Featured in this section is
Terry Moran - Mike Priestley - Ray Moore - Laurie Lawrence - Alan Boyce - John Philcox - Billy Hey - Bert Bentley - Bob Duckett - Graham Herrington - Stan Pearson
TERRY MORAN 'aka' DADIO
I grew up with Terry at St Patrick's School in Westgate Bradford, known to us as White Abbey College, and on both left in 1953, we joined Brown Muffs. He did his National Service in 1956-1958, and after leaving the army he joined a local brewery as a maintenance engineer but was soon elevated on the road as a representative in sales. During this time, thanks to his versatile piano playing, he helped form Dal Stevens and the Blue Jays. However, after a few months, Terry was approached by The Dingos and departed to join them. In 1960 Terry joined Dal, now the DJ at the Gaumont ballroom, using the stage name Dadio pronounce Daddy-O, given to him by Ray Moore the ballroom manager.
In 1961 Terry suffered a burst ulcer, which caused a secondary effect of alopecia. Having lost his hair the effect on stage was that of father and son. With great courage, he faced many teenagers for three months until his hair grew back, no mean feat, and an indication of his professionalism and showmanship, which I never forgot. Dadio's style, though, it was in sharp contrast to mine. While mine was what was called a 'trans- Atlantic accent', Terry used a deep mellow voice, not unlike that of the popular DJ Brian Matthew of the well-known programme 'Saturday Club'. In fact, many of the comments were that he sounded like him, and looked like him.
Dal and Dadio were an item for the next five years for the last few months of Gaumont until closing in January 1962, and four years at the Majestic when bingo took over. Not to be forgotten is that at the Gaumont for some months we were joined by the lovely Barbara who worked with us on stage taking the requests, and we were known as 'Dal Dela and Dadio'. In the book When Bradford Rocked are the names of many of our local groups who played at both venues. We knew them and they knew us not only as DJs but as friends.
Many times we were asked to join them to sing a number, both being in rock 'n' roll groups. We also made lots of friends with the stars of the time who came along with their hit numbers, again all their many names are mentioned in the book. In 1964 we celebrated our 1,000 Spinning anniversary. At the time we asked for a rise as we were paid 30/- a night. The then manager who was bingo oriented said no, and a week later we both received a letter from the Inland Revenue demanding 2/6p a week as we had never paid any tax. Such was life.
It was during late 1964 that we lost the Wednesday night over to bingo and Terry could see that things would not be the same, so with some reluctance, he departed. With Wednesdays now defunct, he finished off his final show with me on one Friday evening. I remember he gave a little speech in his dulcet Brian Matthews tones.
For once the hall was silent as he said his goodbyes. He was going but would not be forgotten. I was now on my own with some of the local's groups and a ban on buying records to play. I could see the patrons moving to the Mecca, and when Friday night closed in 1965 leaving only Monday I too sadly left. A few weeks later the Majestic was open all week to bingo.
During the following years, Terry had many sales positions as well as running his own bar in the Canary Islands until health forced him to semi-retire. After a progressive illness, it was in a Low Moor nursing home that he passed away in 2004, aged sixty-six. Terry was a good friend from 1942, with a terrific sense of humour and an infectious laugh. He was a brilliant pianist and disc jockey, and will always be remembered as a true friend, and sadly missed.
The photo opposite shows Derek on vocals, Richard Harding on guitar, and 'Dadio' on stage at Bradford's Pile Bar on Lilycroft Road in 1994. The last time I got to be on stage with my dear friend.
MIKE PRIESTLEY
The man who came up with the book title 'When Bradford Rocked'.
This sixteen-year-old rocker rose to become one of Bradford's most popular journalists writing for the Telegraph and Argus.
It was sometime before Bradford's rock 'n' roll generation had their own Telegraph and Argus journalist in Mike Priestley (b,1944) in Undercliffe. It was 1968 before he joined the Telegraph and Argus. From that date for over forty years, besides his other journalistic commitments with the newspaper, he wrote many features about former Bradford rock 'n' roll stars. Mike retired in 2008. Many of us owed much to his writing and many features over the years about our talented group members of that era for which we say a big thank you, Mike.
Mike Priestley's review of 'When Bradford Rocked' from Bradford's Telegraph & Argus June 2012
In the first section, Derek sets out Bradford’s music scene in the 1950s and 60s, with colourful recollections of local dance halls, shops, hair salons and coffee bars such as Silvio’s in Darley Street, Collinson’s Cafe, “famed for its coffee roaster and three-piece orchestra”, and the Farmer Giles Milk Bar, “which many parents advised their children not to visit as it had a reputation – of what, they did not say”.
There are adverts for Woods music shop – “If Your Group Wants Guitars You’ll Do Better Buying Them In Bradford” – and a charming photograph of two assistants, Dawn Moss and Linda Wilkinson, sporting perfectly-sculpted Sixties beehives. Linda, also pictured with her first love, Irvin ‘Smudge’ Smith, drummer with The Dingos, contributes a chapter on her memories of the late-1950s and 60s in Bradford, recalling acts such as The Animals and PJ Proby visiting Woods. “Whenever there was a show on all the top bands headed for Woods,” she recalls. “The Animals were on a show with the Nashville Teens, supporting The Beatles. I asked Alan Price if he was an Animal or a Nashville Teen and he gave me a wink and said ‘I’m an Animal’.”
Derek writes with the affection of venues like the Gaumont Ballroom, where he played the last record, Don Gibson’s Sea of Heartbreak before it closed in January 1962, the Mecca Locarno and The Majestic, where teens would flock after being asked: “Goin t’Maj?” There’s a chapter on Excel Records, a Shipley recording studio used by “all local budding pop stars”, including Dal Stevens and the Blue Jays. “We made Why Must I Be A Teenager In Love there in late 1959. At home one Saturday morning, I was playing it on the radiogramme, the coalman called to be paid and commented: ‘Don’t they play some rubbish on the radio these days?’” recalls Derek.
There are delightful images of girls doing the twist on the wooden floor of Bradford’s Textile Hall, Teddy boys posing against garden gates, and lads in quiffs – including a 16-year-old Mike Priestley, later to become a T&A writer. A snap of Clay Martin and the Trespassers – a skiffle group founded by 14-year-olds Paul Hornby and Allan Davies – shows them practising in a back garden in 1959.
The second section focuses on the groups Derek has chronicled, with chapters followed by a biography of members including details such as date and place of birth, schools attended, jobs and families. Acts featured include The Caravelles, Cliff and Brenda with the Dominators, The Dakotas, Garth Cawood, The Flamingos, Mick Judge and the Jurymen, Mike Sagar and The Cresters, The Sidewinders, and The Wingbeats. There are chapters on Kiki Dee, which includes a photograph of the young Pauline Matthews singing at Dudley Hill Cricket Club in 1956, Johnnie Casson, a local drummer before he became a comic, and Great Horton-born John Verity.
“Every town and city had its homegrown skiffle, rock ’n’ roll and beat groups, none more so than Bradford,” says Derek. “The scene was vibrant and there was real talent here. Had there been a Brian Epstein we could’ve created a ‘Yorkshire sound’.”
As well as being a comprehensive guide to Bradford’s post-war music scene, Derek’s book offers a fascinating slice of social history. He hopes it will become part of Bradford’s heritage. “It’s something that those who were in these groups, and their families, can pass on to their grandchildren,” he says.
CREDIT: Bradford Telegraph & Argus 13 June 2012
RAY Moore : Manager of Gaumont ballroom 1959-1961
I have said this many times that it was Ray Moore who really brought our Bradford Rock 'n' roll years to Bradford, starting the Big Beat Nights on Sunday evenings the first being with rock star Jess Conrad, and over the next twelve months many other stars were augmented by very many of our local groups. See the full list on web site.
Ray knew what the teenagers wanted with a variety of special nights of competition slots of spot prizes in most cases presented by some of our own Bradford celebrities all recorded in the next day's Telegraph and Argus. He soon added Wednesday and Friday evenings to our rock 'n' roll nights and was never short of local groups for those evenings. All this was new and unique to the area as the Majestic had only Monday night rock n roll, the rest of the week being modern dancing.
I was very lucky to be there at the beginning. After my group Dal Steven and the Fours Dukes had moved on, I visited the ballroom one evening and Ray ask me "if my group wanted a booking". I had to tell him the group was no more. Then out of the blue, he asked me if had I thought about being a disc jockey, as he was doing this in between his managerial duties. The rest is history and all recorded in 'When Bradford Rocked'.
It changed my life for the next six years at the Gaumont and the Majestic see page 18 of 'When Bradford Rocked'.
Without Ray's offer on that night, the rock and roll books would not have been written, leaving a void in Bradford's rock and roll years. Not so, for the likes of Ray Moore a dedicated gentleman, and friend who in those early years gave Bradford its rock and roll beginning, and he was a Bradford lad.
Laurie Lawrence Manager of the majestic 1957 -1961
LAURIE LAWRENCE
Manager of the Majestic 1957 - 1961. Laurie Lawrence is another of nature's gentlemen who, like Ray Moore, gave our local up-and-coming groups the opportunity to perform at the Majestic. Although rock and roll was only on Mondays, it was always well attended by the teenagers who coined the popular local question" Goin' t'Maj ?"
The disc jockey at this time was the assistant manager Tony Cleary and Garth Cawood had been supplementing his time with the Dingos. Mr. Lawrence moved to Oldham in 1961 and was famous for booking the Beatles for £30 in Oldham, who then became famous overnight before they were due to appear. The Beatles had to honour the booking.
The full story is on page 22 of 'When Bradford Rocked'.
After the move of Ray Moore and Laurie Lawrence, those who followed in their footsteps were not like Ray and Laurie and soon helped guide the ballrooms to Bingo.
Left: 1961 Mr. Lawrance comperes another talent show with some apprehensive contestants.
Author. I can remember all their faces, but not their names. Can you?
Alan Boyce General manager of the locarno bradford
Alan Boyce 1926 -2006
General Manager Mecca Locarno ballroom.
When a new Mecca ballroom opened in Bradford in September 1961 It was advertised as 'Entertainment for Everyone' with dance sessions, Over 21 Night, Weekend galas, and the Sunday Club. So much was going on. However, soon Monday nights started with the rock 'n' roll club, dancing, and guest groups. I met Mr Boyce a few months later as I paid a visit to check out the Majestic competition.
Mr Boyce actually showed me around and I was impressed. He also had done his homework and knew all about the 'very popular DJs Dal and Dadio' (his words) I knew that we could hold our own from my visit. However, later when the Majestic was declining as a rock and roll venue, our patrons would visit the Locarno for its pop stage shows and artists.
Alan Boyce was a well-respected gentleman who came from Bristol with a reputation of being absolutely first class, and later equally with the Bradford patrons. Over those few years, we became good friends, and he even gave me a free pass for any shows. Later in 1964, he offered me the position of disc jockey, but I declined as I still had my loyalty to my many friends and patrons of the Majestic.
See pages 29-32 for the full story in 'When Bradford Rocked'
John Philcox Manager of the Gaumont
John was the General Manager of Bradford's Gaumont cinema between autumn 1957 to autumn 1960.
His Bradford appointment had followed a managerial stint at the Broadway Palladium cinema in Ealing, and John Philcox was a worthy successor to the Gaumont's former manager, Gilbert Ridler.
Not only did John Philcox continue to uphold the high standards of showmanship and public engagement previously demonstrated by 'Uncle Phil', but he had also taken the Gaumont's reins at a culturally tumultuous time and effortlessly oversaw its transition from a theatre to the North's premier rock 'n' roll venue when American legends such as Buddy Holly, Gene Vincent, Paul Anka, and Eddie Cochran performed there.
John Philcox's acute understanding of what local teenagers wanted was further demonstrated when he hosted a week-long skiffle contest with local musicians on the cinema stage vying for a slot on the 'Six-Five Special' stage show in January 1958, and he later introduced a Saturday morning session called 'The Teenage Show' in May 1960 "This is your show! Let yourself go! Enjoy yourselves!". The two-hour presentation included a film, a performance from a local group, and a jive session in which kids danced in the aisles - and on the stage - to records played by a Top Rank DJ.
Credit for this image: The Philcox Family Archive
Billy Hey & Bert Bentley orchestra leaders
Billy Hey
Billy Hey and his orchestra at the Top Rank Majestic ballroom. They were two of the nicest gentlemen it was a pleasure to know them. Soon, because of rock 'n' roll music, these popular dance band leaders were no more. I think they knew the writing was on the wall, even though they tried to include some upbeat rock 'n' roll numbers in their repertoire. In 1962 Bert's orchestra played their last numbers at the Gaumont, followed by Billy's orchestra at the Majestic in 1963.
During my time as a DJ, I spoke with these gentlemen on many occasions about the musical transition. At no time were there any undue comments or envy expressed about what was taking place.
Bert Bentley
So it was that just as rock 'n' roll had taken over the ballrooms, it was in 1965 at the Majestic that I was in a similar position. Bingo had taken over rock n roll.
Up until the 1960s, both these ballrooms were open nearly every evening of the week for the over 21s modern dances. I did visit the Majestic myself on those Saturday nights, and a lovely enjoyable contrast it was. I remember that Billy's orchestra had a very popular vocalist called Dean Raymond who had modest success with a couple of records and definitely appealed to the ladies.
Stan Pearson
There was in fact only one early Telegraph and Argus correspondent who sought out and wrote features on the local groups and their members and that was Stanley (Stan) Pearson (b1933-). Born in Allerton, Bradford, and educated at Bradford City High School, he joined the Telegraph and Argus aged 14 years and spent over 40 years with the newspaper, becoming a most respected golf journalist.
In his spare time Stan did freelance work for the world’s oldest weekly music newspaper, The Melody Maker (1926-2000). However it is relevant that his part-time work was really ‘moonlighting’ between 1955 and 1972. Also during those years he wrote a pop music and jazz column based on the Yorkshire scene for the old Daily Herald national newspaper. Because, again it was ‘moonlighting’ he had to do this under the pen name of Fred Armstrong!
When he retired there was no need to keep this secret anymore, thus at last the world knew who Fred Armstrong was.
With his notepad and pencil he would wander into the Majestic, and Gaumont ballrooms on various rock’n’roll nights and write snippets on who was who of the local groups. On most occasions these snippets would be published in some small way in the Melody Maker and the Daily Herald. Whether any success came of the publications would be hard to tell other than Stan served a purpose when no other journalists were really interested.
Serious, but with a wonderful sense of humour, Stan Pearson was a credit to his profession who saw the chance to promote the local talent. A good friend of the disc jockeys Dal and Dadio, he would always ask for the same record request, to play The Shadows’ instrumental ‘Apache’. Stan still has that sense of humour. Now retired, he lives in Menston with his wife Sandra.
Stan Pearson on the Kiki Dee connection
Here’s how it happened. I often think that even Kiki Dee herself, who was quite young at the time, may not know the real facts of how she got her first step up into ‘Show Biz’. I believe that she worked at Boots in Bradford and lived at Bankfoot at the time. She won a small talent contest in the city, and I was there that night. I had no contact after that and sadly, never met her in person.
The following Sunday afternoon I was working in our front garden at Ascot Avenue, Horton Bank Top when a couple came walking up the road and stopped at our front gate. ‘Are you Stanley Pearson’? The husband asked and when I said ‘Yes’ he introduced them as Mr and Mrs Matthews, the parents of Pauline.
He went on to say he was an old friend of Don Alred of the Telegraph and Argus and had asked him how to have someone in the record industry listen to Pauline. Don had replied, ‘Stanley’s your man’. He gave Mr Matthews my details and, to this day, the thing that amazes me is that Mr and Mrs Matthews would travel by bus from Bankfoot to Bank Top and automatically expect me to be in. I know that telephones were not that usual back then, but even so!
Now, through Bradford band leader Les Garrett, Ken Macintosh and the Melody Maker. I had got to know Walter Ridley, the A & R manager of HMV Records in London, very well, so I gave the Matthews Walter’s phone number and rang him personally on Monday. The Matthews fixed up to take Pauline down to London for the audition and the day after Walter rang me to say he had been very impressed and would be signing her up.
The rest as they say is history. Incidentally it was Walter Ridley who changed her name to Kiki Dee after signing her up.
As told to the Author 2011
Stan Pearson on the left with the popular singer, Vince Eager
BOB DUCKETT
Bob Duckett is a man of letters, born in Llanelli in 1942, who adopted Bradford as his home and has spent over 40 years researching the city's heritage.
He is one person we should acknowledge for both 'Bradford's rock and roll the Golden Years', and 'When Bradford Rocked'. In 1991 as the Head Bradford Librarian, it was Bob who pushed for my book to be published, starting with a wonderful book launch at The God's Bar Alhambra theatre in June 1991 adding much to its success
( See Video ).
In 2009 he helped me and Sandie for over three years with the text of over 400 pages, nearly five hundred biographies, and the index alone of 400 hundred pages. In 2004 I added Bob to my book 'Bradford's Own' the first rock and roll book, and his other many works of Bradford's history.
His commitment to 'When Bradford Rocked' helped to make it the success it is, and he is very much a 'star of another kind'.
GRAHAM HERRINGTON
Graham definitely deserves a place in 'Stars of Another Kind'. It was Graham who helped with organising the display stands. And the many photographs for my successful book launch 'When Bradford Rocked' in 2012. Later we had many (23) book signings, again he was taking the pressure off me and sorting out the stands. Also the books for display and helped with sales during the busy times. We had both learned a lot from the book signing sessions of my earlier books. In total 43.
' Bradford's Own' (2004). 'Bradford Born and Bred' (2009), so we could put a lot of that experience into 'When Bradford Rocked'. It was with Graham's usual help that over 200 people enjoyed the launch as you will see if you have a look on the 'Introduction' page of this site.
Sadly our good friend Graham passed away in April 2024.
