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Hit Recording Artists
Viscount Entertainment has one
of the largest databases of Hit Recording Artists. Click on
the A to Z toolbar or scroll through the artists names below
for more information.
 |
Acker
Bilk |
|
| Still
going strong after more than 60 years in the music industry
Acker Bilk and his Paramount Jazz Band continue vto
delight audiences worldwide. Best remembered for his
1961 hit "Stranger on the Shore" which was
the first ever recording to be va No1 hit in the British
and American charts simultaneously and spent 55 weeks
in the charts. |
 |
Alvin
Stardust |
|
| Alvin
shot to stardom in the 1970's. He had already had four
hit singles under the name of Shane Fenton bu "My
Coo Ca Choo", his debut single as Alvin Stardust
was a massive success and became a huge international
number one hit and spent over 6 months in the charts.
Numerous hits followed including four more number ones,
"Jealous Mind", "You You You", "Red
Dress" and "Good Love". |
 |
Atlantic
Soul Machine |
|
| Formed
in 1989 by trombonist Pete Lamont the band has since
performed over 2000 shows. Their previous clients include
Sir Paul McCartney who enjoyed the show so much he booked
them again. The band have toured the UK and Europe several
times both as the Atlantic Soul Machine and as a backing
band for american soul artists. |
 |
Bad
Manners |
|
| Formed
in 1976 by school chums who lived in London, Bad Manners
have become a british institution. Between 1980 and
1983 they spent 111 weeks in the charts and had 15
hit singles. Hits included Ne-Ne-Na-Na-Na-Nu-Nu, Lip
Up Fatty, Special Brew, Lorraine, Just A Feeling,
Walking In Sunshine to name but a few. |
 |
Barron
Knights |
|
| Formed
in 1962 and still going strong today with their new
show "Bop Till We Drop", this show was introduced
in 2004 and is improving all the time and features
all the old hits plus lots of new material. |
 |
Boney
M |
|
| Maizie
Williams - the original singer from the very birth
of Boney M - featured on all their top ten hits, and
is now joined by three dynamic singers and live band. |
 |
Bootlace |
 |
|
Simply the UKs greatest ever party band! Formerly
Black Lace, Rob Hopcrafts terrific duo performs
all the hits from the legendary duo - Agadoo, Conga,
Music Man and much, much more... Demo available. |
 |
Brotherhood
of Man |
|
| Brotherhood
of Man won the 1976 Eurovision Song Contest with "Save
Your Kisses For Me". The song proved to be one
of the biggest selling records of all time, selling
in excess of 5 million copies. The group followed
this with 2 more British number ones "Angelo"
and "Figaro". The band also had a number
of other hits such as "My Sweet Rosalie",
"Oh Boy", "Middle of the Road"
and "Beautiful Lover". The band retain the
same line up as appeared in 1976. |
 |
Bruvvers |
|
The
Bruvvers are one of Britain's first Rock 'n Roll
Bands who helped set the path for the Beatles,
the Rolloing Stones and many other bands from
the early sixties. The Bruvvers along with singer
Joe Brown had a string of top ten hits throughout
the sixties including the No 1 hit "A Picture
of You".
The wealth of experience contained in the band
has taken the Bruvvers from strength to strength,
playing good solid rock 'n roll not only for audiences
of the sixties but also todays generation. |
 |
Bucks
Fizz |
|
Bucks
Fizz were one of the biggest bands of the early
80's. Eurovision Song Contest winners with "Making
Your Mind Up" earned them an instant place
in musical folklore and an international number
one hit. Following the footsteps of Abba, Bucks
Fizz redefined the public's expectations of a boy/girl
band with exciting dance routines and regular visual
image changes.
Audiences old and new continue to appreciate the
charm and vitality first displayed by Bucks Fizz
over 2 decades ago. |
 |
Chas
And Dave |
|
| Chas
and Dave write exceptionally witty songs about life
in London, performed with a strong affection for
all things English. Still going strong after more
than 30 years their show attracts and appeals to
old and young alike. |
|
Chicory
Tip |
|
Chicory
Tip reformed in 1996, they played a few songs
and realised the old magic was still there. By
January 1997 they began working again, playing
mainly functions, golf clubs, masonic ladies nights,
parties and weddings etc.
Best known for their No1 hit "Son of my
Father" released in 1972. Chicory Tip are
one of the few bands from the 60's and 70's still
working with all original members. |
 |
Clem
Curtis And The Foundations |
|
| Clem
Curtis and the Foundations were the first multi-racial
band in the UK and as the original lead singer Clem
is now legendary in the music business both as a
first clas musician and entertainer. Thirty years
of music and humour has produced a quality of performance
which appeals to audiences of all ages. Clems expertise
backed by a brilliant band is a winning and unmissable
formula. |
 |
The
Dakotas |
|
| The
Dakotas are one of the few original "British Invasion"
or "Mersey Beat" bands still touring today.
With a history which includes touring with the Beatles
and a recent schedule which has taken the group from
their native UK to Europe and America, the Dakotas are
a totally unique musical experience. |
 |
Dave
Berry |
|
| Like
it's American counterpart, British Rock 'n Roll
has given us some memorable figures. Amongst the
many artists each era has produced there have been
those performers who have that special something
that sets them apart. Sheffield's very own Dave
Berry has to be one of those entertainers, a very
stylised and musical personality. Dave created a
stage act that has gone on to influence others,
most notably, Alvin Stardust and Adam Ant. His current
work on stage embraces all aspects of Dave's career,
underlined of course by his great originality and
showmanship. |
 |
Doctor
And The Medics |
|
| Back
on the road with a new six piece line up and a new
set of classic party hits not forgetting their own
chart topper "Spirit in the Sky", number
one in 36 countries. Available as a completely self
contained unit including a 5kw Meyer PA system and
16k Par64 lighting system. |
 |
Dr.
Feelgood |
|
Formed
in Canvey Island in Essex in the early 1970's
Dr Feelgood has become one of the most popular
rhythm and blues acts in the world. The raw and
uncompromising style that made them so popular
resulted in the band achieving a number one chart
position with their album "Stupidity".
Dr Feelgood have also enjoyed a string of hit
singles including "Milk and Alcohol",
"Down at the Doctors", "Roxette",
"She's a Wind Up" and "See You
Later Alligator". The band still undertakes
a full touring schedule, still thrilling the crowds
with the vitality of their explosive live show.
|
 |
The
Edwin Starr Band |
|
|
When they backed the late great Edwin Starr they were afectionately known as
THE TEAM in which Edwin's brother Angelo was an
integral part. THE EDWIN STARR BAND is a 10 peice
show which keeps the memory of Edwin Starr and his
hits alive. His brother is now the front man and
Edwin would have surely been proud to hear his brothers
reditions of his hits such as "War" "Stop
her on Sight" "25 Miles" "Contact"
Happy Radio" etc along with other crowd pleasers
such as "My Girl" "Higher & Higher"
"Celebration" etc. |
 |
Fleetwood
Mac |
|
| And
for an incredible 15 months in 2003-2004, The Mac
toured the world promoting "Say You Will".
The tour is expected to come to an end in the Fall
of 2004 but not without the band having entertained
hundreds of thousands of fans all over the world.
And the tour was hugely successful -- so much so that
PBS aired two separate Mac related "Soundstage"
specials this summer. One for Lindsey Buckingham solo
(with Stevie Nicks as a special guest) and the other
a broadcast of a September 2003 Boston show (released
to stores June 15, 2004 as the "Live In Boston"
concert DVD). As far as what the future holds for
Fleetwood Mac, it's always hard to say for sure with
this band. But we have heard Mick say that Stevie
& Lindsey solo albums will happen first-- then
a Mac release soon after. To date Fleetwood Mac has
sold over 100 million albums, making them one of the
most popular bands in rock history. This band has
given us a breath-taking catalogue of material from
their collective and solo careers that is unparalleled.
They've experimented with a range of musical styles
that is unprecedented. They've made us laugh and made
us cry -- but most of all they've made us proud as
fans. |
 |
The
Fortunes |
|
Hailing
from Birmingham, England, The Fortunes first came
to prominence and international acclaim during that
Golden Era of Popular Music - the ‘swinging’
mid-sixties. Following on in the wake of Merseybeat,
and the R&B of The Stones, etc., The Fortunes
added another dimension to the sound of the classic
pop song with their special ingredients of sophisticated
orchestration, dual lead vocals and stylish counter-melodies.The
result was a succession of distinctive and distinguished
hit records including ‘You’ve Got Your
Troubles’, ‘Here It Comes Again’
and, continuing into the seventies with more successful
releases such as 'Storm in a Teacup' and 'Freedom
Come, Freedom Go'. These songs have stood the test
of time, becoming household favourites permanently
on playlists everywhere. The Fortunes remain as
one of the UKs premier harmony groups, and are constantly
in demand worldwide. From the initial success in
1964 of ‘Caroline’, used as the signature
tune for the influential Pirate Radio station of
the same name, The Fortunes had a steady succession
of world-wide hits culminating in 1972 with the
release of ‘Storm in a Teacup’. During
this period The Fortunes were also the voices for
the US Coca Cola adverts (‘It’s The
Real Thing’) still to be seen and heard in
the US today.
|
 |
The
Foundations |
 |
The
Foundations were formed by guitarist Alan Warner,
they have had a string of hits including 'Build
me up Buttercup' (which was featured in the smash
hit film 'There's something about Mary') 'Baby now
that i've found you' ,'Back on my feet again' and
'Bad Bad old days' widely regarded as one of the
best British soul/pop records ever produced. The
band cause a sensation wherever it plays.
|
 |
The
Fourmost |
 |
|
The Fourmost acheived fame under the management wing of Brian Epstein and had
already been part of the boom of beat music in Liverpool,
having played the famous Cavern club in 1961, long
before the Beatles made their debut. After being
auditioned by George Martin, they were signed to
Parlophone Records, the same label as The Beatles.
Two commercial Lennon / McCartney songs, "Hello
Little Girl" and "I'm In Love" served
as their initial a-sides, but the chirpy "A
Little Lovin'" became the bands biggest hit
on reaching No.6 in April 1964. They were featured
in the film "Ferry Cross The Mersey" which
consolidated their position as one of the leading
Liverpool groups. |
 |
Gidea
Park |
|
| Gidea
Park achieved UK and European chart success with
the medley style singles "Beach Boy Gold",
"Seasons of Gold" and "California
Gold". Gidea Park pride themselves on being
more than just a tribute band and an outstanding
vocal harmony band. Backdrops and staging are provided
to create a summer sunshine setting, a full light
show adds to the effect. Hawaiian shirts, shorts
and surfboards complete the look. Humour is never
far away and the stage antics have been known to
make even the band roar with laughter. |
 |
Hermans
Hermits |
|
| The
Mid-60's music scene was dominated by British Acts;
three of which became household names - The Beatles
- The Rolling Stones and...... Herman's Hermits, who
are one of the most successful groups throughout the
world. From their beginning in Manchester, England,
on April 1st 1964, the band has chalked up over 23
hit singles, 10 hit albums, 3 major movies and countless
television shows and concert tours all over the world
- up to date they have total record sales of over
75 million. Since 1971 and the departure of Peter
Noone to pursue a solo career in the entertainment
business, the group has never stopped. Original member
Barry (the Bean) Whitwam. has guided the band from
strength to strength into one of the hardest working
acts in the business - they still average more than
200 one-night stands per year - and reckon they maintain
their stamina by having an amazing sense of humour. |
 |
The
Ivy League |
|
| Since
the mid 60's when the Ivy League had their first
taste of pop chart success the band has gone from
strength to strength. The Ivy Leagues unique falsetto
vocal sound, blended with superb harmonies reproduce
their hits "Tossing and Turning", "Funny
How Love Can Be" and"That's Why I'm Crying".
Added to their repertoire are some old and some
new favourites, all of which are brought together
with some hysterical zany comedy routines. |
 |
Jimmy
James And The Vagabonds |
|
| In
Jamaica Jimmy James had some considerable success
with two singles "Bewildered And Blue" and
"Come Softly To Me". He came to England
and joined the multi-racial Vagabonds. The band became
a leading live attraction in the 60's. Chart success
came with "Red Red Wine" and later in 1976
with another set of Vagabonds "I'll Go where
the Music Takes Me" and "Now Is The Time".
The band is a major live attraction with their impressive,
infectious repertoire. |
 |
Joe
Brown |
|
| Joe
Brown was one of the original Rock & Roll Stars
to come out of the UK. One of the first UK session
men, his early career highlights include playing guitar
with Gene Vincent, Eddie Cochran, Johnny Cash and
other US stars when they came over to Europe. Joe
went on to top the charts with his own records, had
The Beatles open shows for him and in a career packed
with musical highlights has also presented several
National series of the Joe Brown Show on UK TV, two
series Rock Show for BBC Radio 2 and finds time to
do around 100 live shows a year in the UK. In 2002
he appeared at the Concert For George to honour the
life and memory of his dear friend George Harrison. |
 |
Kenny
Ball |
|
| Among
the leading traditional jazz trumpet players on
the eastern side of the Atlantic arguably the most
successful is Kenny Ball. Kenny achieved worldwide
fame for his recordings in the 1960’s. Including
“Midnight in Moscow” which reached No.
2 in the UK and the US charts and hit worldwide
sales of more than one million copies, the debut
hit “Samantha” and the smash “When
I’m 64”, made Kenny a household name.
With no fewer than 20 albums on sale, a Billboard
Gold Microphone Award, more top 30’s in the
US than Louis Armstrong, and honorary citizenship
to the city of New Orleans, Kenny Ball is no less
than a - true legend. |
 |
Les
McKeowns Legendary Bay City Rollers |
|
| During
a decade spanning 1971 – 1981, the Bay City
Rollers became one of the world’s biggest selling
bands, notching up hit after hit around the world.
With their legions of fans sporting the ‘tartan
look’, Rollermania had arrived! In the UK alone:
12 chart hits, 2 number ones (Bye Bye Baby and Give
A Little Love), 9 other top ten placings, their own
National TV series (Shang A Lang) plus sell-out stadium
tours made their faces famous wherever they appeared.
Paramount to this success was Les McKeown, lead singer
and the voice of all the hit records. Les McKeown’s
Legendary Bay City Rollers invite you to re-create
the excitement of those heady days! |
 |
Lieutenant
Pigeon |
|
| 70's
No 1 Hit recording band. Now perform as a 3 piece
rock and glamrock band of the 60's and 70's to incorporate
the bands hits.The length of performance being aprroximatel
60-70 minutes. |
 |
Marmalade
|
|
| Marmalade
are one of those groups that just seem to go on forever,
once described as the definative scottish rock group.
Mainly rememberedfor one song "Ob-La- Di, Ob-La-Da"
they charted number one hits and top ten american
hits into the 70's. Still going strong today and thrilling
audiences of all age groups. |
 |
Merseybeats
|
|
| The
Merseybeats can only be described as one of the
most powerful and exciting bands performing ‘live’
music today, they continue to enthrall thousands
of fans, in the UK, Europe and World-wide by performing
one night stands and package tours…. proof
that they are still one of the most popular and
authentic sixties bands performing today. |
 |
Mike
Pender's Searchers |
|
| Throughout
the History of Popular Music and in particular the
"Swinging Sixties" the "Charts"
have been dominated by groups. These inevitably produced
a front man, usually with a distinctive vocal style
that became that group's signature. The Searchers
were one such 60's group, sweeping to fame in 1963
with their first recording, "Sweets for My Sweet"
which was the first of three No. 1 hits, followed
by no less than 14 more chart hits. Voted second only
to the Beatles in 1964, the Searchers became a household
name on both sides of the Atlantic. After the first
two hits, one man emerged as the Creator of the Searchers
sound that was to become a legend. The man responsible
for those highly distinctive vocals and that "jangly"
12-string guitar is Mike Pender. Today the sounds
of the sixties are as popular as ever. Mike Pender's
Searchers still travel the U.K. and many continents
singing, playing and creating that distinctive sound
which has become a legend in popular music. |
 |
Mungo
Jerry |
|
| During
the early 70’s viewers tuning into their regular
weekly fix of then, un-missible Top of the Pops would
have regularly been greeted by a smiling, mutton-chopped,
gap-toothed singer by the name of RAY DORSET, more
commonly known as the singer, song-writer and guitarist
of MUNGO JERRY. In a two year hit span, MUNGO JERRY
contributed four Top Twenty singles, (including two
Number One’s) and two Top Twenty albums in their
first flush of success. But after a long worldwide
tour and on the way home from Australia, two other
members of the band decided that RAY DORSET was out.
On hearing this both the record company Pye, and the
bands management Red Bus, would have none of it. They
had a better idea, the others were out and RAY DORSET,
the leader would now be MUNGO JERRY the Man! The song
most associated with MUNGO JERRY is the global hit
'IN THE SUMMERTIME', it sold over six million copies
worldwide in the first six months of release and over
thirty years later, that total is now near, a staggering
thirty million sales, making it officially the most
played summer song of all time. Winning for itself
and it’s writer RAY DORSET, prestigious Sony
/ MTV and Ivor Novello awards. |
 |
Nashville
Teens |
|
| Still
going strong after more than 40 years in the business,
best known for their chart hit "Tobacco Road",
other hits include "Google Eye", "Little
Bird", "Find My Way Back Home" and
"The Biggest Night of her Life". |
 |
Paper
Lace |
|
| Paper
Lace consisted of Philip Wright, Cliff Fish, Chris
Morris, Carlo Santanna, and Michael Vaughan . Hailing
from Nottingham, Paper Lace was formed in 1969 and
in early 1974 they won ITV's talent contest Opportunity
Knocks. Thanks to that show they were quickly signed
by songwriters / producers Mitch Murray and Peter
Callender. The smash hit 'Billy Don't Be A Hero'
stayed three weeks at No. 1 on the British Chart
in March 1974, and an equally catchy story song
reached the No. 3 position; it was called 'The Night
Chicago Died'. Another hit 'The Black-Eyed Boys',
took Paper Lace to No. 11 in late 1974. With their
American subject matter, it was logical that 'Billy
Don't Be A Hero' and 'The Night Chicago Died' should
become US hits, however Bo Donaldson and the Heywoods
were the first to release 'Billy', and Paper Lace
had to be content with a No. 96 placing , but enjoyed
their own American chart-topper with ' Chicago '.
They were the most successful band Nottingham ever
produced and were invited to perform on the Royal
Variety Performance in front of the Queen Mother. |
 |
P.
J. Proby |
|
| To
say P.J. Proby is talented, is an understatement.
He's a giant and as the album states a "Legend",
who has made an indelible impression upon the music
and the entertainment industry. There is no dispute
that P.J. Proby is one of the most exciting and talented
performers of our time. |
 |
Roy
Wood Big Band |
|
| The
early Nineties were spent mainly in his own studio
writing and recording. However, live work called
again and Roy launched the twelve piece Roy Wood
Big Band. This band has now evolved into an exciting
new venture, Roy Wood’s Army, which features
a stunning, seven piece brass section, (six of which
are female!) playing all Roy’s hits &
songs written especially for his sparkling new band. |
 |
Rubettes
|
|
| The
Rubettes’ first (and biggest hit) was “Sugar
Baby Love” (released in 1974) which was a UK
no. 1 and going on to sell around three million copies
worldwide. The distinctive falsetto lead vocal to
“Sugar Baby Love” was however performed
by Paul Da Vinci (real name: Paul Prewer) who left
the group after a few weeks to be replaced by Williams.
The song is often mistakenly assumed to be by Showaddywaddy
by casual music fans and the younger generation. The
Rubettes went on to have a number of other hits during
the mid-seventies such as “Juke Box Jive”
and “I Can Do It”, mostly written by the
Bickerton-Waddington song-writing team. Their final
hit was the 'country rock' styled ballad - "Baby
I Know" - which reached no. 10 in the UK in 1977. |
 |
The
Searchers |
|
The
Searchers are one of the few British pop groups
who have maintained their position at the top for
well over 40 years. Second only to the Beatles as
Liverpool's finest 60's group.
|
 |
Shakin'
Stevens |
|
In
2002 Stevens received a Number One Gold Award from
The Guinness Book of British Hit Singles. In 2003
he headlined to an audience of 200,000 in Austria,
and in 2004 topped the bill at the prestigious charity
event of the Frankfurt Opera Ball, then appearing
in the tv celebration to mark 50 Years Of Rock.
Stevens was then ranked as the 16th highest selling
artist in the UK, ever, and also acknowledged as
having had more number 1's than any other Welsh
artist. He followed all this up with a further Number
1, Platinum selling album in Denmark, and in 2005
with a # 4 album, in the UK, which went Gold within
9 days of release. With a sell-out UK tour at the
end of 2005, Shaky then went back into the studio
to complete a new album, scheduled for release in
2006.
|
 |
Showadywaddy
|
|
During
1973, the band were asked if they wanted to be on
TV - the show was "New Faces". They won
one programme in the series and were runners-up in
the "All Winners Final". This led to various
record companies racing to sign them up. However they
had already signed to Bell Records, (the Bay City
Rollers and Gary Glitter were also signed to the signed
to the same label).
The first single, Hey Rock And Roll was released on
19th April 1974 and reached number two in the UK charts.
Showaddywaddy then hit the UK charts another 22 times
until late 1982. These included 10 Top-Ten singles
and one number one, racking up a total on 209 weeks
in the singles chart - one of the most successful
singles groups of all time. The first few singles
were all written by the band and these generally reached
the top-20. Two cover versions, 'Three Steps To Heaven'
and 'Heartbeat' were released in 1975. These both
reached the top ten before Showaddywaddy reverted
back to their own material. However, these again failed
to reach the top-10, so they went back to cover-versions
and entered the top-10 once more. Romeo later quoted,
"Dave and Trevor would approach the record company
with a song. The would say, 'No we don't want that
- you had a hit with a cover last time, you can do
it again'". The cover versions were all pop versions
of old '50s US rock 'n' roll songs, catchy tunes backed
up by their colourful image, dance routines and numerous
television appearances. |
 |
Slade |
|
| Without
doubt one of the most exciting bands to come out of
Great Britain in the past 30 years. With their unique
blend of pop-rock 'n roll, outrageous flambuoyance,
and no less than 23 top ten singles of which 6 were
number 1's-plus 6 smash albums. Slade have become
a firm favourite in the hearts of pop fans all over
the world. |
 |
Smokie
|
|
| To
be rock 'n' roll survivors is an achievement. To
be Europe's top live band, thirty years after its
inception is truly fantastic but to still be enthusiastic,
fresh, totally committed and in love with the music
is a positive miracle. |
 |
Steeleye
Span |
|
| In
2002, Steeleye Span reformed for a comeback tour with
a 'classic lineup'. Prior and Genocky rejoined, and
along with Kemp, Knight and Johnson, they released
Present (2002), a 2-disc set of new recordings of
songs chosen by fans on a Steeleye web site as the
best of their previous output. Johnson had to retire
from playing duties before the 2002 tour, and was
replaced on guitar by Ken Nicol, formerly of the Albion
Band. With Nicol on board, the relatively prolific
output has continued, with the release of 'They called
her Babylon' (2004) and the Christmas album 'Winter'.
In 2005 Steeleye Span were awarded the Good Tradition
Award at the BBC Folk Awards, while a recent book,
Electric Folk by Britta Sweers (2005), devotes much
space to the band. As of Spring 2006, the band are
currently on a UK tour, to be followed by dates in
Europe and an appearance at the 2006 Cropredy Festival.
The tour is supported by a live album and DVD of their
2004 tour, and a new studio album is expected later
this year or early 2007. The current line-up consists
of Maddy Prior (vocals), Ken Nicol (guitar, vocals),
Rick Kemp (bass, vocals), Peter Knight (violin, piano,
vocals), and Liam Genockey (drums and percussion),
and draws on past and current Steeleye Span repertoire.
They usually plays to theatres and arts centres but
also performs at festivals. The band has recently
toured extensively in Australia and closed 2004 with
a gala performance in London's Paladium theatre. |
 |
Suzi
Quattro |
|
| Rocks
First Lady - Worldwide sales of 50 million records,
sixteen HIT SINGLES and over 35 years of Concert
Touring. Suzi Quatro the Singer, Song Writer, Musician
and Performer is undoubtedly the QUEEN OF ROCK AND
ROLL! "All My Life I Wanted To Be Somebody
And Here I Am!" Susan Kay Quatro born 3rd June
1950 in Detriot U.S.A., after touring in bands with
her sisters through out the U.S.A. in the late 1960's,
in 1971 Suzi went to live and work in England. Suzi
achieved musical success and went onto become the
first female rock musican with a string of number
one hits through out the 1970's and early 80's. |
 |
Tremeloes
|
|
| The
group formed in 1958 as Brian Poole and the Tremoloes
(the name soon being changed thanks to the spelling
mistake of a local newspaper), and were initially
cast in the Buddy Holly and the Crickets mould. Decca
notoriously chose them over The Beatles, whom they
had auditioned on the same day. They first charted
with a version of “Twist and Shout” (1963),
which owed much to the Beatles' version, followed
by a chart topping cover of The Contours' U.S. million-seller
“Do You Love Me” in the same year. Before
they parted company with Brian Poole in 1966, their
covers of Roy Orbison's B-side, "Candy Man"
and The Crickets' B-side ballad, "Someone Someone"
(both 1964) entered the UK singles chart Top Ten,
with the latter peaking at number two. |
 |
Troggs
|
|
| The
Troggs were signed by the manager of The Kinks in
1966 and recorded on Larry Page's Page One Records.
Their most famous hit was the single "Wild Thing"
(written by Chip Taylor), which reached #1 in the
United States in June 1966. Its combination of a simple
heavy guitar riff and flirtatious lyrics helped it
to quickly become a garage rock standard. They also
had a number of other hits, including "With a
Girl Like You" (a UK #1 in July 1966, U.S. #25),
"I Can't Control Myself" (a UK #2 in September
1966), "Anyway That You Want Me" (UK #10
in December 1966), "Night of the Long Grass"
(UK #17 in May 1967), and "Love Is All Around"
(UK #5 in October 1967 and US #7 in February 1968).
In the early 1970s, in an attempt to re-create their
1960s successes, the Troggs re-united with Larry Page,
now running Penny Farthing Records, but the resulting
cover version of the Beach Boys hit Good Vibrations
did not capture the public's imagination. The Troggs
still exist and still play gigs. |
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The
Union Gap |
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| The
band has worked extensively to put together a repertoire
of classic songs from the 60’s to 90’s,
which they perform either in the original form or
in their own unique style – many of which appear
on their albums “This Time Around”, “Classics”
& thier latest release "By Request".
The band have also devoted a great deal of time and
effort to perfect their concert sound, which is always
complimented wherever they appear. The "Union
Gap" are a professional band, fully self contained
with concert sound and lighting, are experienced in
– and available for – work in Theatres,
Cabaret Venues, Holiday Centres and Cruise Ships throughout
the UK and overseas. The “Union Gap” are
very proud of their increasing popularity and outstanding
reputation for their friendliness and professionalism
both on and off stage which makes them an instant
hit with audiences, venue management & staff,
sound/lighting/stage crew and entertainment agencies. |
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Wayne
Fontana And The Mindbenders |
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They
began as The Jets in 1963 playing R&B covers
in Manchester pubs where they were spotted by a
Fontana Records talent scout. He signed them and
the bands' name was duly changed. After making a
few competent, if not particularly exceptional records,
their cover of Major Lance's "Um, Um, Um, Um,
Um, Um" was their first big hit in the autumn
of '64. They followed this with another top ten
record "Game Of Love" (65). The partnership
broke up in the closing months of 1965, and The
Mindbenders immediately struck gold with the beautiful
beat ballad "A Groovy Kind Of Love". They
reached the top twenty again with "Ashes To
Ashes" (66) and made an appearance in the film
before disappearing from view, eventually splitting
up in 1968. Fontana too, put out solo records ,
his highest placing was No. 11 with "Pamela,
Pamela" at the end of '66. This would also
be his final chart entry.
|
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Maize
Williams |
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Maizie, original singer from the very birth of
Boney M, featured on all their top ten hits, is
now joined by three dynamic singers, Sheila Bonnick,
Toyin Adekale and Kelly Rahman .Their greatest hits
albums always re-chart and include classics such
as "Brown Girl In The Ring", "Rivers
Of Babylon" and "Ra-Ra-Rasputin".
|
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Wurzels
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| Legends
of the West Country, best known for their Hits of
the 70’s, Combine Harvester, I am a Cider Drinker,
The Blackbird Song, Morning Glory, Drink Up thy Zider,
Finest arvest etc. now have a huge cult follwing in
the 90’s throughout the U.K. They have made
thousands of live appearances throughout the U.K,
in Canada, the Middle East, Spain and Central America
– have three Royal shows to their credit, before
Princess Anne, The Duchess of Gloucester, The Duchess
of Kent, even appearing at Buckingham Palace. Their
television appearances have been many – and
varied – from Blue Peter to the Generation Game
– Top of the Pops to Highway, then in 1998 the
Steve Coogan show on BBC1, Never Mind the Buzzocks
on the BBC2, The Harry Hill show in December 1998
on Channel 4, Night Fever in January 1999 on Channel
5 and then in April 1999 on Channel 4, featured in
a look back at past No 1 hit singles. |
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Yardbirds |
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| By
now, everyone knows the Yardbirds legend, if not their
music; the band graduated three of the great Ph.D.s
of rock guitar: Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck and Jimmy
Page. They created hard rock out of standard twelve-bar
blues, doubling the tempos and whacking the amps up
to ten. On the British club scene, the Yardbirds,
the Animals, and the Rolling Stones ruled the stages.
The Yardbirds expanded the range of the electric guitar,
experimenting with feedback, sustain, and fuzztone.
They also coined and popularized the rave-up, a kind
of free-for-all where you jam long and hard, not as
soloists, but in a tandem, until you reach an epiphany
about 10 or 20 or 30 minutes later, a shuddering climax
of decibels and pure energy, and then—back into
the song for one more boom-boom chorus. The Yardbirds
were the bridge between the tributary white R&B
of early-sixties London and the pastures of fuzz-toned
psychedelia and power-chorded heavy metal plowed much
later in the decade and throughout the seventies.
Yes, the Yardbirds laid the groundwork for Rock Guitar
As We Know It. |
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