The Brixham Song

Now, a bit about myself..

School for me was two bus rides away... St Peters in Merrow, the year - 1953. Education there, with too many names to mention, came to an end in 1958 when I went to Guildford Art school which was to shape and developed my love of music, bands and entertaining, again too many names to mention but thanks, we had fun.

The 1st band, one of many was THE SENATORS. We played our opening debut at Ehurst Village hall,..for the princely sum of 7 shillings each…35p! After being asked to leave the Art School and after a succession of jobs I became a Butlin Redcoat in Pwhelli, lots of memories of HI de HI! and campers, holidays 60`s style.It was here that I was to meet and sing along with RORY STORM and the HURRICANES, with RINGO STARR on Drums.

After that season at Butlins I joined the merchant navy and became a steward on the SS. Stratheden, sailing from Tilbury to Sydney on the £10 assisted passage…no tips! Then onto the motor trade, forming THE MUSTANGS and later THE BUMBLIES singing in the evenings and playing several gigs in the area. Picking up in popularity we had a visit from KENNETH KING (later known as JONATHAN!) who became our manager. We did several recordings with JO MEEK and King got us a deal with Jack Baverstock at FONTANA.

The GO-Ahead generation ….BUMBLIES SIGN ON THE LINE.  extract from Surrey Advertiser
One of Guildfords leading groups, THE BUMBLIES have been signed up by a major recording company and will have a disc
released by mid-April. The record is “Gotta Tell”. Largely responsible for getting this break is Kenny King, who is acting as manager,their A&R man and handling their publicity, and it was he who wrote the song for the record. The record was accepted by Philips and will be released on the Fontana lable. It is Kings idea to promote the Bumblies with Terry Ward as the vocalist. As well as appearing on the same bill as the MOODY BLUES the Bumblies have also played with THE MIGHTY AVENGERS at Westminster and the BARRON NIGHTS at Abingdon. Times are rosy for the group, they can command £30 for a booking and play on average four nights a week”

We should have stayed with King, but being too impatient, split with him,. I missed JK`s “Good News week” which HEDGEHOPPERS ANONYMOUS took to no5 in the chats, whoops! I wanted to turn pro so in turn the band split and I joined a band called THE SHINDIGS from Leicester who had been backing GERRY DORSEY. We went to Germany and the G.I bases and on one contract we were on the same bill as BILL HAYLEY,a legend.

On returning to England I reformed The Bumblies and went to France in 1966, playing at THE BROCHERIE in Normandy and the Bilbouquet and St Hilaire clubs in Paris.When 2 members left, I returned to England with PETE MOULD the bass player and joined an Israli band and had a 6 month contract singing with them in Israel, just after the six day war in 1967.

For the next few years I came out of the music business, jobs followed in the motor trade and retail, then in 1972 I went back to France to sing in The Brocherie nightclub, with French musicians. I taught English lessons and was asked to join a popular band who specialised in “Les Bals De Campagne” gigs in a very large marquee in the middle of nowhere with about 1000 people gathering from all corners .Very late nights, hard work but I met some extremely talented players. One was FRANK LANGOLF, a guitarist who later went on to write “Joe Le Taxi”, a lovely man.
Whilst teaching English and at this time playing with THE SEVY GOLDEN BAND I went up to Paris during the week and became established with TREMA RECORDS owned by JACQUES REVAUX, the writer of comme d`habitude (my way) and REGIS TALAR.Two of my songs were recorded by French singers namely MICHEL DELPECH and HERVE VILARD.

I also wrote several translations for Trema record for sales to Canada and translated a pop opera called “PENELOPE” for Jacques Revaux. I also released three singles under my own name, “There goes my heart / Bonjour Maman”, “Sweet Tangerine / The English Teacher” and “ The night we said goodbye / Friends”.

Having bought a house in England, I came home and worked as the resident singer for the TONY EVANS band at THE HAMMERSMITH PALAIS. During this time I got to know TREVOR HORN who played with the other resident band “ZODIAC”. He arranged my song “Friends” which was recorded at Advision Studios,London.I had also travelled to Germany at this time for 2 t.v. shows to promote my release of “sing a little song” which entered the German charts at no 16.

Enough of foreign lands, I now had a son TRISTAN and was semi-pro at home, forming a duo with close friend RICK CRESSY called “THE BROTHERS BORING”. I wont say who we were named after! We developed an act where we changed the lyrics of popular songs for somewhat controversial ones. We giggled along happily for nearly 3 years.

In 1992 I contracted Leukaemia, (please see the other sections in this web site) and after I recovered, got married and with Lesley my wife and loyal and best friend we decided to reform the BUMBLIES. Over 160 gigs later, ( I have kept a list!) “The BUMBLIES” merged into “ REPLAY”, both bands with great guys both new and from the past.

Today I really enjoy being “a singer for hire”. I still get inspiration to write and enjoy taking my guitar to dinner parties, boat trips ,house warming’s, parties and pubs. I also play with a band specialising in early Rock and Roll with a full line up of bass, drums, keyboard (MIKE HOPWOOD) and lead guitar (DICK MIDDLETON ex GENE VICENT and MUNGO GERRY) which is suitable for clubs and larger gigs. I aso have a duo, “THE TWO OF US”, Acoustic, keyboard and vocals.

Please contact me if you have any musical requirements, we will be happy to try and help.