Skiffle Clubs '59,'59

Subject: Skiffle Clubs '59,'59
From: Doctor John
Date: 12 Nov 00 - 04:14 PM

RtS or anyone else of my vintage! Does anyone remember the Skiffle Clubs that Lonnie Donegan started thoughout Britain around '58 or '59? Where were they, how many were there, how long did they last, did anyone of note begin their carreer there etc? I've been asked to write about my life growing up in (thank God!)pre-Beetle Liverpool where LD started such a club at The Cavern, then a jazz club. It was run initially by Mick Groves and Tony Davies, two teachers, who later formed the Spinners. Any memories. Dr John

Subject: RE: Skiffle Clubs '59,'59
From: GUEST,Roger the skiffler
Date: 13 Nov 00 - 04:12 AM

Sorry, John, in those days I got my music from the wireless,(BBC Jazz Club, Skiffle Club/Guitar Club) I was too young (yes, really!) to go to clubs!
Made up for it later, mis-spending many happy hours in the Opposite Lock Club in Brum and then the 1OO Club in London.
RtS

Subject: RE: Skiffle Clubs '59,'59
From: GUEST,Roger the skiffler
Date: 13 Nov 00 - 06:17 AM

I haven't read either of these, listed on Amazon, but they might help. Nothing mentioned by Wally Whyton in the interview accompanying the Vipers complete recordings.
RtS
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Skiffle by Chas Mcdevitt Usually dispatched in 2-3 days Published 1997 Robson Books Ltd Hardcover Read more... List Price: £19.95 Our Price: £15.96 You Save: £3.99 (20%)

The Skiffle Craze by Mike Dewe, Chris Barber Usually dispatched in 24 hours Published 1998 Planet Paperback Read more... List Price: £15.00 Our Price: £12.00 You Save: £3.00 (20%)

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Subject: RE: Skiffle Clubs '59,'59
From: GUEST,Roger the skiffler
Date: 13 Nov 00 - 06:26 AM

..or these two, which seem to be out of print:
Donegan, L:"All roads lead to London"(autobiography). Sanctuary Press, 1997
Bird, Brian (with foreword by LD):"Skiffle". Robert Hale, 1958 (too early?)
End of personal and professional knowledge (must read some of these myself!).
RtS

Subject: RE: Skiffle Clubs '59,'59
From: Doctor John
Date: 13 Nov 00 - 05:43 PM

Thank RtS, I'll order one of those; in fact I've just receive a £3 gift voucher from Amazon this evening. Saturday Morning Skiffle Club" - two hours on BBC Radio I seem to remember which turned into something else when the skiffle phase faded. Was there a Six Five Special on BBCTV, the theme tune sung by one of those groups (Bob Court?) I seem to remember watching it with a girl friend in Talacre, North Wales. (Are you out there SMJ?) Do you remember Cisco Houston on BBC radio in 1960? Smithsonian/Folkways hold those recording but still haven't released them; well it was only 40 years ago. Good to hear from you. Dr John

Subject: RE: Skiffle Clubs '59,'59
From: bill\sables
Date: 13 Nov 00 - 06:29 PM

Hi Dr John I remember 6-5 special but I'm sure the theme song was sung by Don Lang I played skifle in the 50s with a local group in Co. Durham. There was a Skiffle club in Leeds until about 3 years ago with the Black Sheep Skiffle Group and the K C Moaners The club was run by John Wall who played Skiffle with Chas Mc Divit somewhere in London and in New Oreleans His Telephone number is 0113 2530983 He might be able to help you. Cheers Bill

Subject: RE: Skiffle Clubs '59,'59
From: GUEST,bigJ
Date: 13 Nov 00 - 07:03 PM

Hi Guys, I knew it was there somewhere - never throw anything out, that's my motto (although I'm still trying to convince my wife). There, on the top shelf was the LP recorded London June 28th 1957 called "Ain't It a Shame" by The Bob Cort Skiffle (not Group please note). The personnel of the group is Bob Cort - vocal, guitar, Nigel Sinclair and Ken Sykora - guitars, George Jennings - bass and Bill Colyer (Ken's brother?) on washboard. Part of the sleeve notes say : It was this group that Bob took each month as the residents at the Royal Festival Hall recital rooms sessions of skiffle, and it found its way to the top of the bill at the Prince of Wales Theatre for two weeks. It was this group that recorded the signature tune for the BBC TV "6.5 Special" just three hours before the first show went on the air. I think that Don Lang subsequently recorded another version of the same song for a later series.

Subject: RE: Skiffle Clubs '59,'59
From: BanjoRay
Date: 13 Nov 00 - 07:04 PM

The Six-Five Special theme was first sung and played by the Bob Cort Skiffle Group, the when skiffle faded and Rock reared its head by Don Lang and His Frantic Five. The program was a major influence on a lot of people at the time (including me!). Guests included Big Bill Broonzy, Sidney Bechet, Lonnie, The Vipers, lots of trad jazz bands and skiffle groups - brilliant stuff!
Cheers
Ray

Subject: RE: Skiffle Clubs '59,'59
From: GUEST,Ted Webster
Date: 08 Sep 08 - 03:55 PM

Original Black Sheep Skiffle Group started about 1955 appearing in Carol Levis Discoveries Show at Leeds Empire also Bradford Alhambra with Jim Dale and Swinging Blue Jeans.Then virtaully every working mens clubs in and around Leeds.We eventualy faded away to bring up families.Around 1990 John Wall started The Skiffle Preservation S0ciety so the Black Sheep was resurrected,unfortunatly down to two members.Lou Baurley (vocals guitar) and myself (guitar and backing group),we still entertain older people but mainly old standards.Noy bad over 50 years of enjoyment on mainley three chords!

Subject: RE: Skiffle Clubs '59,'59
From: GUEST,Greycap
Date: 08 Sep 08 - 07:43 PM

Ted,
There are more than three chords? Oh, my Lord!! Discovery goes on and on.
Roger Knowles

Subject: RE: Skiffle Clubs '59,'59
From: Leadfingers
Date: 08 Sep 08 - 07:58 PM

Skiffle STILL happens ! London Philharmonic Skiffle Orchestra go over to Finland virtually evry year (Though they are really a Comedy Music Show) Chas Mc D STILL does the odd Gig , with his daughter doing the Nancy Whiskey bit . And Bill Oddie played MY Washboard on BBC television the other year !

Subject: RE: Skiffle Clubs '59,'59
From: Dave Hunt
Date: 08 Sep 08 - 08:50 PM

Im another one who started in a skiffle group - we were called 'The Cravats' because we wore ....guess what??? I plyed a snare drum - and spoons! Through that I dicovered Early American folk music, and from that early English Folk stuff... WOW.!.THAT'S FOR ME!!.
By 1963 was resident singer and one of the organisers of the legendary Giffard Folk Club in Wolverhampton. Several of us were at the first(and second) National Folk Festivals at Keele 1965/67
In '67 we formed a band (by now I had full drum kit) called the 'Corn Rigs' and ran out own monthly ceilidhs - (yes - that's what we called them! - and it was always a mixture of dances and song/morris spots)and when the band folded - people moving away from the area - I concentrated on calling - and am still doing it!
Still love some of my old skiffle records!
Dave Hunt

Subject: RE: Skiffle Clubs '59,'59
From: GUEST,Cpt Colin.
Date: 09 Sep 08 - 06:03 AM

To get back to the original question, you'll find some postings an this topic on LD's website forum Dr.John, and maybe a new posting from yourself will bring results.

Subject: RE: Skiffle Clubs '59,'59
From: MikeofNorthumbria
Date: 09 Sep 08 - 06:11 AM

Skiffle is still alive and well on Tyneside.

For the past three years we've had a skiffle night at The Cumberland Arms on a Saturday in April close Lonnie's birthday. These events have pulled in large and enthusiastic audiences, and the group we put together to set the ball rolling occasionally gets asked to play at other functions(though as all the members have other commitments, we don't get out as often as we'd like).

Wassail!

Subject: RE: Skiffle Clubs '59,'59
From: Fred McCormick
Date: 09 Sep 08 - 06:35 AM

A while ago the owners of Document Records http://www.document-records.com/ were appealing for information on skiffle clubs. I'm far too young to remember the skiffle era and I don't know what they wnated the information for. But anyone with any useful intelligence might want to get in touch with them.

BTW, the trombonist Mike Pointon is writing a biography of Ken Colyer. I don't know when it's due out but it should contain some very useful info on skiffle and the early folk revival.

Subject: RE: Skiffle Clubs '59,'59
From: Dave Sutherland
Date: 09 Sep 08 - 07:58 AM

Browsing through the CDs on display in Asda (Wal-Mart) a couple of weeks ago, waiting for my youngest one to finish his shift, I came across an album "1957 - The Year That Skiffle Was King". It contains mainly the commercial recordings by Lonnie, Tommy Steele, Vipers, Johnny Duncan, Don Lang, Jim Dale, Chris Barber etc - but at £3 a copy you can't let that pass, can you?

Subject: RE: Skiffle Clubs '59,'59
From: Fidjit
Date: 09 Sep 08 - 03:08 PM

Have a look at Chas McDevitt's book,

Skiffle the definitive inside story

ISBN 1 86105 140 9

Any good library should have a copy

Chas