MINI PROFILES

THE 3-Ds  FEMALE POP TRIO

Three young ladies Doreen, Marian and Nora who were billed as the '3 D’s’ were employed at the English Electric in Bradford and were to form a close friendship as all three had the same music and dance craze of the time, Rock n’ Roll.  The girls attended many dance venues in Bradford playing Rock n’ Roll like the Queen's Idle, Somerset, Majestic, and many more.  When they realised that they had the same goals and ideas that they might someday be in the music business, singing and even thoughts of recording records, it was decided around 1958 that they would create their own trio. Thus the Three D’s were created.

It was Garth of the Dingos that pushed them into making this decision hopefully for them to sing with the Group at certain venues.  As the Trio all lived in different parts of Bradford they practised in the English Electric Social room until a repertoire was set up.  With practice, also with the Dingos, an invitation to join the group was made.

The girls even invested in their own style of dresses, being made by a local dressmaker, thus was their commitment.  Therefore the three young ladies always went to enormous trouble to look ‘the part’ in the dresses and hairstyles of the Rock n’ Roll era which came across to their audiences in their performances with the Dingo’s.  They were probably Bradford’s only close harmonising Girl Group between 1959 and 1960.  Although, only a short time in show business they became very popular appearing with The Dingos at local pubs, clubs and Dance halls like the Gaumont and Majestic.

With a similar style emulating Connie Francis, Helen Shapiro, Pony-tails and The Vernon Girls singing the pop songs of the time as a trio, or backing the Dingos, it looked like a full-time career may be on the cards.  Thoughts of making a demo tape were considered from time to time and they even wrote their own Rock n Roll number called ‘I got a Boy and his name is Jack’. Also, contact was made with Carol Levis (Carol Levis Discoveries) to no avail.  All this was happening using their own managerial skills and mostly using buses to attend bookings for usually ten shillings each! (Intermittently Helen McCaffrey of Tomboys fame sang with them with the stage name Dee Lawrence.

 It was inevitable after a time that things did not work out for ‘The Three D’s’ as Marian and Nora acquired boyfriends who reluctantly broke up the Trio, for each to go their own way.  The usual case of ‘what might have been’!  However, these three girls did try for ‘stardom’, and have their well-deserved place amongst the rock n’ roll who’s who of Bradford. Incidentally, in 1949  Doreen was one of Sir Francis Laidler’s world–famous 'Sunbeams'.

The fabulous Dingos with the 3-Ds vocal group

SPIKE O'BRIEN ROCK AND ROLL PIANIST. THE 'JEWEL IN THE CROWN'.

I gave Spike this accolade at the time of his passing when I wrote about him in the Telegraph and Argus. I am still surprised it was so long ago. I, therefore, for those who knew him and many who didn’t bring his story to you, as it goes less we forget.  

Brian Holt aka Spike O’Brien (1940-2000), was born in Bradford and attended Hanson High School.  He learned to play the piano from the age of four through his father who was a classical pianist.  Leaving school in 1956 he was employed in the offices of Listers’ Mill as an Office Boy because his mother wanted him to have a steady job!

Music and playing the piano were Spike his main interests and most of his thoughts were on other things (Rock n’ Roll). This resulted in the office manager saying to Spike “he could have a good career in office work or, go about being a ‘Pop Star’, he therefore asked Spike to make a decision”,  Spike did make a decision, and ‘gave in his notice’.For a while, he drifted from job to job and at one time drove a small flat pack wagon for the BDA (Bradford Dyers Association), and was now playing the piano at many venues in the Bradford Area.  It was about this time that Spike acquired his stage name Spike O’Brien.  As his real name was Brian Holt at one venue some girls asked him “What is your name”? As they had heard him being called Spike and Brian, so they asked him ‘which is it?  Spike or Brian hence the name Spike O’ Brien was born.

In 1959 Spike became a member (piano) of the Dingos and was one of the originals.  At this time the Dingos were probably the most prominent and professional local Rock n’ Roll group.  However, after a short period of time he left and joined another local group ‘The Tuxedos’.  Spike had begun to adapt himself as not only a good and proficient Rock n’ Roll pianist who was becoming very popular in his own right but he decided to get together some other local artists in 1963 to form a new group called ‘The Rattlers’. 

After three successful seasons with ‘The Rattlers’ at Douglas Isle of Man, he joined Don Partridge (the one-man band) in his backing group ‘The Wild Fowl’.  In 1973 Spike recorded ‘Poor Little Fred’ which was a skit on the popular ‘Big Bad John’, which had moderate success.  Later in the 1980s-90’s he was still touring the Bradford circuits with local groups, especially, ‘The Dingo’s’ and was as still as popular as he had ever been.  Later probably Spike's highlights were playing at the Rock n’ Roll reunion dances at The Pile Bar and the Bradford Midland Hotel.

Spike the piano genius, pure Rock n’ roll embodied its most reckless and high-spirited impulses with such piano-pounding Rockers from the late fifties as ‘Whole Lot of Shaking Going On’ and ‘Great Balls of Fire’.  Add to this, Spikes larger than life’s personality and pure energy-driven performance and you would have the crowd SHAKING, SHOUTING, rock and ROLLING!

When he passed away in 2000, the Rock n’ Roll world lost a truly great artist and friend of many fellow artists who held him in high esteem.  Spike, sadly missed, and fully deserves a place of honour of the ‘Who’s Who of Bradford’s Rock n’ Roll era’.

Authors Note:

The last time I spoke to Spike was on the phone a few days before he passed away. It was at this time that he was waiting for a lung transplant.  During our conversation I said ‘Is there anything I can get you? With that wonderful sense of humour, back came the reply "Yes Dal, a new pair of...... lungs!"

 I was indebted to Colin in 1989 when I visited his home in Eldwick for information for my original Bradford Rock and Roll book, ‘The Golden Years’.  He was so enthusiastic that he wrote over fifteen pages of his years with the Cresters.  There was so much detail but at the time I could not use it due to lack of space.  Most of the information on the Cresters in this book is due to Colin’s fifteen pages.  He had not been well when I saw him and it was a short while later that he passed away not seeing part of his story in my original book.

Colin Houghton (b 1943-d1990), drummer was born in Bradford and a self-taught drummer.  From an early age, Colin was soon in demand by young up-and-coming local groups.  Aged sixteen he joined Mel Clarke’s group, then known as ‘The Unknown Four’, however, the name was soon dropped to that of ‘The Mel Clarke Four’.

For the young Colin, it was two years of learning the trade which gave him not only confidence but the opportunity to show he was a gifted drummer.  In July 1960 he was invited to join the new up-and-coming group ‘The Cresters’ with Mike Sager.  It was a good move as three months later in October they were in EMI Studios Abbey Road London recording, ‘Deep Feeling’.

The following day he was in hospital in Leeds for a long-awaited heart operation.  Several weeks later he was required for a publicity photo session and such was his commitment to the group he asked to be discharged from the hospital early, going straight to the photographic studios even before going home.  He returned to ‘The Cresters’ in December 1960 and was obliged to Kenny Gough for sitting in whilst he was in hospital recuperating. Kenny another well-known Bradford drummer had previously played with ‘The Cresters’.

In the meantime, Deep Feeling had been released and even voted a ‘hit’ on Juke Box Jury. However, the record failed to live up to its expectations.  There were several theories about why at the time!  With bad management, failure of the record Company to promote and even that they did not produce sufficient copies of the record.  It was also said that the number was not popular with other groups who found it too difficult to play, therefore ‘no exposure’.

The Cresters were still semi-professional and therefore limited to playing engagements in the North of England.  Any daytime jobs were now put on hold and they turned professional in late 1961, then Colin gave up his job with a transport company.  Now able to play venues Nationwide, during 1962 they were averaging a booking almost every night mostly dancehall, clubs and occasionally supporting top Pop Stars.  Early in 1963, it was the start of a dreadful winter.  Colin was beginning to become disillusioned with everything including low wages, incessant travelling and arguments.

They had played the Jimmy Young Show on TV from Bristol and arrived home one Sunday morning in February expecting a few days rest as they had no ‘gigs’ until the following weekend.  No! Manager Steve Black insisted that they turn up the next day for rehearsal with the new bass player, John Harding.  By now Colin had lost interest and enthusiasm and just could not be bothered to turn up at rehearsal.  Therefore his place was taken by Johnny Casson.

The most Colin had ever earned in one week was £19!  Usually, they incurred tremendous expenses: i.e. commission to agents, and managers, paying road managers and van travel, accommodation, expenses, stage wear, publicity, maintenance of musical instruments etc.  What was left could be shared equally!

Colin did fill in with a few local groups for a while including ‘The Crusaders’ and returned to his career with a transport company until his passing away in 1990.

Colin was one of those people of that great tradition of whom it was a pleasure to know and be a friend.  With a life-threatening illness, he performed with the best of what can only be described as probably the most stressful and sapping of energy of a group’s instrument – the Drums!  Colin has probably been overlooked in our local world of original group members and now perhaps with this book, not anymore.

Johnnie Casson appeared on numerous occasions on British TV in his early days quite an outstanding local Rock n’ Roll drummer who later created a second show business career as a highly rated comedian.

Johnnie Dorsey Casson (b1943-) drummer, was born in Halifax and lived at Carlton House Terrace in the Kings Cross area.  Coming from a musical background, his father had been the Melody Maker champion Trombone player who later tried to teach Johnnie to play, who found the trombone too cumbersome an instrument for a small lad and, who really fancied the drums.

Later, whilst at St Bede's Grammar School in Bradford, his father had bought him a drum kit, so Johnnie with a few local lads, formed a skiffle group. 

They played at local dances and went everywhere by bus.  The journey to Bradford on the Hebble bus was ideal for storing a drum kit under the stairs (the same Hebble bus another drummer Keith Artist of Dal Stevens’s group used the same transport for his drum kit.

As time went on Johnnie set his sights on rock n’ roll after seeing many of the top stars at the Gaumont in Bradford including Buddy Holly, Bill Haley and the Comets, Eddie Cochran and Gene Vincent.  Moving on from skiffle he started playing at The Sportsman’s Inn, in Ploughcroft, with some local lads when at one booking at Southward Working Men’s Club,  he was approached by Jimmy Boocock of one of Halifax’s premier groups, ‘The Avengers’ to join the Band.  He accepted and was now amongst the class who introduced him to many new venues.  In 1961 they auditioned for Butlins but were turned down, however, a year later in 1962 they were booked for a five-month season at Butlins Bognor Regis.

After a short time with the local ‘Ray Kennan Combo’ in 1963 Johnnie joined ‘The Cresters’ to replace Colin Houghton. He would be with them for around 20 years which would involve playing at practically nearly every dance hall, cabaret and rock n’ roll venue in the British Isles.  It was whilst on the cabaret circuit that Johnnie not only played the drums but started performing comedy, in fact, the comedy became more popular than the music.

In 1983 whilst on holiday at Butlins Holiday Camp his wife entered him in ‘The Star Trail Talent Competition’ as a solo act.  He won the contest which meant a free holiday to appear in the regional finals, which he again won.  The Grand final was held at the London Palladium and Johnnie was again the Judges choice.

This encouraged Johnnie to leave ‘The Cresters and set off on the path as a solo performer.  Television soon followed, and an appearance on ‘Opportunity Knocks’ prompted Bob Monkhouse to say ‘Johnnie is one of the top four comedians in the country’. A chance to take part in Granada TV’s remake of the historic ‘Comedians’ show found Johnnie being featured on all six shows and was critically acclaimed as the find of the series.

Johnnie's first appearance on ITV’s ‘Des O’Connor Tonight’ was so successful it was followed by a further four appearances.  This continued on the daytime TV ‘Des and Mel’ with Johnnie being booked on four occasions.  Johnnie is a tireless worker for charities and is still working the theatres of the U.K where he has a following of all age groups.

It was not an alternative comedy (alternative to laughing) for the great Johnnie Casson whose comedy style is reminiscent of those other great comedians, Les Dawson, Eric Morecambe, Benny Hill and Frankie Howerd.

Like Haley’s Comet, such comedians are with us on rare occasions. 

Johnnie now lives in Brighouse, the ‘Las Vegas of the North’.

A female pop vocalist was born in Batley and attended Foxcroft Girls School at Mount Pleasant Batley.  Leaving school aged fifteen she became a window dresser for Woolworth’s Store in Commercial Street Batley.  Her talent as a rock n’ roll vocalist was discovered by Mel Clarke and for two years she was introduced into the group at many top venues as ‘Sandra Day and The Mel Clarke Four’.

In 1959 Sandra and her widowed mum went to live in Canada, during which time she sang on the Canadian Radio Show Chum.  However, they returned in 1960 because her mum could not settle as she missed her family. Back in Batley, Sandra returned to Woolworth’s but working on the counter. In her absence, the store had been modernised leaving only two small shop windows for display and therefore no place for a window dresser!  She was soon back singing with ‘The Mel Clarke Four’.

Sandra was as popular as ever and in demand so much that an opportunity arose to  become part of a new trio called ‘The Vocalairs’, with her brother Ken and her future husband John Wagstaff.  Highly talented, they soon became much sort after, especially around the new nightclub circuits which were becoming all the rage, because of the famous top stars that could perform at these venues.  ‘The Vocalairs’ were soon included in this circuit and had tremendous success throughout the late 1960s and into the 1970s.

During this time they also played a season in Malta, and many times at the Batley Variety Club.  One particular London venue was at the famous Astor Club, which was then owned by the infamous Kray twins, however they did not meet them, but there were plenty of their associates in the audience each night.  In 1971 they appeared on ‘Opportunity Knocks’ and came second.  After a few years at the top, the Trio parted.  Sandra went on to marry John Wagstaff who later, in 1982, established his own Record Company (Flair Records) which was responsible for the popular group ‘Black Lace’, and their big hit of 1984 ‘Agadoo’. Sandra now works with her husband John who later became the manager of ‘Smokie’ which he still is to this day.

In 1991 Sandra was included in a compilation recording of Bradford Groups of the ’60s, when she gave a fantastic rendition of Connie Francis’s hit ‘Stupid Cupid’.  Now retired, Sandra lives in the Brighouse area with her husband John and Family. However, from time to time she comes out of retirement to sing with ‘The Mel Clarke Four’ at functions especially in 2010 when she was on top form singing at the Bradford Rock n’ Roll Reunion’ at the Hilton Hotel. Sandra is a lovely lady, with a wonderful voice.

‘MR PENNY ARCADE’ (VOCALIST AND SONGWRITER)

Although well known throughout the rock n’ roll era and beyond, perhaps what has brought Sammy King to prominence in the history of music was to write the popular song Penny Arcade and to have it recorded by Roy Orbison. 

Alan Twohig aka Sammy King (1941- ) was born in Batley Carr and attended St Joseph RC Primary School in Batley and later St Bedes Grammar School in Bradford.  A keen sportsman, he was Captain of the school football team and was quite a talented player who wanted to become a professional footballer.  However, all that was turned upside down when in 1954 he suffered a hip injury playing for St Bedes against Grange Boys Grammar School.  The injury was so bad that he ended up in Pinderfield's Hospital, Wakefield for 2 years.  The hip infection had destroyed the cartilage in his hip, meaning, he would never finish school and his dream of becoming a professional footballer was over.

When he eventually became mobile again he had missed all his schooling and had no idea what to do for a living so he went to Art College because he was unfit to do any manual work.  He had always been interested in music and could play the piano, so he joined the South Side Skiffle Group in Batley as a hobby.  He was originally a drummer and then an acoustic guitarist before he progressed to the electric guitar.  Having taken piano lessons as a kid, but didn’t pursue it, however, it did come in handy when he taught himself to play the guitar, which he picked up very quickly.

After the Southside Skiffle Group he joined a band called The Saints and then moved to the Dingos in Bradford for a few years.  After the Dingos broke up he found himself with no other group.  One day he was in a Bingo Hall in Batley sat at the back with a Bingo card that his mate who ran the Hall had given him.  They had a band called the Voltaire who played during the interval.  The singer walked out and as he knew the lads he got up and sang a ‘twist’ song and then a ballad.  He was so successful that he became the singer of the group.  All the names of the top groups had the singer's name and then the group’s name, so it was decided that it should be Sammy King and the Voltaires. 

The Voltaires went on to support many acts including The Beatles and the Rolling Stones.  They supported the Beatles at The Queens Hall in Leeds, the only regret Sammy had was that he never actually spoke to George Harrison.  Sammy also appeared on stage with Shirley Bassey, Louis Armstrong, Dusty Springfield and Cilla Black. 

The pressure of performing with the rock band soon took its toll and after taking a short break, Sammy hit the road again as part of a duo.  It was during this time he went back to writing songs, but didn’t know what to do with them.  A friend, Derek Smith, who used to be the manager of the Batley Variety Club, said Roy Orbison was coming to perform at the club and that he should see if he thought his songs were any good!

After introductions to Roy Orbison, Sammy approached him about the songs that he had written. After playing a few numbers on tape Roy asked Sammy if he could take the songs, including ‘Penny Arcade’, back to his recording manager in Nashville, Tennessee.  Sammy did not think he would like ‘Penny Arcade’ because he had written it with the Eurovision Song Contest in mind and it wasn’t really his style.

He didn’t hear anything for months and then he received a tape through the post of him singing the song and a note saying it was going to be his next single.  Roy Orbison insisted the song be featured on several of his albums and it is still being played today 40 years on.

Sammy King, the friend of the stars, who in early life progressed through trials and tribulations, is to be rated at the top of his profession and emulated in what can be achieved in a lifetime giving pleasure to others.

Sammy is still playing and writing music and is always on call, especially at the Bradford Rock n’ Roll Reunions,  and still lives in Heckmondwyke with his wife Linda.

Terry Sexton (b1944-) vocals was born in Bradford and lived at Rand Street, before moving to Oulton Terrace with his mother to live with his grandparents.  Terry attended Princeville Infants and Grange Primary Schools and later Princeville Secondary Modern School.  Aged thirteen he contracted tuberculosis and spent six months in Middleton Sanatorium in Ilkley, (it was said he had probably been infected by swimming in the Apperley Bridge Canal.  Back at school, he excelled in many subjects as rather than missing school lessons, at the Sanatorium he had had, one-to-one tuition. 

Leaving school aged fifteen he became an apprentice electrician for Collinson Brothers in Bradford. Out of his savings, he bought himself a Lambretta scooter until he fell in love with a 1953 Jaguar Car with 10,000 miles on the clock and one owner! Price £279! He sold his Lambretta for £65, borrowed the rest, and purchased the car.  Passing his test he used the car to go to and from work until he was told in no uncertain terms that if he came to work in ‘that Jaguar’ again he would be sacked.  It was a bad image for the Company!!  Terry came to work in his Jag and was sacked and joined Inman Joyce and Company.

Whilst this was all taking place Terry had entered the world of rock n’ roll!  At sixteen thinking he could sing, he entered a talent competition whilst on holiday at Butlins in Filey. His rendering of Cliff Richards ‘Please Don’t Tease’ failed, as did a similar rendition the same week at the Camp in the Pig and Whistle Bar.

Back home, after much practice, with a tape recorder he gave an audition to Mike Stevenson a member of the popular Tornados group, passed, and for a short while was with Mick and the Tornados until joining ‘The Telecasters’ and so began his career as a ‘top’ rock n’ roll artist.

In 1965 Terry Sexton played out his last engagement at the salubrious Thornton Working Men’s Club.  A year later Terry married Carol and within two years was the proud father of two boys, Darren and Conrad.

Still in the electrical business which he had pursued since aged fifteen, and after many managerial positions including seventeen years with Sharpe and Law Shopfitters in Carlisle Road in 1985 he formed his own company becoming one of the region's most successful businessmen.

Terry retired in 2000 and spent a considerable amount of his time living in Majorca with his wife Carol.

Authors Note:

Terry Sexton’s group was one of the favourites of both Dal and Dadio. Terry was amenable in all his dealings with booking, requests and timings.  Nothing was too much trouble,  Terry and his group were always a good advert for the rock and roll groups of our era.