals (1966)
Screaming Lord Sutch & The Savages (1967)

Noel Redding [Jimi Hendrix Experience, Fat Mattress]

Neil Landon & The Burnettes (1962/1964-1965)
Screaming Lord Sutch & The Savages (1966)

Stuart Taylor [The Tornados]

Paul Dean & The Dreamers (1960-1963)
Screaming Lord Sutch & The Savages (1963)
Paul Dean & The Soul Savages/The Thoughts (1965-1966)

Anthony "Top" Topham [The Yardbirds]

Fox & Whip (1967-1968)

Dave Wendells [Tom Jones, Black Claw,Hot Chocolate]

The Crescents (1959-1963)
Screaming Lord Sutch & The Savages (1962)

Bass

Rod Clark [The Moody Blues]

Carter-Lewis & The Southerners (1963-1964)
Mickey Finn & The Blue Men (1965)
The Ivy League (1967)

Boots Slade

Colin Hicks & The Cabin Boys (1959)
Nero & The Gladiators (1960 - 1964)

Keyboards

Freddie Fingers Lee [Charlie Woolf, Freddie Fingers Lee Band]

Screaming Lord Sutch & The Savages (1961/1962/1967)

Nicky Hopkins [Jeff Beck Group, Silver Messengers]

Screaming Lord Sutch & The Savages (1960/1961/1966)
The Outlaws (1965)
Neil Christian & The Crusaders (1967)

Paul Nicholas ("Paul Dean")

Mike O'Neil

Bryan Pugh (aka Lou Bryan, Perry Ford)

Saxophone

Phil Kenzie [Rod Stewart Band]

Derry Wilkie & The Others (1964 - 1965)
Screaming Lord Sutch & The Savages (1965-1966)

Noel McManus

Blues by Five (1964-1965)
Screaming Lord Sutch & The Savages (1965-1966)

Ashton "Toots" Tootell [Sonny Childe & T'N'T]

Paul Dean & The Dreamers (1961-1963)
Screaming Lord Sutch & The Savages (1963/1965-1966)

Drums

Billy Adamson [The Searchers]

Derry Wilkie & The Others (1964 - 1965)
Screaming Lord Sutch & The Savages (1965-1966)

Ian Broad

Heinz & The Wild Boys (1964)
Rikki Maiocchi & The Trip (1966)

Pete Carter (Peter Kirscher) [Status Quo]

Neil Landon & The Burnettes (1962/1964-1965)
Screaming Lord Sutch & The Savages (1966)

Mick Burt [Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers]

The Johnnie Reb's Rock Group (1960-1961)
The Crescents (1961)

Tornado Evans

Red E. Lewis & The Redcaps (1960)
Neil Christian & The Crusaders (1961-1965)
Screaming Lord Sutch & The Savages (1965)

Laurie Jay

Colin Hicks & The Cabin Boys (1959)
Nero & The Gladiators (1960 - 1962)

Carlo Little [The Rollingstones, Hurricane]

Screaming Lord Sutch & The Savages (1960/1961-1964/1965/1966-1967)
Buddy Britten & The Regents (1964)
Neil Christian & The Crusaders (1965)
Chris Lamb & The Universals (1965-1966)

Mitch Mitchell [Georgie Fame's Blue Flames , Jimi Hendrix Experience]

The Crescents (1961)
Chris Sandford & The Coronets (1965)
Screaming Lord Sutch & The Savages (1965)

Mick Underwood [The Episode Six, Quatermass, Gillan]

Mickey Waller [Georgie Fame's Blue Flames , Jeff Beck Group]

Screaming Lord Sutch & The Flee-Rekkers (1961)
The Crescents (1961)

Johnny Watson ("Johnny Satan") [The Echoes, The Beat Brothers]

Clay Nicholls & The Blue Flames (1959)
Buddy Britton Trio (1959)
Vince Taylor & The Playboys (1959 - 1960)

If you have any further information and want to contribute to this site, please email us at: tomusicstorytellers@gmail.com

The Ivy League

This vocal group, that cut 11 singles for Piccadilly records from 1964 to 1967, and that is still touring nowadays, was really the brainchild of John Carter and Ken Lewis who had been together as a singing and songwriting duo since their School days.

John "Carter" Shakespeare (born on October 20th 1942) and Kenneth "Lewis" Hawker (born on December 3rd 1942) were both from Birmingham, and came down to London with a burning self-belief in their talent in 1959.
They were offered a deal by manager Terry Kennedy (who had previously fronted his own band, The Rock’n’Rollers and had been guitarist for Terry Dene's Dene Aces) and moved with him to Southern music at 5 Denmark Street. He re-christened them "Carter & Lewis" and produced the 7 singles they cut for Piccadilly, Ember and Oriole, between 1961 and 1964.
They had developed a close harmony style similar to that adopted by the Everly Brothers.
They were soon established as a popular radio team, appearing on BBC Light Programme shows "Saturday Club" and "Easy Beat" from February 1962. They gradually began to augment their line-up with various musicians who backed them on these radio dates, at which point they evolved into Carter-Lewis & the "Southerners" after Southern music. The group became a vehicle for publishing the songs that stemmed from the Carter-Lewis partnership...
Carter-Lewis & the Southerners split in summer 1964, when both Carter and Lewis decided to concentrate on writing and doing sessions.

By July 1964, they decided to expand, becaming three part harmonies, and teamed up with another session singer and songwriter, Brian Pugh aka "Perry Ford". Pugh was from Lincoln and starded out, under the moniker "Lou Bryan", playing piano for Vince Taylor & his Playboys, Colin Hicks & The Cabin Boys, and the Echoes. He cut 3 singles for Parlophone in 1959-60, all produced by George Martin and wrote hits for Adam Faith ("Someone Else's Baby"), the Fortunes (Caroline)...
He was running a studio for Reg Calvert in Denmark Street, when John Carter and Ken Lewis approached him.
He would soon play the piano part on “You Really Got Me” by the Kinks.

The trio had developed a clear liking for high-pitched vocals (falsetto), and somehow contrived to cross the Four Freshmen with the Beach Boys and the Four Seasons.

They called themselves "The Ivy League" (1), and began providing backing vocals on other artists' sessions: Sandy Shaw's “Always Something There To Remind Me”, Tom Jones “It’s Not Unusual”, The Who's “Can’t Explain”and "Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere"...

As a harmony trio, recording on their own, they signed to Pye's Piccadilly subsidiary.
Their debut single failed to chart, but the follow-up “Funny How Love Can Be”, which was basically written for the Rockinberries, went Top 10, prompting the need to form a backing group and go out on tour.
So Micky Keene and Dave Wintour left The Tony Colton’s Crawdaddies to join The Ivy League backing band, the Division Two (2), poaching the keyboardist of the band, Mike O'Neill (former leader of Nero & The Gladiators).
They were joined by drummer Clem Cattini, an acquaintance of Terry Kennedy's (they were together in The Rock’n’Rollers and in Terry Dene & The Dene Aces) who had definitly left the Tornados in February 1965.
“New style, new sound” sid the advert, “Hair by Phillips, Clothes by Alexandre of Oxford St.”
However, on 19 July 1965, John Carter, Perry Ford and Ken Lewis were injured in a car crash near Baldock, Hertfordshire. The original trio managed to release only a single full-length album, "This Is the Ivy League".
Preferring writing and producing to touring, John Carter and then Ken Lewis decided to pull out.
Tony Burrows (ex-Kestrels) and Neil Landon (ex-Burnetts) came in as replacements.
At this time, the band cut the best record they ever made - “My World Fell Down” - a John Carter/Geoff Stephens composition which Gary Usher and LA group Sagittarius turn into a masterpiece in 1967.
The Ivy League toured the UK and Europe unflaggingly throughout 1966 with a new backing band: The Jaybirds from Nottingham who were later successful as 'Ten Years After'.

In 1966, John Carter and Ken Lewis formed The Ministry Of Sound with the cream of Southern Music studios house team, including the former Division Two. By the summer of 1967, they recorded a song they wrote to articulate the sentiments of the flower-power movement and entitled "Let's Go To San Francisco" under the artist name 'Flowerpot Men'...
As there was no true group of this name, Carter and Lewis summarily 'rented out' the band name to Tony Burrows, who put together a tour ensemble to satisfy the popular demand generated by The single which made #4 in the UK charts in September 1967.
Burrows teamed up with Robin Shaw and Peter Nelson, who could boast Star Club experience with the 'Travellers', and the other remaining Ivy League Neil Landon. They signed with Spencer Davis Management and used Billie Davis’ band plus keyboardist Billy Parkinson as back up (3).

The follow-up, "A Walk In The Sky", didn't sell as well. The 'Flowerpot Men & Their Garden' appeared almost daily, until keyboardist Jon Lord and bass player Nick Simper departed the band in February 1968, to join 'Roundabout', the group from which 'Deep Purple' was to emerge... Their later efforts were more ordinary and even a change of name to Friends late in 1968 failed to revive their fortunes. Whilst Landon departed to Fat Mattress, the rest of the band became the White Plains...

(1) concerning their choice of name, Carter recalls Piccadilly had given it some thought:
"We took the identity from the look, the style we'd want to be if ever we had a hit record...Ivy League jackets, college boy haircuts, smart-looking, and all that": The Ivy League - a preordained image!"

(2) Division Two recorded a great instrumental beat/R&B album, "Discotheque" (Society SOC 1016) in 1965.

(3) Nick Simper from the Chapter 15 of his Biography: "Savages & Flowerpot Men"
From out of the blue, Carlo Little had a telephone call from Spencer Davis Management. It appeared that hey needed musicians to support a vocal act that they had signed, named the Flowerpot Men. A single called “Let’s Go To San Francisco” was riding high in the charts, so the logical next move was to get the act on the road, and Billie Davis’ band was in the frame for the job. Sensing a good earner, Carlo swiftly arranged a time and place to rehearse together. The only snag was that Arthur Regis and landed a gig with top soul act Jimmy James and the Vagabonds, so a keyboard player had to found quickly. I immediately thought of Billy Davidson, the amazingly gifted organist who I had met at Joan Watson’s shop. Luckily, he was free to complete the line-up, and so Bill, Ged Carlo and I assembled at a London rehearsal room, where we were introduced to the four vocalists who had been appearing on TV shows all over Europe as the Flowerpot Men. We soon learned that the hot record had resulted from one of the many studio sessions regularly carried out by my old favourites, Carter and Lewis. They had given up performing in order to concentrate on recording their many compositions, some of which were leased out to various touring bands, who then changed their names accordingly. This they had done with their own group, the Ivy League, following many chart hits, and were now doing the same thing with the name Flowerpot Men, borrowed from a 1950’s children’s television programme. John Carter himself had sung the lead vocal on the record, with harmonies provided by a great session singer names Tony Burrows. Ken Lewis had supplied keyboard and piano, with my old mate Robin Scrimshaw playing bass. John and Jen had for many years written songs in varying styles and had now been able to use their skills to capitalise on the current ‘flower power’ rage which had recently arrived here from the USA. Tony Burrows, currently in a new Ivy League line-up, together with Robin, quickly recruited two other singers. Tony brought in Neil Landon, also from the Ivy League, and Robin brought in Pete Nelson, one-time front man of my old mates the Travellers, so it was a pleasant surprise to find that I knew two of the four singers.
The rehearsal was overseen by Ken Lewis in person, and whilst I was knocked out to meet him once more, he was equally pleased to meet Carlo Little, who he greeted with the words “My, what a reputation you have got!!” Carlo blushed at this. “Have I?” was the best he could reply. The four singers than produced a list of 3 and 4 part harmony material by artists such as the Four Tops and the Four Season. They had obviously rehearsed their parts, and the whole package was sounding pretty slick after a two hour run through. Everyone seemed happy with the result, and so several more rehearsals were scheduled before taking to the road.
The next day saw us arrive at the Spencer Davis office where we were introduced to the staff, and provided with cash to buy some suitably “flowery” stage clothes. Following several more rehearsals we supplied with a truck for us and our equipment. Armed with a full gig list, we were ready to hit the road! …

Discography

Singles by The Ivy League
1. What More Do You Want/Wait A Minute (Piccadilly 7N 35200) - November 1964
2. Funny How Love Can Be/Lonely Room (Piccadilly 7N 35222) - January 1965 UK#8
3. That's Why I'm Crying/A Girl Like You (Piccadilly 7N 35228) - April 1965 UK#22
4. Tossing And Turning/Graduation Day (Piccadilly 7N 35251) - June 1965 UK#3
5. Our Love Is Slipping Away/I Could Make You Fall In Love (Piccadilly 7N 35267) - October 1965
6. Running Around In Circles/Rain, Rain Go Away (Piccadilly 7N 35294) - February 1966
7. Willow Tree/One Day (Piccadilly 7N 35326) - June 1966 UK#50
8. My World Fell Down/When You're Young (Piccadilly 7N 35348) - October 1966
9. Four And Twenty Hours/Arrivederci Baby (Piccadilly 7N 35365) - 1967
10. Suddenly Things/Tomorrow Is Another Day (Piccadilly 7N 35397) - 1967
11. Thank You For Loving Me/In The Not Too Distant Future (Piccadilly 7N 17386) - 1967

E.P.s by The Ivy League
1. Funny How Love Can Be - Funny How Love Can Be/Lonely Room/What More Do You Want?/Wait A Minute (Piccadilly NEP 34038) - March 1965
2. Tossing And TurningTossing And Turning/That's Why I'm Crying/A Girl Like You/Graduation Day (Piccadilly NEP 34042) - September 1965
3. The Holly And The Ivy League - The Holly And The Ivy/Once In Royal David's City/Good King Wenceslas/Silent Night (Piccadilly NEP 34046) - December 1965
4. Our Love Is Slipping Away - Our Love Is Slipping Away/Don't Think Twice/Don't Worry Baby/Make Love (Piccadilly NEP 34048) - April 1966

L.P.s by The Ivy League
This Is The Ivy League (Piccadilly NPL 38015, 1966): Almost Grown/That's Why I'm Crying/Floral Dance/What More Do You Want?/Lulu's Back In Town/We're Having A Party/Don't Worry Baby/Make Love/Don't Think Twice/Funny How Love Can Be/My Old Dutch/Dance To The Locomotion
Major League - The Collector's Ivy League (Sequel NEDCD 289,1998): What More Do You Want/Wait A Minute/Funny How Love Can Be/Lonely Room/That's Why I'm Crying/Girl Like You/Tossin' And Turnin'/Graduation Day/Our Love Is Slipping Away/I Could Make You Fall in Love/Running Round In Circles/Rain, Rain Go Away/Willow Tree/One Day/My World Fell Down/When You're Young/Four And Twenty Hours/Arrivederci Baby/Suddenly Things/Tomorrow Is Another Day/Thank You For Loving Me/In The Not Too Distant Future/Almost Grown/Floral Dance/Lulu's Back in Town/We're Having A Party/Don't Worry Baby/Make Love/Don't Think Twice It's All Right/My Old Dutch/Dance To The Locomotion/My Baby/Nancy (With the Laughing Face)/ Lonely City/Mr. Ford's Boogie/Friday/Busy Doing Nothing/Rock & Roll/Humpty Dumpty/Holly And The Ivy/Once In Royal David's City/Good King Wenceslas/Silent Night

The Flowerpotmen: Let's Go To San Francisco Part 1/Part 2 (Deram DM 142) - August 1967

First Class
Beach Baby/Both Sides Of The Story (UK UK 66)
Bobby Dazzler/Lavender Man (UK UKR 73)
Dreams Are Ten A Penny/Long Time Gone (UK UKR 82)

The Ivy League made vocal harmonies on
Sandy Shaw's "Always Something There To Remind Me" (10/1964)
The Who's "I Can't Explain" (01/1965)
Tom Jones "It's Not Unusual" (02/1965)
Chris Farlowe's "Out Of Time" (07/1966)

John Carter Compilations
Measure For Measure: The John Carter Anthology, 1961-1977 (RPM D268)
As You Like It: The Denmark Street Demos, 1963-1967 (Westside WESM 523)

Various Line-ups of The Ivy League

The Ivy League #1 & Division Two (February - October 1965)