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He was a skiffler and became a Spinner
The rise of the Liverpool Spinners to huge success was a great boost to the return British Folk music. Redd Sullivan had prompted their conversion from singing all those American songs to singing the songs of their own heritage. But in that era, the delineation between Jazz, Folk, Skiffle and Beat was not as pronounced…
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The future is Orange
Today’s interviewing pleasure was with Cliff Cooper, founder of Orange Amplification. He started as the washboard player in a skiffle group and they got to record a hit with Joe Meek. As if that was not enough he founded the iconic Orange brand of amplifiers and speakers, became a manager, a music publisher and even…
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Playing three foot of German ply
Mo Foster became one of the country’s top session men but his origins are the same as many musicians here in the UK, searching for a playable guitar at a time when American imports were banned. Everything you played was something you had made for yourself in Post War Britain. Then came VOLUME as amplifiers appeared…
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Tony’s Tin Pan Alley days
here is the story of a man who personifies the way Denmark Street used to work, where songwriters learned their craft and demos were made that became worldwide hits, where you met your fellow travellers. It is disappearing now which makes all these stories and the memories all the more important. This was where the…
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John Craig has memories of Ritchie’s ways
Here is a man who worked with some heavy British rock groups in their hey-days and so of course he had the pleasure of one Ritchie Blackmore’s testing ways
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naming the Troggs lead singer
It can be amusing how people get a stage name, so here you can learn from the PR man how Reg of The Troggs got his moniker. In the punk era I remember I named the bass guitarist of one group I was working with as Ben Dover and the poor lad lived with that for several years.…
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Zoot Money – Alexis Korner
Earlier this year we did an interview with Zoot Money in part for the Alexis Korner documentary that we are proceeding with. You can now see a snippet right here
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Mick Eve, sax playing legend
Just had a great filming session with Mick Eve who I have not seen for a few decades. The years have been kind to Mick having played as one of the early Blue Flames with Georgie Fame. With Herbie Goins as one of the Nightimers and eventually leading Gonzalez to huge success. Along the way…
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Harry Pitch
Harmonica king, Harry ‘Perfect’ Pitch graced Bridge On The River Kwai, I Remember You, Groovin’ With Mr Bloe and every episode of Last Of The Summer Wine, plus a huge amount more. RIP
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Dave Black
A clip from happier days, Dave subsequently went on to form the long forgotten prog band Kestrel and then eventually have a hit with Goldie.
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Don Craine and the Downliners Sect
Had a great session last week with Don talking about Eel Pie Island, Screaming Lord Sutch, The Stones, The Artwoods and of course the Downliners Sect in its various incarnations. Memories of a huge hit in Sweden from the most unlikely source turned them into stars in Scandinavia when they were still the college circuit with a…
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End of the summer wine
We are sorry to report the loss of the harmonica player Harry Pitch aged 90 who we filmed a few years ago, he had been ill for a few months. Inspired to take up the instrument by Larry Adler, he learnt to play in the numerous local Harmonica Bands. Aged 12 Pitch then won the…