Bobbie & The Dominators

Photo of  The Dominators at Trinity Hall Hounslow, early 1961, courtesy Bob Danks Left to right: Terry Maybey, Bob Danks, Alan Dunklin and Ritchie Blackmore. Behind poster of their gig at Radlett Masonic Hall, on Saturday July 15th 1961


This London-based Rock’n’Roll outfit evolved out of a Skiffle group called The Vampires, formed in early 1958 by four pupils at the Chiswick County Grammar school: washboard player Alan Dunklin, tea chest bass player Mick Catherwood, banjo player Dave Ronay and guitarist Roger Mingay. Skiffle was a form of folk music played on accoustic instruments only.

In Summer 1958, Mingay eventually moved to The Satellites and would later join Screaming Lord Sutch & his Savages. His replacement was a 14 year old Ritchie Blackmore (later of Deep Purple and Rainbow) who went to a different school and had earlier been with the 2 I's Coffee Bar Junior Skiffle Group, playing the Dog Box. He actually attended with them a national skiffle competition at the 2I's. Legendary Big Jim Sullivan teached him to play guitar. Blackmore and another fellow school pal Bob Danks on guitar were drafted in the band and recommended by Alan Dunklin who lived two doors away from Blackmore in Ash Grove, Heston. Incidentally when Roger Mingay went to audition for the Savages in May 1961, Ritchie Blackmore was among the other guitarists who applied for the post but Mingay was deemed more experienced and got the job. Ritchie Blackmore would eventually undertake several stints with Screaming Lord Sutch between October 1962 and May 1967.
His real introduction to playing live in front of an audience as well as his first "paying"gig was at Twickenham Kings Head on the eve of Christmas 1958.* About that time he was an aircraft radio technician at London Airport.
Blackmore first owned an Hofner Club 50 then purchased a cherry red Gibson ES835 guitar, identical to the one Chuck Berry used. Changing their musical style, and gradually progressing to fully electric guitars, the band became the "electric" Vampires then changed name to the “Dominators” after the Watkins Dominator amp and the Norton Dominator motorcycle.**

Ritchie Blackmore was insistent on having a (non guitar playing) singer. After several singer changes e.g.Tony Parsons, “Bobbie” Danks became the lead vocalist but Blackmore was not happy with a four-piece and Barry Lovegrove was drafted in.
The band secured a residency in Twickenham, supplementing this with work at weddings and youth clubs, where they’d play rock’n’roll standards such as Vince Taylor’s "Brand New Cadillac" and Shadows numbers. *** Blackmore rolled his former schoolmate, drummer Mick Underwood (later of Quatermass), replacing Clive Buckie for a short while. Underwood was fired for being too loud and joined the Satellites, teaming up with Roger Mingay.

Disappointed at failing the audition for The Savages, Ritchie Blackmore continued working at the Airport, and playing with the Dominators until they finally broke up in the Summer of 1961, before joining Mike Dee & The Jaywalkers. He was drafted in through drummer Terry Maybey who had occasionally stepped in the Dominators when neither Buckie nor Underwood were available. Blackmore went professionally and made his first ever recording - My Blue Heaven - for the Decca label with them.
"Screaming Lord" Sutch used to come and watch The Dominators play during their last months on the recommendation of Mingay.
“It was pure coincidence that two ex members of The Vampires played for Dave Sutch, plus the close proximity of all concerned…” says Bob Danks.

After the demise of the Dominators, Barry Lovegrove joined up a band called Dave Dean & The Cruisers Combo;
Terry Maybey joined James Royal & The Hawks; and Bob Danks became the vocalist of The "Four Sounds" who used to play the Station Hotel Richmond at the same time as the Rolling Stones and took over a regular slot from The Who when they became famous.


Bob Danks
*… “Our first "paying"gig was at The Kings Head in Twickenham and it was on Dec 24th 1958.”
Over time,influenced by "Rock & Roll" and becoming more proficient with our instruments we gradually progressed to fully electric guitars and drums instead of washboards for percussion. We then left skiffle behind.
**“The Vampires became the "Electric Vampires" then because Ritchie [Blackmore] had a Watkins Dominator amp. and I had a Norton Dominator motorcycle we changed the name !”
“When we first started The Dominators we had a policy of"whoever learned an instrumental first" played it on stage. As I was at work and able to buy quite a few records to learn quickly I often played lead with Ritchie [Blackmore] on rhythm,then suddenly his ability to pick up solos just took off at a tremendous rate and I just could not compete.I carried on with rhythm and vocals…
Although I did most of the vocals we were always trying new singers. Tony Parsons was one of these.He then got a job which kept him away and not able to get to every gig so he left. This became frustrating as I was still doing most of the vocals so I dropped rhythm and we got Barry Lovegrove in as rhythm,although he was very good and occasionally played lead.”
*** “…The Dominators however used to feature "Brand New Cadillac" in our set and it was always a compliment when people used to say that we did it better than Vince's Playboys. That was due to Ritchie already having started to become quite wild with his playing not my vocals !!”


Some appearances of The Vampires and The Dominators

Debut gig of The Vampires at the Kings Head, Twickenham on December Thursday 24th 1958
Bank Holiday gig at GEC Sports Pavilion, on Monday August 3rd 1959: Billed as “The Dominators Swing Group”
Trinity Hall, Hounslow, early 1961: Terry Maybey stepped in on drums.
Masonic Hall, Radlett, Saturday July 15th 1961: Billed as “Bobbie & The Dominators”, one of the last gigs
Last gig at the White Hart Pub, Southall, July 1961



Various Line-ups of The Vampires and The Dominators

The Vampires #1 (Early - Late Summer 1958)
· Roger Mingay (Lead Guitar/Vocals)
· Dave Ronay (Banjo)
· Bill Piper (Tea-Chest-Bass)
· Alan Dunklin (Washboard)


The Vampires #2 (Late Summer 1958)

· Bob Danks (Rhythm Guitar/Lead Vocals)
· Ritchie Blackmore (Rhythm Guitar)
· Dave Ronay (Banjo)
· Mick Catherwood (Tea-Chest-Bass/Vocals)
· Alan Dunklin (Washboard)


The Electric Vampires #3 (December 1958 - June 1959)
· Bob Danks (Rhythm Guitar/Lead Vocals)
· Mick Cartwright (Rhythm Guitar/Vocals)
· Ritchie Blackmore (Lead Guitar)
· Alan Dunklin (Bass)
· Clive Buckie (Drums)

The Dominators (June - December 1959)
· Tony Parsons (Lead Vocals)
· Bob Danks (Lead & Rhythm Guitar/Vocals)
· Ritchie Blackmore (Lead & Rhythm Guitar)
· Alan Dunklin (Bass)
· Clive Buckie (Drums)
· Mick Underwood (Drums)


Bobbie & The Dominators (1960 - July 1961)

· Bob Danks (Lead Vocals)
· Ritchie Blackmore (Lead Guitar)
· Barry Lovegrove (Rhythm Guitar)
· Alan Dunklin (Bass)
· Clive Buckie (Drums)
· Terry Maybey (Drums)


Special thanks to Bob Danks for the photos, posters and his recollection

More about Winston G: Fox & Whip

Winston Beresford Gawk or Gork aka "Winston G", was a suntanned singer with indian roots who starded out as a solo act, first under the moniker “Johnny Apollo”, in the early 60s.
Throughout the decade, he was backed by various bands: The New Premiers, The Purple Hearts and "The Wickeds", renamed "The Winston G Set"...
In late 1967, The Winston G Set transformed itself into Fox dabbled with psychedelic rock, and with a new bass player called Chris Jones (not related to the Brummie lead guitarist with The Chucks and The Way Of Life). Bobby Graham produced their release "Bye Bye Baby", issued on Decca towards the end of the year. Their stage act caused some raised eyebrows up and down the country. Their schedule took them on a tour of Europe, particurlarly in Germany where they became very popular.
"Hey! Mister Carpenter", released on the CBS label, in April 1968, was a number written by Nicky James with ex-Traffic man, Dave Mason guest-starring on sitar. It’s very poppy with a repetitive chorus and some catchy guitar. The 'B' side, "Seek And You Find" is much heavier.

Pete Beckett, formerly with The Thoughts, joined up the band as a new bass player.
Topham played his final gig with them at The “Middle Earth Show”, at the Roundhouse Chalk Farm, London, alongside The Who and The Blossom Toes, in early October 1968. He then decided to revive and further cement his long friendship with Tony ‘Duster’ Bennett. The following month, The Fox performed at the Lafayette club, in Wolverhampton with a new member: Huw Lloyd-Langton (1), a 17-year-old guitarist that Winston G met at the Giaconda Coffee Bar, Denmark Street. In late 1968, another band started using the name Fox, so they changed their name to The Whip.
They worked mainly in Germany and Holland for 6 months, playing the army bases.

Pete Becket went on to do a short stint with the band World of Oz before concentrating on his solo career and then eventually going to USA where he formed the band "Player". Original drummer Tony McKintyre also left to manage his model wife who was Miss England at the time.

In 1969, Syd Gardener became new bass player and John Lingwood the drummer. They went back to Germany and Holland for more intense fun and games, a few months. They then returned to England, and the group broke up going their own separate ways.
Winston G ended up staying in Holland.
Huw Lloyd-Langton went on to form Hawkwind with Dave Drock.
After taking a break, he relocated to Germany where he spent time in a band that featured John Lingwood. Lloyd-Langton and Lingwood then returned to the U.K. where they formed Amon Din with Dave Anderson and John Butler. John Lingwood would later beat the skins for various great acts such as Steamhammer, Brian Auger´s Oblivion Express, Manfred Mann Earth Band, The Rocky Horror Show, Roger Chapman & The Shortlist ect.


(1) Huw Lloyd-Langton
“Also whilst I was working there I used to go down to Denmark Street for lunch at the Giaconda, where all the musicians used to hang out for coffee. I was sat there one day when this very star looking person sat down beside me and asked if I was a musician, and when I said I played the guitar he asked me if I wanted a gig. I arranged a time for the following week to go for a blow. His name was Winston G., Winston Gork his real name was, and he had a band called Fox. This would be in 1966 or so. We didn't put any records out. Somebody else started using the same name in 1967 so we had to change our name to The Whip.”

“Me and another guitarist turned up for the audition. I think I got the job because of my image. The other guy was equally good if not better - I can't remember his name though. Being in the band was a complete waste of time as it turned out, but it was probably a good apprenticeship. We spent most of our time flat broke in Europe, playing the army bases. All I cared about was that I was on the road with a band. Eventually it just totally fell to pieces - Winston ended up staying in Holland and I ended up returning to my old stomping ground in Denmark street.”


Discography of Fox

Singles:
Hey! Mister Carpenter/Seek And You Find (CBS 3381) - April 1968 as Fox


Various Line-ups of Winston G’s Bands

Fox (Late 1967 - October 1968)

· Winston Gork (Lead Vocals) "Winston G"
· Tony Top Topham (Lead Guitar)
· Chris Jones then Peter Beckett (Bass)
· Tony MacIntyre (Drums)


The Whip #1 (October - Late 1968)

· Winston Gork (Lead Vocals) "Winston G"
· Huw Lloyd Langton (Lead Guitar)
· Peter Beckett (Bass)
· Tony MacIntyre (Drums)


The Whip #2 (Late 1968 - Mid 1969)

· Winston Gork (Lead Vocals) "Winston G"
· Huw Lloyd Langton (Lead Guitar)
· Syd Gardiner (Bass)
· John Lingwood (Drums)


Special thanks to Ronnie Harwood, Tony “Top” Topham, Huw and Marion Lloyd Langton

Mike Hurst & The Method

Mike Longhurst-Pickworth aka “Mike Hurst”, born in 1943, joined The Springfields in February 1962, as a replacement for Tim Field on guitar and vocals. Meanwhile Dusty Springfield began a successful solo singing career with “I Only Wanna Be With You”, he released his first single “The Banjo Song”/“Any Chance For Me” on Philips Records in November 1963, some weeks after The Springfields played their farewell show at the London Palladium.
Mike Hurst recruited guitar player Jimmy Page, bass player Ray Styles and keyboardist Tony Ashton, both from The John Barry Seven, to become his backing group,The Method, in early 1964. He toured with this 'country rock' band alongwith Gene Pitney who offered him a number of his, “Carol Anne” that became their second release. That was the only one cover they recorded. The other songs, in the beat and folk mould, were all written by Hurst.
Albert Lee brietly took over Jimmy Page to be himself replaced by Ray Smith when he went on to join Chris Farlowe. In Summer 1964, Ashton left to join The Remo Four while Smith and drummer Nigel Menday joined Tony Colton & The Crawdaddies. Mike Hurst then became the host of “Teenscene”, the first teenage radio chat show on BBC Light Programme,interviewing all the stars of the swinging 60’s from top models to the first ever live interview in the UK with Bob Dylan.
Hurst went on to become a well-known producer/songwriter: working with Manfred Mann, Marc Bolan Cat Stevens Spencer Davies, the Four Top Showaddywaddy and Shakin’ Stevens among others.
.

Mike Hurst
“I recorded as a solo artist for Philips Records for two years. I also formed my own group The Methods with Jimmy Page, then Albert Lee on guitar and Tony Ashton on keyboards. We were playing country rock”

Albert Lee
… for some strange reason I quit Neil and went back to Germany to play in Mike Warner's band again, which turned out to be a foolish move - he dumped us and it took me ages to scrape up my fare home. Then I was hanging around town again until I got a gig with Mike Hurst [replacing Jimmy Page] and went on a package tour with Gene Pitney and Billy J. Kramer and the Dakotas."



Discography

Singles:
1. The Banjo Song/Any Chance For Me (Philips BF 1295) 11/1963
2. Carol Anne/Anytime That You Want Me (Philips BF 1319) 04/1964
3. Half Heaven Half Heartache/Look In Your Eyes (Philips BF 1353) 06/1964
4. Last Time You'll Walk Out On Me/Something Told Me (Philips BF 1389) 1965
5. Show Me Around/I'm Running Away (Philips BF 1424) 1965


Line-ups

Mike Hurst & The Method #1 (January 1964)

· Mike Hurst (Lead Vocals)
· Jimmy Page (Lead Guitar)
· Ray Styles (Bass)
· Tony Ashton (Organ)
· ?? ?? (Drums)


Mike Hurst & The Method #2 (February - May 1964)

· Mike Hurst (Lead Vocals)
· Albert Lee (Lead Guitar)
· Ray Styles (Bass)
· Tony Ashton (Organ)
· Nigel Menday (Drums)


Mike Hurst & The Method #3 (May - Summer 1964)

· Mike Hurst (Lead Vocals)
· Ray Smith (Lead Guitar)
· Ray Styles (Bass)
· Tony Ashton (Organ)
· Nigel Menday (Drums)

Malcolm Austin & The Whirlwinds (Epsom)

Photo of 'Malcolm Austin & The Whirlwinds' courtesy Tony Busson
Left to right: Jimmy Page, Tony Busson, Stuart Cockett and Malcolm Austin.

An obscure Rock’n’Roll band from Epsom, Surrey, featuring founder member of Led Zeppelin, Jimmy Page who was just 16 and attended Epsom Art College, in 1960. The band consisted of Malcolm Austin on vocals, Stuart Cockett on rhythm guitar, Tony Busson on bass and a guy called Tom on drums.

In those days local budding musicians would all meet up for a 'jam' session, trying to copy the guitarists and groups of the time. They only actually played a couple of local gigs in Epsom.
Jimmy, who used a Futurama Grazioso guitar, was always in demand from other musicians, despite his tender years, moving on to backing Neil Christian, Eden Kane, prior to becoming a prolific session man.
Tony Busson later joined 'The Presidents' where he took over the bass player who depped for the Rollingstones in the second part of 62, Colin Golding.


Malcolm Austin & The Whirlwinds (Epsom, Early 1960)

• Malcolm Austin (Lead Vocals)
• Jimmy Page (Lead Guitar)
• Stuart Cockett (Rhythm Guitar)
• Tony Busson (Bass)
• Tom ?? (Drums)

Tony Busson

“The photo of me with Jimmy Page was taken around 1960 in Epsom, Surrey. We were both teenagers at the time and met through school friends. Jimmy was attending Epsom Art College and I was at a private school in Ashtead, Surrey.In those days local budding musicians would all meet up for a 'jam' session, trying to copy the guitarists and groups of the time.As I recall we only actually played a couple of local gigs. Jimmy was always in demand from other musicians, despite his tender years, moving on to backing Neil Christian, Eden Kane…
In the photo is Jimmy, me (glasses and sweater), Stuart Cockett on de-tuned Hofner guitar - to achieve a sound something like a bass guitar! and Malcolm Austin ,who did the main vocals. The drummer at the time was 'Tom'. We appeared as 'Malcolm Austin and The Whirlwinds'.”

Special Thanks to Tony Busson. Please visit the excellent site run by Robin Mayhew about The Presidents at: www.the-presidents.org.uk


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

Robbie Hood & His Merry Men

Mike West aka “Robbie Hood” started with an audition with John Kennedy, Tommy Steele's manager, at the Two I's Coffee Bar when they were looking for a new Tommy Steele. Then he formed his own band, the Mike West Group, that became the resident band at Wandworth Town Hall in 1958. Their new manager, Guy Robinson introduced singer Fred Heath to them. He guest-performed "If You Were The Only Girl In The World", after which he joined the group full-time and roped in John “Fruit” Gordon as the full-time bassist. They called them “The Fred, Mike and Tom Show”, and all three singers shared the limelight before West and Brown stepped aside to provide backing vocals to Heath, to allow him, the better vocalist take centre-stage.
By the way Mike West had a terrible squint and he often hid it with an eye-patch. Heath would Later fully exploit the prop.

Saturday 18th April was their first recording session at the Abbey Road studios in north-west London.They decided to work on a number entitled "Please Don't Touch". As they entered, they were given a piece of paper with the name “Johnny Kidd & the Pirates” recording session and Fred Heath had suddenly a new recording name that became his stage name until his death.

On June 6th 1959, they appeared on BBC Radio Saturday Club #36.
There was hardly time for nerves as the rest of the band were mercilessly taking the mickey out of Mike West - he turned up wearing an eye patch due to a nasty stye, and Brian Matthews even asks him about it on air.

In late 1959, Mike West left Johnny Kidd & the Pirates and formed his own group first with former Pirates Tony Doherty (lead guitar), John “Fruit” Gordon (bass) Tony McKay (drums) adding two musicians who stood-ins for them earlier, Pete Newman (tenor sax) and Vic Clark (rhythm Guitar). They first called themselve “The Federals” after the Federal Road where Clark lived, then “Mike West & The Silhouettes”. Both Newman and Clark left to join a north London outfit called Johnny Dark & The Midnighters that eventually went on to become the new Screaming Lord Sutch’s Savages during a big part of 1960. Meanwhile Mike West teamed up with new musicians: Micky Cottle (drums) and Carl Hasden (bass) who owned the first five-string bass in the UK, custom-made by Johnny "Fruit" Gordon. The band gradually had a complete change of personnel and went on to record some records for EMI. Their debut single was with a Heath original, "Tell Me When".

Mike West went on to become Robbie Hood and was managed by Reg Calvert, with some success.
Reg paid for him to see an eye surgeon and he had an operation to correct his squint. Mike didn’t stay long at Clifton Hall, because he wouldn’t work within the rules there.

His backing group - The Merrie Men, later became the main part of the Fortunes with another singer - Glen Dale.
They made several hits, with 'Caroline' 'You've Got your Troubles, I've got mine', 'Look Homeward Angel' etc.

Another outfit from Birmingham took over them for 6 months at the height of the Beatlemania: The Sundowners who went on to become The Chads later featuring Jeff Lynne of ELO.

Robbie Hood's stage show involved the gimmick of appearing on stage dressed as the famous outlaw "Robin Hood" which included not only a hat but a full costume of Lincoln green consisting of tunic, boots, and tights.



Line ups

The Mike West Group #1 (1958 - January 1959)

· Mike West (Lead Vocals)
· Tom Brown (Backing Vocals)
· Alan Caddy (Lead Guitar)
· Tony Doherty (Rhythm Guitar)
· Ken McKay (Drums)


The Fred, Mike & Tom Show (January - April 1959)

· Fred Heath (Lead Vocals)
· Mike West (Lead Vocals)
· Tom Brown (Backing Vocals)
· Alan Caddy (Lead Guitar)
· Tony Doherty (Rhythm Guitar)
· John Gordon (Bass)
· Ken McKay (Drums)


Johnny Kidd & The Pirates #1 (April - Late 1959)

· Fred Heath (Lead Vocals)
· Mike West (Lead Vocals)
· Tom Brown (Backing Vocals)
· Alan Caddy (Lead Guitar)
· Tony Doherty (Rhythm Guitar)
· Vic Clark (Rhythm Guitar)
· John Gordon (Bass)
· Ken McKay (Drums)
· Don Toy (Drums)
· Brian ?? (Drums)

The Mike West Group #2 (Late 1959)

· Mike West (Lead Vocals)
· Tony Doherty (Lead Guitar)
· Vic Clark (Rhythm Guitar)
· John Gordon (Bass)
· Pete Newman (Tenor Sax)
· Tony McKay (Drums)

The Federals (Late 1960)

· Mike West (Lead Vocals)
· Vic Clark (Lead Guitar)
· John Gordon (Bass)
· Pete Newman (Tenor Sax)
· Carlo Little (Drums)


Mike West & The Silhouettes (Late 1960 - June 1961)

· Mike West (Lead Vocals)
· Tony Doherty (Lead Guitar)
· Carl Hasden (Bass)
· Micky Cottle (Drums)


Robbie Hood & His Merry Men #1 (September 1961 - March 1963)

· Mike West (Lead Vocals) "Robbie Hood"
· Barry Pritchard (Lead Guitar)
· Rod Allen (Bass)
· Gary ?? (Drums)

Robbie Hood & The Lawmen (April 1963)

· Mike West (Lead Vocals) "Robbie Hood"
· Mike Clifford (Lead Guitar)
· ?? ?? (Bass)
· Andy Brown (Drums)

Robbie Hood & His Merry Men #3 (June - Late 1963)

· Mike West (Lead Vocals) "Robbie Hood"
· Mick Adkins (Lead Guitar)
· Keith Warrender (Rhythm Guitar)
· Joe Parsons (Bass)
· Keith Harrison (Drums)

Chris Lamb & The Universals

Chris Lamb & The Universals were a 7-piece Showband fronted by trumpeter Chris Lamb, playing US bases and Irish clubs around Kilburn from 1963 to 1968.
Although they were basically known as an Irish Showband, the only true Irish members in the band were bandleader Chris Lamb and the saxophonist Mort O'Sullivan from County Cork. Trombone player Brian O'Shea aka "Brian Keith" and drummer Albert Rossi were both from Scotland, the rest of the band all from England except an American female vocalist, Edie Andrews who had worked for Alan Williams at the Blue Angel, Liverpool.

They were supporting American singer Jim Reeves on his tour of American military bases in Britain and Ireland in May and June 1963. Reeves was permitted to perform in Ireland by the Irish Federation of Musicians on the condition that he share the bill with Irish show bands, becoming popular by 1963. The British Federation of Musicians would not permit him to perform there because no agreement existed for British show bands to travel to America in exchange for his band, the Blue Boys, playing in Great Britain.
However, Jim Reeves compromised by doing a tour of the American bases from June 10 to June 15, which was allowed because it was then considered that he wasn't performing on British soil and he appeared on British radio and TV programs. The Universals’ guitarist Peter Jay used to sing Jim Reeves songs to close the shows.
During 1964/5, they played many times at the Hammersmith Oden for Top Rank.
The only known record by Chris Lamb & The Universals is “Mysterious Land” / “If You Ask Me” on Decca records released in June 1965. However they also covered some Beatles songs with Edie Andrews singing lead on. Andrews eventually went back to the States at the end of the year. The Universals backed Scottish singer Gidian on his third single “Feeling” / “Dont Be Sentimental” released on Columbia records in October 1966.
At this time, the band featured new musicians: Carlo Little on drums, Paul Raymond on keyboards and Bill Parkinson on guitar. They toured the south of England and backed several stars like Stevie Wonder between November 1965 and June 1966. They played everything from the top 20 to themes like “Laurence of Arabia” or “Tijuana Brass”, and of course an array of Irish music.
By July 1966, Carlo Little rolled his mates of The Universals into Screaming Lord Sutch’s Savages. This crew spent half their time backing Sutch, but also worked as The Circles, recording on their own with Chris Blackwell (Island records). As The Savages, they played at the Olympia in Paris, and recorded such gems as Saturday Club with Brian Matthews.
By 1967, The Universals signed to Page One then evolved into Plastic Penny.

Many of the personnel went on to greater things. Carlo Little joined The Flowerpotmen; Bill Parkinson worked for Tom Jones; Grabham formed Cochise and then joined Procol Harum; Tony Murray joined The Troggs; Paul Raymond was with Chicken Shack and then Savoy Brown; Nigel Olsson was with the Spencer Davis Group and later became the drummer in Elton John's backing group and Brian Keith headed Congregation...

Chris Lamb led a number of bands until his decease some years ago. His brother Robert 'Bobby' Lambe is an internationally renowned composer/arranger, who as a trombone player worked with Frank Sinatra, Woody Herman and many other top names and spent most of his musical career in the US.
Bill Parkinson After I left P.J.Proby I auditioned with 30 other guitarists and got the with job with top Irish show band Chris Lamb and The Universals, this was a very good tight band with excellent musicians, On drums was Carlo Little, ex Rolling Stones, on vocals and Trombone was Brian Keith lead singer with Plastic Penny, on keyboards was Paul Raymond who played with many bands and on Bass, John Lawson. The sax player was Mort Sullivan, the leader Chris Lamb played trumpet, We played everything from the top 20 to themes like Laurence of Arabia and Tijuana Brass, and of course an array of Irish music. We backed several stars like Stevie Wonder and played on several records… One day Carlo Little asked me and a couple of the other musicians if we would join the Savages and back Screaming Lord Sutch.
Mick Grabham about “Everything I Am”: “Our only hit! No I didn't play on that actually. I was living in Sunderland at the time and the rest of the Plastic Penny was formed out of a group that was a showband called Chris Lamb and the Universals. Three or four of them had made a record apart from the rest of the group, which was produced by Larry Page of Troggs tape fame, and they were playing as Chris Lamb and the Universals in this night club in Sunderland. They were looking for a guitarist and they saw this friend of mine with frizzy hair and asked him if he was a guitarist – they didn't want to get a face from London into the band. He said 'No I'm not, but I know somebody who is'. At the time, this guy was sharing up [sic] house with me, so he brought them back and they asked me if I wanted to go down to London and give it a try. They said that they needed a drummer and like Nigel Olsson was a real good friend of mine, so I got him to come down as well and we both ended up getting the job. When I think of it now, somebody coming up to me in Sunderland, saying 'do you want to come down and join this band', it's mad!”



Discography

Singles:

• Mysterious Land / If You Ask Me (Decca F 12176) 11/06/1965 as Chris Lamb & The Universals
• Take Your Time/Don't You Love Me No More (Island WI 279) 07/1966 as The Circles
• Feeling / Dont Be Sentimental (Columbia DB 8041) 10/1966 as Gidian & The Universals
• I Can't Find You/Hey You (Page One POF 032) 07/1967 as The Universals
• Green Veined Orchid/While The Cat's Away (Page One POF 049) 11/1967 as The Universals

Various Line-ups of Chris Lamb & The Universals

Chris Lamb & The Universals Allstars #1 (April 1963 - Late 1964)

• Chris Lamb (Trumpet)
• Mort Sullivan (Tenor Sax)
• Brian Keith (Vocals/Trombone)
• Peter Jay (Lead Guitar)
• Alan McCiver (Bass)
• ?? (Keyboards)
• Albert Rossi (Drums)
• Judy Ward (Lead Vocals)

Chris Lamb & The Universals #2 (Late 1964 - June 1965)

• Chris Lamb (Trumpet)
• Mort Sullivan (Tenor Sax)
• Brian Keith (Vocals/Trombone)
• Foggy Little (Lead Guitar)
• Peter Jay (Rhythm Guitar)
• Alan McCiver (Bass)
• P.J. Kelly (Keyboards)
• Dave ?? (Drums)

Chris Lamb & The Universals #3 (June - November 1965)

• Chris Lamb (Trumpet)
• Mort Sullivan (Tenor Sax)
• Brian Keith (Vocals/Trombone)
• Foggy Little (Lead Guitar)
  
• Peter Jay (Rhythm Guitar)
• Alan McCiver (Bass)
• P.J. Kelly (Keyboards)
• Dave ?? then Carlo Little (Drums)
• Edie Andrews (Vocals)

Chris Lamb & The Universals #4 (November 1965 - July 1966)

• Chris Lamb (Trumpet)
• Mort Sullivan (Tenor Sax)
• Brian Keith (Vocals/Trombone)
• Bill Parkinson (Lead Guitar)
• Ged Peck (Lead Guitar)
• John Lawson (Bass)
• Paul Raymond (Keyboards)
• Carlo Little (Drums)

Chris Lamb & The Universals #5 / The Circles (July 1966 - September 1966)

• Chris Lamb (Trumpet)
• Mort Sullivan (Tenor Sax)
• Brian Keith (Vocals/Trombone)
• Bill Parkinson (Lead Guitar)
• Tony Dangerfield (Bass)
• Paul Raymond (Keyboards)
• Carlo Little (Drums)

Chris Lamb & The Universals #6 (Late 1966 - December 1967)

• Chris Lamb (Trumpet)
• Mort Sullivan (Tenor Sax)
• Brian Keith (Vocals/Trombone)
• Foggy Little (Lead Guitar)
• Tony Murray (Bass)
• Paul Raymond (Keyboards)
• Eddie Thorpe (Drums)
• Terry Parsons (Drums)

Chris Lamb & The Universals #7 (December 1967)

• Chris Lamb (Trumpet)
• Mort Sullivan (Tenor Sax)
• Brian Keith (Vocals/Trombone)
• Mick Grabham (Lead Guitar)
• Tony Murray (Bass)
• Paul Raymond (Keyboards)
• Nigel Olsson (Drums)

Derry Wilkie & Many Others

Derry Wilkie was born in Liverpool on 10 January 1941.
Some rumours abound that he was an halfbreed singer and that his real name was Derek Davis.
In fact both of his his parents came from a small town outside of Warri, Nigeria and "Derry" is actually a misspelling of the Nigerian name "Deri."
In his infant years, he lived in Upper Parliament Street, Berkley Street then Kent Gardens, Liverpool.

Compere Bob Wooler introduced him to a local group called The Hy-Tones at Holyoake Hall, near Penny Lane, in late 1959. He then became their lead vocalist although they already had two singers because he was by far out-sang the other two.
At that time he often had to face racism: there was the story that a group of thugs were after him and came to the Iron Door club with hatchets, banging on the door to get in. Wilkie escaped by finding a small way out to the rear.

The name change to Derry Wilkie & The Seniors came in early 1960, and they appeared regularly at all the major Liverpool venues including the Jacaranda. The owner of this club, Allan Williams, booked them for the Liverpool Stadium Show with American rock 'n' roller Gene Vincent on Tuesday May 3 1960. Their performance was witnessed by London impresario Larry Parnes who was impressed and asked Williams to arrange an audition as he was seeking bands to back his stables of artists, such as Billy Fury and Johnny Gentle, both from Liverpool. The audition took place at the Wyvern Social Club on May 10, along with Cliff Roberts & the Rockers, Cass & the Cassanovas, Gerry & the Pacemakers and the Silver Beetles. As a result the Seniors were booked by Parnes to back Duffy Power for a season in Blackpool. But Power fell ill and the season was cancelled, so Casey confronted Williams who promised to take the group to London and find work for them. Williams took them to the 2 I's coffee bar where he met up with Bruno Koschmider who was seeking bands for his Kaiserkeller Club in Hamburg as the previous English band he had booked, The Jets had switched to the rival club. They took up a residency there from late July to early October 1960 but they ran out of money and had to be repatriated. About one of the liverpuldian bands that took over them in Germany, Wilkie said: “a such bum group would spoil the scene for everyone else.” Less than 3 years before the Beatlemania!
On their return to Liverpool they lost all their equipment when the building they were storing it in burned down. They suffered so many financial difficulties and first disbanded in December 1960.

They re-grouped in January 1961 with Frank Wibberley replacing Wallington on drums and the addition of a second vocalist, Freddie Fowell, later knowns as “Freddie Starr”, and secured a recording contract with Fontana. This was the first Mersey Beat group to make records. By 1962, their bass player Frank Bowen left to be briefly replaced by Lou Walters from Rory Storm & the Hurricanes. Despite releasing three singles and an album, they rarely ventured outside the north-west of England.
The Seniors finally disbanded for good in June 1962. Sax player Howie Casey joined Kingsize Taylor & the Dominoes. Lead guitarist Brian Griffiths joined the Big Three, drummer Frank Wibberley joined the Lee Eddie Five, Freddie Fowell formed Freddie Starr & the Midnighters, while Derry Wilkie fronted the Pressmen from Wallasey.
The Pressmen were basically a rock n roll group playing Elvis Presley, Cliff Richard, Buddy Holly, Little Richard type set. When saxophonist Phil Kenzie joined they changed their style and started playing early soul covers. Bob Wooler now Cavern club DJ suggested them to took on Derry Wilkie as frontman. In May 1963, Derry Wilkie & the Pressmen were winners in the Beat Group competition winning a Decca recording contract but Decca reckoned they didn't give them it because, Wilkie wouldn't stand still in front of a microphone, plus they didn't write their own songs. However, their recordings weren’t commercial enough: they were rhythm and blues.They had only one song on “THIS IS MERSEYBEAT” album, issued in July 1963, on Oriole: " Hallelujah I love her so". The song was recorded by Oriole's leading A&R man John Schroeder, aided by recording engineer Geoff Frost, at the Rialto Ballroom, Liverpool. The sound and earthiness of Derry's voice has been captured.

Aynsley Dunbar joined them in August 1963 when the drummer Tommy Bennett left to get married.
Ritchie Prescott the guitar player also left because he didn't want to go professional and was replaced with Dave Carden from "The Midnighters".In late 1963, Carden got talking with Freddy Starr who said he needed a band to go to Germany with him, and the rhythm section left Wilkie and Kenzie flat without warning to go to Hamburg. Dave Carden, Dave Roberts, Bob Pears and Ainsley Dunbar carried on as The Flamingos backing Freddy Starr till the end of the following year. Derry Wilkie and Phil Kenzie were left with no choice but to form another band with Willie Van Geffen on guitar, Howard Morris on bass and Tommy Bennett on drums.

In late 1963, Carden got talking with Freddy Starr who needed a band to go to Germany with him, and the rhythm section left Wilkie and Kenzie flat without warning to go to Hamburg. Dave Carden, Dave Roberts, Bob Pears and Ainsley Dunbar carried on as "The New Midnighters" backing Freddy Starr till the end of the following year (1). Derry Wilkie and Phil Kenzie were left with no choice but to form another band with Ernie Hayes on guitar, Derek Bond from The Rainchecks on bass, and Mike Holmes from The Four Dees on drums (2).
In December 1963, The new set of Pressmen had come to London and played with Georgie Flame & The Blue Flames while Derry Wilkie sang with The Alexis Korner's Blues Incorporated. The band decided to turn professional and then reinvented itself as "The Others". Meanwhile Tommy Bennett teamed up with bassist Howard Morris and guitarist Adrian Flowerday to form a trio as "The New Pressmen".

Derry Wilkie & The Others toured the U.K. and Germany but never released a record during the two years they spent together.

They played at the same bill as Freddie Starr & The Flamingos at The Queens Hall, Widnes, in May 1964 (3). They were also a regular attraction at The Kraal club in New Brighton where they impressed the audience with their One Note Samba especially the virtuosity of the guitar and tenor saxophone in unison on the bridge. People tell that Derry Wilkie was phenomenal - ripping his shirt to shreds, climbing up the curtains, wailing like Little Richard...

In Summer '64, The Animals topped British then American charts with their bluesy version of the folk song "House of The Rising Sun" and had a residency at The A-gogo club in Newcastle which their manager Mike Jeffries owned. Derry & The Others played there and were spotted by Eric Burdon and his lads, who loved the Liverpool band and convinced Jeffries to sign them to his agency as Phil Kenzie recalls (later after their visit to America they also made him sign Jimi Hendrix and Goldie & the Gingerbreads) (4).

As 1964 drew to close, Derry Wilkie & The Others followed Freddy Starr and his outfit to Germany even ending up playing in the same clubs: in either Kiel or Flensburg.
During the first part of 1965, they took up a residency at the Star Club, Cologne, where they were spotted by other British acts such as Screaming Lord Sutch or Neil Landon & The Burnettes whose lead guitarist was Noel Redding later of The Jimi Hendrix Experience. Redding remembered that bands like Derry Wilkie played even later hours than The Burnettes, giving them somewhere to hang out. He described Derry as a black Liverpuldian with the biggest hands he'd ever seen in his life... Wilkie & The Others were for a while out of work there and worked separately with two different bands before being repatriated by the Mike Jefferies Management.

After the group returned from Germany, Mike Holmes who didn't want to stay in London, was replaced by a Scottish drummer named Billy Adamson formerly with The Blues Council alongside saxophonist Bill Patrick and guitarist Leslie Harvey (Alex Harvey's young brother).

Derry Wilkie and his group even used the old name of The Pressmen when they supported The Alan Price Set at The Marquee Club, London, in November 1965.

When guitarist Richie Blackmore, bass player Andy Anderson and drummer Jim Evans left the Savages to back Jerry Lee Lewis on his tour of Europe in late 1965, Screaming Lord Sutch needed a new band. He went to see Derry Wilkie & The Pressmen in a South London Club. Phil Kenzie remembers him talking and laughing with Derry Wilkie and then The Pressmen were at his house in North London rehearsing - with the two remaining members of the Four Saxes, Noel McManus and Ashton Tootell - to be the new Savages.

The members of the Pressmen worked for Screaming Lord Sutch for a considerable time, playing a lot of dates with him in England and Scotland.

They were the set of Savages that recorded "One Eyed Flying Purple People Eater" (5) - with Nicky Hopkins on piano - and played 6 concerts over a week end in early 1966, starting at the Astoria Finsbury Park and promoted by Robert Stigwood, alongside The Who, The Fortunes and The Merseybeats.

Sutch made Derry Wilkie dress up as a woman for one part of the act so he could chase him around the club with an axe. Derry did it as a good sport for a while but he didn't really enjoy having to but the pay was good and they all needed the money.

Soon after the departure of Noel McManus, the Savages were approached by heavy-weight boxer Freddy Mac to form a larger "Soul" stage show which included American vocalists Cleo Sylvester (who previously worked with The Rollingstones in '64) and Ronald Bertram Greaves aka "Sonny Child" (Sam Cooke's nephew).

As a result, the whole band - Derry Wilkie, Phil Kenzie, Derek Bond, Ernie Hayes, Billy Adamson, Ashton Tootell and roadie Bazz Ward - ended up involved with this project and left Dave Sutch.

The group called "This 'n' That" was in fact two groups which merged to form one large soul band with three singers and debuted at the Ram Jam Club in Brixton in April 1966. It was short lived and Derry Wilkie, who felt he was not getting the same attention as Sonny Childe, was opted out.

By mid '66, the group finally left Freddy Mac because they felt they could do better as a smaller unit.
They became Sonny Childe and TNT and recorded for Polydor until mid '67 (6).

Meanwhile Derry Wilkie went solo then went back to singing with Freddy Mac and his new group now call " The Mack Sound" from September 1966 to June 1967.

Wilkie then returned to Liverpool before moving to London and eventually living in Italy for some time.

Saxophonist Phil Kenzie joined Psychedelic band Tuesday’s Children and later became a sought-after session musician (e.g. The Beatles "Let It Be" LP, John and Yoko's Plastic Ono Band, George Harrison "All Things Must Pass", Paul McCartney & The Wings "Band On The Run" album "Jet", Al Stewart "Year of The Cat", Rod Stewart "Blondes Have More Fun", The Eagles "The Long Run" album ect.).

Drummer Billy Adamson later worked with Lulu, Emile Ford, Jet Harris then the Searchers for 30 years.

Derry Wilkie sadly died on 22 December 2001 and was buried in Toxteth Cemetery on Smithdown Road, Liverpool.

Notes:

(1) According to Pete Frame ("The Beatles & Some Other Guys - Rock Family Trees of the Early 60s", on p.11),
in May 1964, The Pressmen let manager Les Ackerley persuade them to capitalise on the name of Faron's popular, defunct group. Played the Tanz Club in Hamburg... Read also articles by Bill Arty Davies and from British Beat

(2) According to Tommy Bennett, he was the original drummer of The Others but left them when they decided to turn professional. He then join the Pathfinders and was replaced with Mike Holmes.

(3) See Tickets Memorablio

(4) In an issue of Mersey Beat - July 23 1964, Derry Wilkie said: "And now I've got a new group, the fabulous (that's so true) THE OTHERS, and at long last we've found someone who'll be honest with us and will be signing with him in the near future."

(5) One Eyed Flying Purple People Eater / You Don't Care (Hep House HS04) was released only in Germany in 1966

(6)  Earnie Hayes:  "Sonny left and moved to USA...
Mike Vaughn-Jones, Billy Adamson, and myself joined Jet Harris from the Shadows with Pete Gage singing...

Late 1967 I had a call from Andrew Oldham asking if I could put TNT together to be a backing band for P.P.Arnold. I could only get Billy Adamson, Mike Vaughn-Jones, Phil Kenzie, Myself and we had Eddie Phillips from "Creation" on bass. "


Derry Wilkie & The Seniors

Singles
· Double Twist/True Fine Mama (Fontana H 364) - February 1962
· I Ain't Mad At You/Twist At The Top (Fontana H 381) - 1962
· The Boll Weevil SOng/Bony Maronie (Fontana TF 403) - 1963

Album
Twist At The Top (Fontana TFL 5108) - February 1962


Derry Wilkie & The Pressmen

Album
“THIS IS MERSEYBEAT” (Oriole PS 40047) - July 5 1963: “Hallelujah I love her So”

The Freddy Mack Show/This'N'That
Single
 “Get Down With It”/ “I Care About You”  (Strike JH 310),   May 1966
Album
 “THE FANTASTIC FREDDY MACK SHOW”  (Rayrik TPLMP 142/143)


Line-ups of Derry Wilkie Bands

The Hy-Tones #2 (Late 1959 - Early 1960)
· Howie Casey (Tenor Sax)
· Derry Wilkie (Lead Vocals)
· Billy Hughes (Lead Guitar)
· Brian Griffiths (Lead Guitar)
· Stan Johnson (Rhythm Guitar)
· Jimmy O’Connor (Bass/Vocals)
· Stan Foster (Piano)
· Derek Gill (Drums)


Derry Wilkie & The Seniors #1 (December 1959 - January 1961)
· Derry Wilkie (Lead Vocals)
· Howie Casey (Tenor Sax)
· Brian Griffiths (Lead Guitar)
· Billy Hughes (Rhythm Guitar)
· Paul Whitehead (Bass)
· Stan Foster (Piano)
· Jeff Wallington (Drums)


Howie Casey & The Seniors #2 (January 1961 - Early 1962)
· Howie Casey (Tenor Sax)
· Derry Wilkie (Vocals)
· Freddie Starr (Vocals)
· Brian Griffiths (Lead Guitar)
· Paul Whitehead (Bass)
· Frank Wibberley (Drums)


Howie Casey & The Seniors #3 (Early 1962)
· Howie Casey (Tenor Sax)
· Derry Wilkie (Vocals)
· Freddie Starr (Vocals)
· Brian Griffiths (Lead Guitar)
· Lu Walters (Bass)
· Frank Bowen (Bass)
· Frank Wibberley (Drums)


Howie Casey & The Seniors #4 (Early - June 1962)
· Howie Casey (Tenor Sax)
· Derry Wilkie (Vocals)
· Freddie Starr (Vocals)
· Brian Griffiths (Lead Guitar)
· John O'Hara (Bass)
· Kenny Hardin (Drums)


Derry Wilkie & The Pressmen #1 (April - August 1963)
· Derry Wilkie (Lead Vocals)
· Ritchie Prescott (Lead Guitar)
· Bob Pears (Bass)
· Phil Kenzie (Tenor Sax)
· Dave Roberts (Baritone Sax)
· Tommy Bennett (Drums)


Derry Wilkie & The Pressmen #2 (August - October 1963)
· Derry Wilkie (Lead Vocals)
· Dave Carden (Lead Guitar)
· Bob Pears (Bass)
· Phil Kenzie (Tenor Sax)
· Dave Roberts (Baritone Sax)
· Aynsley Dunbar (Drums)


Derry Wilkie & The Pressmen #3 (Late 1963 - Early 1964)
· Derry Wilkie (Lead Vocals)
· Ad Flowerday (Lead Guitar)
· Wille Van Geffen (Lead Guitar)
· Howard Morris (Bass)
· Phil Kenzie (Tenor Sax)
· Tommy Bennett (Drums)


Derry Wilkie & The Others (January 1964 - Mid 1965)
· Derry Wilkie (Lead Vocals)
· Ernie Hayes (Lead Guitar)
· Bob Montgomery then Derek Bond (Bass)
· Phil Kenzie (Tenor Sax)
· Tommy Bennett then Mike Holmes (Drums)

Derry Wilkie & The Pressmen #4 (Mid 1965 - Early 1966)
· Derry Wilkie (Lead Vocals)
· Ernie Hayes (Lead Guitar)
· Derek Bond (Bass)
· Phil Kenzie (Tenor Sax)
· Mike Holmes (Drums)

Screaming Lord Sutch & The Savages #11 (Mid 1965 - Mid 1966)
· Dave Sutch (Lead Vocals)
· Derry Wilkie (Vocals/Sport)
· Ernie Hayes (Lead Guitar)
· Derek Bond (Bass)
· Phil Kenzie (Tenor Sax)
· Noel McManus (Tenor Sax)
· Ashton Tootell (Barytone Sax)
· Mike Holmes then Billy Adamson (Drums)


The Freddie Mack Show/This'N'That (Mid 1966)
· Freddie Mack (MC)
· Cleo Sylvester (Vocals)
· Derry Wilkie (Vocals)
· RB Greaves (Vocals) aka "Sonny Childe"
· Jo Baker (Vocals)
· Jeff Krivet (Guitar)
· Ernie Hayes (Guitar)
· Derek Bond (Bass)
· Phil Kenzie (Tenor Sax)
· "Nobby" Clarke (Tenor Sax)
· Ashton Tootell (Barytone Sax)
· Mark Charrig (Trumpet)
· Mike Vaughn-Jones (Hammond Organ)
· Billy Adamson (Drums)
· Eddie Lincoln (Percussion)

The Freddie Mack Sound  (Late 1966 - Mid 1967)
· Freddie Mack    (MC)    "Mr Superbad"      
· Derry Wilkie    (Vocals)          
· Kookie Etan    (Vocals)          
· "Honey"   (Vocals)          
· Richard "US Flatop"  (Vocals)          
· Alan ??   (Trumpet)          
· Eddie Thorton    (Trumpet)    "Tan Tan"      
· Clarence Jackson    (Trombone)    "JJ"      
· Roger Warwick    (Baritone Sax)                
· Bernie Wehrman    (Tenor Sax)          
· Dick Morrissey    (Tenor Sax)          
· Chris Burdett    (Alto Sax)          
· Bill Davidson    (Keyboards)          
· Ged Peck    (Lead Guitar)          
· Alan Cartwright    (Bass)          
· Nick Simper    (Bass)          
· Ray Lewis    (Bass)
· Barry J. Wilson   (Drums)       
· Roger Pinner    (Drums)    "Roger Truth"          
· Tony Gomez    (Conga)       

Does anybody know about Derry Wilkie’s career after 1967? Please contact us: tomusicstorytellers@gmail.com

A tribute to Derry Wilkie by Michael Wynne

"I played as a teenage lead guitarist with Derry in the early '90s in North London. In those days he wouldn't stray much from his 'manor', the Haverstock Hill area and the gigs used to be monthly residencies at the Sir Richard Steeles and the Load of Hay. At any time the band could have Tony Ashton (Ashton, Gardner and Dyke) or Ron Magness (of Flashdance fame) on keyboards (sometimes both if Derry was feeling plush), Archie Legget (Gerry Rafferty, Dr John, Spooky Tooth) on bass as well as me on axe duties. There was never a shortage of musicians wanting to play for Derry then and we all seemed to live on or just off the 'Hill. Typical numbers were Derry's 60's faves "Twist'n'Shout", "La Bamba", "Gimme Some Lovin'", "Whiter Shade of Pale."

We never rehearsed, just "kept the vibe goin,' lah'' as Derry always requested. Both coming from Liverpool as we did, we always had a special banter. Derry always gave his all in performance and the audience gave it back in shedloads.

We lost touch when he stopped performing and I moved away, but I always have great memories.

RIP Derry, play one for me at that Great Gig in the Sky." Mickey Wynne

http://www.mickeywynne.com/

www.reverbnation.com/mickeywynne

http://www.harmoniaproductions.co.uk/

Thanks to Mickey Wynne, Gaz Gaskell, John Wardburg, Wes Wilkie, Phil Kenzie, Earnie Hayes and Bazz Ward for providing corrections