OBITUARIES
Mick KERSHAW (1942 - 2018)
Mike Stephenson (1938 - 2020)
Mike Stephenson (1938 - 2020)
Mick also known as (Mick Kovac)
was extremely popular and performed at most local venues. In 1959 his group was
'The Sansovenos'. In 1960 they changed their name to the 'Tornadoes'.
See pages 314-315
'When Bradford Rocked'.
Mike Stephenson (1938 - 2020)
Mike Stephenson (1938 - 2020)
Mike Stephenson (1938 - 2020)
In 1959 Mike was demobbed from the RAF and he joined 'The Sansovenos' and carried on when the name was changed to 'Mick and the Tornadoes'. He left in 1962 and played for a short while with 'Vince Waynes and the Falcons', leaving them in 1963 to join 'Terry Sexton and the Telecasters'.
See pages 255, 288, 331-314,
349 & 377
'When Bradford Rocked'
Mike Sagar (1940 - 2020)
Mike Stephenson (1938 - 2020)
Dave Murgatroyd (1941 - 2015)
A 17-year-old Mike joined the local group 'The Tennesseans' which became one of Bradford's early successes. Three years later in 1960, he joined 'The Cresters'. Later to become known as 'Mike Sagar and the Cresters' who went on to record 'Deep Feeling' at EMI studios in Abbey Rd. London
See pages 267-268 'When Bradford Rocked'.
Dave Murgatroyd (1941 - 2015)
Dave Murgatroyd (1941 - 2015)
Dave Murgatroyd (1941 - 2015)
In 1962 he joined 'The Dakotas' and was an integral part of this popular group for the next three years. However, during quiet spells with 'The Dakotas', he still filled in on the jazz scene with local or visiting jazz musicians.
See pages 135-137 255-256 'When Bradford Rocked'
Dave Arran (1942 - 2015)
Dave Murgatroyd (1941 - 2015)
Dave Arran (1942 - 2015)
Leaving school aged 15 he taught himself to play the guitar. With a young group, he got together as 'Dave Arran and the Dakotas' then moved as the vocalist to the popular the 'Crusaders'. Later in the 1970s he had a successful career as a solo vocalist.
See pages 127 -133 and 135 - 137 'When Bradford Rocked'
Roger davis (1942-2022)
Dave Murgatroyd (1941 - 2015)
Dave Arran (1942 - 2015)
He joined 'Alan Knight and the Chessmen' as their lead guitarist. From 1965 he continued under the new name 'Chad Wayne and the Chessmen' and was part of the group that went to Germany.
See pages 91-95
'When Bradford Rocked'
Keith Sivyer (1936-2022)
Keith Sivyer (1936-2022)
Keith Sivyer (1936-2022)
Keith was part of 'The Dingos' for a short while in 1962 as a vocalist and made his mark. However, he went on to become Bobby Kimble, one of the North's top entertainers for many years. He was also well known as a cartoonist for Bradford City fanzine cartoon for the City Gent.
See pages 168-9
'When Bradford Rocked'
Ray Kennan (1942-2022)
Keith Sivyer (1936-2022)
Keith Sivyer (1936-2022)
Ray was always the supreme showman and vocalist with 'The Ray Kennan Combo' and later move to 'The Toledos'. He later decided to go it alone and became a single vocalist compère, which brought him instant success. He went on many international tours with many stars, however, with the world his oyster he just packed his tent and stole away.
see pages 156,217,251 & 264.
'When Bradford Rocked'
Kenny Fowler (1940-2022)
Keith Sivyer (1936-2022)
Ian 'Smudge' Smith (1942-2021)
Self-taught Kenny was a guitar player and vocalist and was a stalwart of 'The Dingos' for seven years until the group disbanded. He later joined 'Brenda and the Dominators' after which he called it a day to concentrate on his career. It was a chance meeting with Kenny in 1987 who put me in touch of most of the group members of 25 years earlier. From this I wrote the two rock 'n' roll books, and now this website. It is thanks to Kenny, as without that chance meeting the books and the website would not have been created.
see pages 14,124,166 & 251
'When Bradford Rocked'
Ian 'Smudge' Smith (1942-2021)
Ian 'Smudge' Smith (1942-2021)
Ian 'Smudge' Smith (1942-2021)
The long-standing drummer of 'The Dingos', was well respected for his drumming skill. And known for always having a smile on his face. After 'The Dingos' he went on to play with other groups including the Tuxedos. In the mid 60s he went to live in California.
See pages 13-14, 166 & 370 'When Bradford Rocked'
Josie White (1937-2020)
Ian 'Smudge' Smith (1942-2021)
Josie White (1937-2020)
Sister of Paul, Josie White was one of our first local female rock 'n' roll singers with the group 'Dollars', progressing to 'Jo White and the Bluenites'. Jo and the group became very popular over the next eighteen months, after which her show business career ended. It was in 1994 that she joined the reformed group The Dakotas for the next twelve years, helping to raise thousands of pounds for charity.
see pages 210-213
'When Bradford Rocked'
Paul White (1941-2020)
Ian 'Smudge' Smith (1942-2021)
Josie White (1937-2020)
Brother of Jo White, a self-taught guitarist who first joined 'Dollars', which became 'Jo White and the Bluenites'. In 1962 he joined 'The Dakotas' taking over on lead guitar. However, much later when the group folded Paul continued with this career. Like his sister Jo, in 1994 he played with the original 'Dakotas' again.
See pages 210-213 '
'When Bradford Rocked'
ALLAN HOLDSWORTH (1946 - 2017)
Allan was born in Idle, Bradford in 1946. Aged 16 he began to play in local club-based groups. Later in his career he became best known as a jazz guitarist. In 1962 he joined Margie and the Sundowners and in 1963 formed Black Diamonds. In 1964 he joined Mick Judge and the Jurymen. In 1965 he left The Jurymen and joined Dave Arran and the Crusaders and went on tour to Germany with the group.
It's ironic that this Bradford-born guitarist is widely regarded by fans and fellow musicians as one of the twentieth century's most innovative musicians but is hardly known in his hometown. He settled in California in the 80's.
A long way from Thorold House, Thorpe Edge, Bradford.
see pages 97-98 in 'When Bradford Rocked'.
Allan Holdsworth far right playing with 'Dave Arran and the Crusaders'.
TONY MINCHELLA (1940-2020)
Tony is second from the left.
From 1959 until 1960 Tony was the drummer of The Hi-Ti's, a rock n' roll group formed by three members who were of Italian descent.
They had a great repertoire of rock n' roll numbers and were noted for being immaculately dressed. Albeit for only a few months, The Hi -Ti's had made their mark.
See Pages 203-205 for full stories 'When Bradford Rocked'
MICHAEL FARRELL (1939-2023)
It was in 1959 that Mike, who was an accomplished pianist, and also a good bass guitarist joined the new group 'Dal Stevens and The Blue Jays'. A few months later when the group folded it left Mike and Dal Stevens in disarray.
With Mike's help and loyalty, the group was re-formed with new members under the new title 'Dal Stevens and the Four Dukes'.
The sad passing of another good friend from my school days in 1942.
RIP Mike.
To read more of Mike and the groups see
pages 138 -149 of 'When Bradford Rocked'.
HARRY FOSTER (1925 - 2017)
A modest Bradfordian, who was a popular member of one of Bradford’s iconic groups in the 1960s, ‘The Tomboys and Helen’. Then in his mid-thirties, Harry had already seen most aspects of life and war before some of the young teenage rock n’ roll group members of the sixties were born.
Harry’s talent was exceptional for rock n’ roll either as a soloist or vocal backing with the rest of the group and he was truly an asset.
Although Harry didn't play an instrument, he was a good frontman for the group, at times backing the group by shaking ‘maracas’. For the five years with 'The Tomboys and Helen', it would be one of the best eras for Harry and it left many memories to the younger rock n’ roll group members of that time.
When the group folded in 1964 Harry went on with the second chapter in his life in entertainment and became a comedian.
Well into his eighties he attended the rock 'n' roll reunions at the Hilton Hotel.
A lovely man RIP.
See Profile ages 201-202 'When Bradford Rocked'.
The Tom Boys and Helen with Harry Foster in the centre.
THOMAS BUTLER (1930-2016)
Another ageless icon of Helen and the Tomboys has passed on. Tommy rhythm guitarist and vocals was in his thirties when he helped to form The Tomboys.
After which he played with a trio at the Listers Arms for a couple of decades, and in between played with most of our local trios and rock 'n' roll groups.
In the mid 1990'sTommy was forced to give up playing through illness, otherwise, he would still be playing today on his Fender Stratocaster.
Living in Wibsey he enjoyed his retirement with his many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Affectionately always known as Tommy he made a long and lasting contribution to Bradford's rock 'n' roll days, and beyond.
For full detailed biography, see pages 353-355 'When Bradford Rocked'
Tommy Butler sang and played the guitar well into his 60s.
JOHN HARDING (1946 -2022)
John Harding, the younger brother of Richard Harding became a very proficient guitarist playing with a few local groups. He was with the The Ray Kennan Combo until 1963 when he joined The Cresters for the next twenty years until the group disbanded in 1983. It had been a pleasure to play alongside his brother Richard. Sadly, after a few years of illness this curtailed his playing until his passing in 2022 .
For his full biography see pages 264-265 of When Bradford Rocked.
John Harding
Carl Gresham (1941-2023)
Carl Gresham was a Bradfordian like many of todays established impresarios he had a background steeped in show business. During the 1960s he signed up with many TV companies to work as an extra. Later he worked with large television companies such as Granada TV who, through their constant re-booking of his services eventually gave him the opportunity to meet many of the ‘stars’, who worked through his promotional and management company.
Morecambe and Wise, Pat Phoenix, Peter Wyngarde, Gordon Jackson and Dennis Waterman, to name but a few.
Reliability and professionalism did not abound in those days, but Carl had both.
Carl Gresham