Grimsby Groups 2

Ted Crunkhurn's Grimsby bands

Ted Crunkhurn has played lead guitar over the years for the following Grimsby Bands

The Hooks, Reflection, Mosaic,Illusions, Spiral,Good news, Butterfly and Lincs.1965/1987

He has also played drums for vocal harmony trio 'Harvest' 1987/1999

In 1973, Ted Crunkhurn joined 'Butterfly' with John Howden on drums, and Doug Ormonde on bass. 'Butterfly' were a very successful band in the 70's And we introduced comedy into an also very tight musical three piece who played all over Yorkshire and Derbyshire, one of Ted's all time favourite bands.

After 'Butterfly' Ted Crunkhurn joined 'Lincs', with bass player Paul Avison, drummer vocalist Howard Tilling, and Bob Bean on guitar; the band later carried on as a three piece without Bob and carried on until 1981.

Ted Crunkhurn joined 'Harvest' in 1982 as drummer, with Tony Foad on guitar and Kevin Green on bass. Harvest specialised in vocal harmony, with the band being very successful around the country, in clubs and dinner dance work. the band also did dedicated 'country' nights in specialist country music clubs around the lincolnshire, Nottinghanshire, and Derbyshire areas. the band carried on with the same lineup for 13 years, with a brief period at the end as a 4 piece with Ted on guitar, Tony on guitar and keyboard, Kevin on bass, and temporary drummers.

After a two year break, Ted Crunkhurn joined present band 'Second Nature' in December 1997, and they still play today with the same lineup, mainly now playing classic rock in pubs, though with occasional club and dinner dance work.

Bankrupt mid 1977

Steve and Nigel formed the band in early 1977, taking the name from a Dr Hook album title. They both quit in January 1978 to concentrate on writing their own material. The group later evolved into The Moggies and/or The Piggies, doing what might have been one of the earliest Beatles tribute acts. Nigel stood in as Paul McCartney one night in Gainsborough and on another gig as John Lennon, both in 1980.

The Blue Dakotas with Dave Kopke 1983

The Blue Dakotas were formed in 1982. The original lineup was - Carl Thompson (rhythm guitar and vocals) Steve Blythin (lead guitar), Guy Salmon (Bass) and Paul Whittingham (Drums). That lineup played for a few months, and took part in the first (I believe) Rock Open at Scunthorpe Baths in 1982 (following a couple of years at Tiffany's), disbanding shortly afterwards. The new lineup in 1983 was Carl Thompson (Rhythm Guitar and Vocals) Tony (Tubbs) Watson (Lead Guitar), Dave Kopke (Double Bass), and Steve Setterfield (Drums).

The lineup stayed together for 4 years until 1987.

Guy Salmon went on to play in Crazy Times, Cottie and the Alleycats, The Riot Rockers and Beat Street

Other groups over the years were

Rooster, Gambler, Hot Toddy, Sneeky Feet, After Dark, Slip of the Tongue, Tongue in Cheek, Shot in the Dark

The Nitehawks 1955

The Nitehawks 1955

The Nitehawks were another very popular group of the mid nineteen fifties. The lineup was

Brian Hockley on lead; Mick Miles on bass; Jeff Lofts on vocals;

Paul McGrath on drums, Paul would later move to Sandra and the Boyfriends

The Nitehawks featured Brian Hockley on guitar, Mick Mills on bass,Jeff Lofts on vocals, and Paul McGrath on drums. After Jeff Lofts left, Mick Mills took over as vocalist. The band changed their name to Mick K Mills and the Nitehawks. Billy Lasby took over on rhythm guitar, Brian Hockley on lead guitar, Dougie Orman was on Bass, Les Allan on drums and Mick on vocals. They were a very popular band all over the area, playing to packed venues. Les Allan went on to become the finest rock drummer for several decades in the grimsby area. The Nitehawks became the Beat Club in 1961/62. Mick Mills left the band in 1962 and Ed Egholm took over on vocals til the group disbanded in 1964. The band played cover versions of all the modern music of the day. They played a lot at the Coulton Club which was a popular hangout of the fishermen and trawlermen of the town, the clubowner was Billy Edwards and it was a very popular venue of the time. If the Skippers and fishermen liked you they would chuck the band tips at the end of the night, which was very welcome. The Beat Club went on to play and tour in Germany, it was while touring that Ed got into the soul music scene. Occasionally the band featured a female vocalist called Norma Grant.

Pat Volley and the Gyros 1957

Pat on vocals, Gordon Smith- lead guitar, Sonny Lee- rhythm and sometimes lead guitar, Alge Swinburn on Bass and Les Alan(Johnson) on drums. The guys played the local club and pub scene with cover versions of most of the modern songs of the time. Pat was a blonde Elvis lookalike and consequently popular with the young ladies in the audience. They were a very popular band of the time attracting a huge following.

Curl 1997 John Love guitar, Mark Daynes guitar/vocals, Mike Tyson drums and Graham Albery bass

Local Grimsby bands at a charity gig late 90's

Grimsby Mecca resident band early 70's

Grimsby Mecca resident band early 70's.Back row, George Miller sax, Roy Norton trumpet, Pete Baxter bass guitar,

Stan Shreeve keyboard.

Front row,Tony Farrow lead guitar, Julie Dalton singer, Roy Lee drums.

Does anyone remember 'passion alley' (round the side of the Mecca) !

The Brothers Band late 80's early 90's

Telex 1979, featured Fil Crowder on guitar, Phil Cross on guitar/vocals, Tony Alexander on drums and

Pete Cordell on bass

The Rumble Band pictured c1971. They are (from left) Keith Line, Noel Skelton, Steve Curry, Rod Letter and Dave Ranshaw

The Rumble Band, started of as a splinter group from the Jazz Club when Soul music took off, a few of the jazz musicans played a dual role playing in jazz bands and soul bands. Sonny Blanchard was a brilliant clarinet player who also played saxaphone in an early version of The Rumble Band about 1964.

Sonny was sadly killed while returning home from a booking in Yorkshire when the group he was playing with at the time,Smokey Blue van was involved in a head on collision with a lorry. The groups van driver, a guy named Dennis was also killed.

Grimsby has had a full and varied group scene from the late fifties up to the present day.

These are just some of the groups that have helped us pass away the hours over the years.

I think most of the early bands can recall playing The Cafe Dansant, The Winter Garden,

The Beachcomber and the many Grimsby and Cleethorpes pubs with live music, then there was

the many working mens clubs, the Mariners,the Alexander club and the Bowling Alley.

These are just a few of the Grimsby bands over the years.

The Hi-Fi Combo ( circa 1958/9 ) from Barton-upon-Humber

were among a handful of the very first Lincolnshire Rock’n’Roll bands and had Hughie Tunbridge (vocals) Roy (Spam) Stanforth lead guitar, Geoff Elm rhythm, Neil Storey on Drums, Chas “The Big Bish” Chapman on Bass. They played Little Richard and similar music.

The Wasps – circa 1958-1959

were an Immingham band and were formed when a previous Skiffle Band decided to turn to Rock’n’Roll. Originally an instrumental group, the Wasps played the hits of the John Barry Seven, the Ventures, The Champs, (this was well before the Shadows appeared) plus some original material written by lead guitar “Philbert”. The line-up was Phil “Philbert” Sowerby on lead guitar, “Eggo” Bacon, Malcolm Kicks and Roy “Spit” Spittlehouse on rhythm guitars (the three rhythm guitars was a left–over from their skiffle days), Keith “Keyhole” Glover on Bass, and Terry “Tetley” Parkin on drums. Their name was derived from the black and yellow striped caps which they wore, an idea taken from Gene Vincent and The Blue Caps . The Wasps were one of the very first Lincolnshire Rock’n’Roll bands, despite using home-made guitars and home-assembled amps. They travelled to their first gigs, supporting the Dance Bands which were popular at the time, by public bus, until helper John “Wes” Wetherly took the initiative and bought a old fish-mongers Bedford Dormobile van. They were later joined by Rob Dimbleby on vocals and their repertoire expanded to include material by Gene Vincent, Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis and Little Richard (all still in the charts at that time !).

The Barton-based “Hi-Fi Combo” and the Immingham-based “Wasps” subsequently joined forces and after a few more changes evolved into a line-up featuring Rob “Little Fred” Dimbleby and Richard “Big Ted” Paul sharing vocals, Roy “Spam” Stanforth on lead guitar, Roy “Spit” Spittlehouse on rhythm guitar, Keith “Keyhole” Glover on bass, and Terry “Tetley” Parkin on drums.

When Rob Dimbleby left they took on the name “The Echoes”, a name arrived at by going through all the names of cars, of birds, of animals and finally TV sets, of which Eko was a popular make

They turned professional around 1960 , having taken the name “The Sound Of The Echoes, with Paul Keene”, and toured widely in England and Scotland. They also spent periods as resident band at the Storyville Clubs in Hannover and Frankfurt, and at the Top Ten Club in Hamburg, only a few months before The Beatles’ Hamburg period. The Sound of the Echoes” became well-known in the music industry as the backing band to the Stars. Their backing work included Bert Weedon, who made the guitar so popular in the 50’s and 60’s….

Richard Paul took on the name of “Paul Keene”.

Spit left The Sound Of The Echoes to become a policeman. Paul “Birrel” Keene turned his hand to Gilbert

and Sullivan operettas. Keith “Keyhole” Glover went on to play in other various bands. Roy “Spam” Stanforth left to get married,

Terry “Tetley” Parkin joined the Raiders.

The Raiders

When Jamie left Jamie and the Raiders they continued as The Raiders, with Tony Preston (Grimsby) as lead vocal .

When drummer Bernie Hoggett left they were joined by Terry “Tetley” Parkin (Immingham) who had recently left Paul Keene and The Sound of the Echoes. Ray Carter was next to leave the Raiders, to pursue folk music, and later become the resident Band Leader at the Beachcomber’s, Humberstone.

This Raiders line-up of Cliff “Carruthers” Liles (Guitar), Byron Oldridge (Bass), Terry “Tetley” Parkin (Drums) and Tony Preston (vocals) became the definitive and longest lasting Raiders format and for years they were Grimsby’s hardest working band, at one time performing 20 gigs in 21 days over Christmas - they insisted on having Christmas day off.

The Raiders also enjoyed spells as resident band at Humberstone Country Club and Laceby Casino.

The Conchords played a lot round Scunthorpe and area-the Iron and Steel,The Oswald, Berekley, Brown Cow, The Baths, Queen Bess and The Ancholme at Brigg to name a few.

Steve Johnson went on to play with-The Lighter Shades,Johnny and the Bluecats,The Riot Rockers,The Saddlers,Magenta,Flu,Schooner,Rock and Boogie Band and more recently The Wally Stewart Band.

He was a resident side man at the Cromwell Club grimsby and for many years at The Excel Grimsby

Rock and Boogie Band-96/97

Rock and Boogie Band-50's/60's rock and roll covers

Phil Trevethick-vocals/guitar

Brian Hotley-guitar

Dave Ward-bass

Steve Johnson-drums

The Tors 1982

Route 66-2001/2002

Route 66-covers 50's-60's-70's and a good set all Status Quo.

Andy Mogg-guitar/vocals

Phil McClean-guitar/vocals

Dave-bass

Steve Johnson-drums

Route 66 at Baileys, Grimsby

The Chads (1962)

were a Grimsby harmony group fronted by Mick Pearson on lead guitar. After a period in their original format they disbanded,

but later re-appeared when Mick Pearson teamed up with Carruthers Liles, Ray Carter and Tetley Parkin (all from The Raidersvia differing routes).

The Chads 1962 In this format they were very popular on the North Lincs Club circuit for a couple of years, with Mick doubling on trumpet, Ray doubling on flute, Tetley doubling on Bass.

The Unity 1966/7 ?

After The Chads disbanded, Tetley and Carruthers teamed up with Spam from The Echoes and after just a couple of gigs landed the professional job of backing Brian Poole, who had recently split from the Tremeloes and had enjoyed a number of solo hits. Years as top-of-the-bill in theatre and cabaret followed, using the band name “The Unity”.

With Brian they also did a raft of national radio work, appearing many times on “The Pete Brady Show” in the afternoons on Radio 2, and on “The Jimmy Young Show”. There was one period when they were on the radio everyday except weekends for six weeks. They also toured Ireland during the 1960’s “ Foot and Mouth” epidemic, only a couple of weeks after I.R.A. terrorists blew up Nelson’s Column outside the Post Office in Dublin.

Following The Unity’s split with Brian Poole, Spam went on to front F.L.U with Carruthers Liles. The name was actually derived as a mnemonic of “Fart Lighters Union”.

Spam subsequently formed a succession of local bands, including Sonny and Spam with ex-Nighthawk Sonny Lee , Magenta, Meridian and Oasis (years before the Manchester lot!), until retiring at age 65 in 2005 after 50 years in show business.

Tetley. along with Noel “Bo” Skelton ( Rumble Band) and Mick Pearson (Chads) joined the professional London-based “Rock’n’Roll Revival Show” (45 rpm single, “Midnight Train”) and toured in UK, including supporting Bill Haley and His Comets on their last UK tour before Haley died. Tetley also spent some time touring US air bases in France with the professional Gordon James Soul Band (Gordon Smith– ex Beat Club) and Beryl.

Israel 1982 Grimsby band

Lighter Shades-67/68

The lighter Shades,-material all covers middle of the road stuff

Dave George-guitar and vocals

Tony Legge -guitar and vocals

Keith(Alge)Swinburn-bass

Steve Johnson-drums

Silhonette 1981 Grimsby band

Schooner-83/84

Schooner-really a continuation of Magenta-certainly same material

Roy(Spam)Stanforth-vocal/guitar

Mick Kaye-keyboard/guitar/vocals

Paul Avison-bass/vocals

Steve Johnson-drums

Tragedy 1985 Grimsby, Tragedy featured Dave Burley on vocals,Ian McCall on drums, Colin Clarkson on guitar, Dave Dowie on bass

Johnny and the Bluecats late 1960's

they morphed into The Riot Rockers-1970 on rock and roll and rockabilly

there were various changes of members

Johnny Fox-vocals(later sax and drums also)

Ray Firth-guitar

Alf Ludlam-piano

Sonny Blanchard-Saxophone

John(Reg)Scargill-bass

Steve Johnson-drums

A young Terry (Tetley) Parkin 1961

After spells with a couple of York-based bands, Tetley allowed

his drums to gather dust …

….until his son, Mike Parkin, became drummer with Hull-based band Tonik (1999-2000).

Jeannies Band of Gold-69/70

Jeannies Band of Gold-material country.

Jeannie-vocals

Pat Banks-guitar

Mick Heinz-guitar

Steve Johnson -drums

The Gordon James Soul Band was formed in 1965 by Gordon (Onion) Smith with the aim of touring American bases in France. Onion played piano and guitar and sang. He was joined by Beryl, a solo artiste who had been taught by Onion to play Bass. (In those days all bands on US bases in Europe had to contain at least one female member). Mick Pearson (guitar) was next to join, followed by Tetley(drums). They played early Motown, Stax and other soul labels, After a handful of gigs in Grimsby and district they travelled to London to audition for the US bases and were immediately given two months contracts for E.M (Enlisted Men’s) Clubs on US bases in France. On the eve of departure, Mick Pearson was taken ill so the band went as a 3-piece, Mick being generous to allow them use of his Ford Thames van. They had a one month residency at Fontainebleu, and a second month at Orleans, during which they recruited a Scot named Tony on Guitar. Orleans was surrounded by five US bases, each with English resident bands, and several of the bands lived in the Hotel du Sauvage in the old town of Orleans – you can not even start to imagine what went on there ! During our stay at Orleans, we were asked to play at a theatre concert for the US Red Cross, which we were happy to do as it was to be broadcast the following week on US Forces Radio. The reception was so good that we were invited to do a one-hour radio show the following week.

Magenta-80/81

Magenta-covered a lot of big standards(Space Odditty-John Miles Music-McArthur Park-I want to know what love is)

Roy(Spam)Stanforth-vocals/guitar

Mick Kaye-keyboards/guitar/vocals

Mick Hickson-bass

Steve Johnson-drums(previous drummer-Mick Horsefall)

Raider 1983

FLU 72/73

FLU-all pop and rock covers

Roy(Spam)Stanforth-guitar/vocals

Cliff Lyles-bass/vocals

Steve Johnson-drums

Above is a pic of a German flier for the Storyville club in Frankfurt, where the Echoes had a residency during a two-month tour of Germany. It was actually a Jazz club as you can see from the billing, but attendances had been low so the management decided to try a British pop group. Knowing it was a Club, not a dance hall, the Echoes therefore learned a load of standards and cabaret material, which combined with ballads and instrumentals enabled us to play a quiet and controlled five hours without repetition. The club had an average of maybe 20 - 25 people at any time during each evening, until, about 3 days in, a German bloke asked " Do you know "Blue Svade Schoos ?"" We said yes and in the next set we threw restraint away and blasted " Blue Suade Shoes" at volume. The 25-ish people there seemed to enjoy it so we did Rock'n'Roll for the rest of that set ( we played 45 minutes on stage, 15 minutes off, 45 on, 15 off, all night from 7 o'clock until 1 or 2 o'clock in the morning.). At the end of that set the crowd dissappeared - we thought we were in real trouble. But as we started our next set the original audience virually trebled ! They had been to fetch their pals to see the Rock'n'Roll band ! The Echoes were the first Rock band that the Frankfurters had seen. So, we dropped the cabaret numbers and played our usual rock numbers for the rest of the night.

The following night the club was filled to capacity. The night after they were queuing outside before the Club opened. We had capacity audiences for the rest of our stay there and never had to buy another drink. It is undeniably true that the Echoes introduced Frankfurt to live Rock music .

Wally Stewart Band-2008/2010

Wally Stewart Band-covers(particularlyThe Eagles)

Wally Stewart-vocals

Karen-vocals(Wally's daughter)

Stuart Lande-guitar

Vinnie-guitar/vocals

John Sharp-bass/vocals

Brian Lomas-keyboard/guitar

Steve Johnson -drums.

Exit 1983 Barry, Neil, Charlie and Dave

Saddlers-69/71

The Saddlers-material all country

Billy Mullen-vocals/guitar

Phil Trevethic-vocals/guitar/steel guitar

Keith(Alge)Swinburn-bass

Steve Johnson-drums(previous drummer Geof Hinch)

GRIMSBY/CLEETHORPES venues over the years

Old Alexander Club Advance Club Excelsior Club Social Reform Club Mariners Club Exchange Club

Weelsby Club Gunners Club Artisans Club Tartan Club Cromwell Club RAFA Club Hamilton Street Disc

77 Club Frontiersman Club Dunlop Club British Legion Club-Grimsby Courtaulds Club Ross Club

Findus Club Lifeboat Hotel Greenlands Club Laportes Club Yarborough Hotel British Legion- Cleethorpes

British Legion-Waltham Sunnyside Club Mecca-Grimsby Memorial Hall-Cleethorpes Birds Eye Club Transport Club-Grimsby

The Witchdoctor Club at the Lifeboat Hotel run by Martin Yale (agency)

The Village Club (now the Studio Cleethorpes Market Place again run by Martin Yale

Tic Toc Club Hamilton St. Grimsby run by Jackie Lee/ Crawford Bros

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Scunthorpe venues over the years

Ancholme Inn -Brigg Ex-Sevicemens-Brigg Queen Bess -Scunthorpe Oswald-Scunthorpe Iron and Steel-Scunthorpe

Louth Town Hall Berkely Hotel-Scunthorpe Brown Cow Scunthorpe Trades and Labour-Boston Blue Lion-RAF Binbrook

Campbell Club-RAF Nth Coates Alpha CEment Works Club-Ferriby Sluice Lincoln DrillHall Louth Football Pavillion-Louth

County Hotel-Immingham County Hotel -Grimsby BRSA Club- Immingham BRSA Club-Grimsby Cons Club-Immingham

Stars Reunited in Grimsby

On Saturday 13 August 2011 the hit touring show “ Hit Parade Heroes “visited Grimsby and appeared at the Grimsby Central Hall , Duncombe Street,

The show featured John Leyton ( “Wild Wind” , “Johnny Remember Me”), Mike Berry ( ”Tribute to Buddy Holly”, “Sunshine of Your Smile”), and head-lining the bill was Mike Sarne, a chart-topper who in 1962 had three consecutive No 1 hits – “Come Outside” ( with Wendy Richard )” Will I What?” and “Just For Kicks”. While these three songs were topping the charts, Mike was touring the whole of Britain backed by the Grimsby band “The Sound Of The Echoes”. Over 45 years later, on Saturday night he was re-united with four of the original band. In the photo, Mike is shown having a great time reminiscing with, (L to R) Keith, Mike, Spam, Wes and Tetley.

Western Pacific, Grimsby

These pictures came from the collection of guitarist John Hardy.

Line-up is:

Cliff ?? - bass guitar

Albert Wiseman - steel guitar

Mary (Stafford) Oglesby - vocals, rhythm guitar

John Hardy - lead guitar

Based in Grimsby, the group played in the Grimsby, Skegness, Scunthorpe and

Doncaster areas in the 1980s. They did some country stuff but weren't really

a country band as such, with a repertoire consisting of country, rock and

roll and skiffle tunes.

In 1987 the band was renamed Maryland Express and Paul Avison took over on bass.

John Hardy left the band in 1989 and the new lineup was Mary Oglesby on vocals and guitar Albert Wiseman on steel guitar, Marc Oglesby on bass and Duncan Kemp on banjo. They went on to record a CD.

Albert Wiseman died in 2009.

John Hardy died in October 2011. Apart from playing in bands he had worked

at Pete's Pad recording studio in Cleethorpes, and for Stage One in Grimsby.

He was interested in, and knowledgeable about, all different kinds of music.

He retained a keen interest in playing and recording, and was playing in a

blues band up to the time of his death.

John recorded and mixed the Western Pacific tunes at Pete's Pad in

Cleethorpes in 1989, when he was working there.

Julie Dalton

Julie has sang and played in many Grimsby bands over the years. Among the bands from the early sixties

were 'Julie and the Jaguars', 'The Geoff Hallam Combo' were she went under the name of 'Julie Paige'.

The Geoff Hallam Combo had a residency spot on a Friday night at the Cafe Dansant in Cleethorpes.

Later she sang and played in 'Rowndabout' with Viv Peterson, lead guitar, John Howden on drums,

Dave Crowder on bass and Julie on vocals and keyboard. 'Rowndabout had a residency spot at Cleethorpes

Winter Gardens on a thursday night. She also was in 'Julie Dalton and the Extensions', and was the vocalist

in 'The Colin Chamley Band'.

Julie Dalton with The Colin Chamley Band