the strath
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  • 1960
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  • 1979
  • A-Z of artistes
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1964

Jan 3               Cal Phillips and the Fabulous Falcons

Jan 4               Cal Phillips and the Fabulous Falcons

Jan 10              The Chaperones

                        The Strathpeffer Dance Band

Jan 11              The Chaperones

                       

                       



The Chaperones were a 5 piece consisting of L to R:

Lex Gibson, Dave Brownlee, Johnny Walker, Bobby ‘Red’ Campbell and Tommy Quinn.


               
















Jan 17              Johnny Law and The MI Five plus Evie

                        The Strathpeffer Dance Band

Jan 18              Johnny Law and the MI Five plus Evie

Jan 24             Johnny Little and the Giants

                        The Strathpeffer Dance Band

Jan 25             Johnny Little and the Giants

Jan 31              Valery Lemay and Les Vagabonds

                        Recently voted Glasgow’s top band

Feb 1                Valery Lemay and Les Vagabonds
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Feb 7               Cal Phillips and the Fabulous Falcons and Susie

Feb 8               Cal Phillips and the Fabulous Falcons and Susie


Feb 14              Johnny Carr and the Cadillacs

                        Popular Decca recording and TV artistes from Bristol

                        Plus the Tornadoes



Billed as "versatile and dynamic", Johnny Carr (real name Cornelius O'Sullivan) & his Cadillacs, were a Bristol based band that was formed in 1958 and apparently played alongside The Beatles at the Kaiserkeller club in Germany. They have been credited with having played various songs that became a staple diet of every Beat Band in creation, before anyone else did, including "Shout" (Lulu), "You'll Never Walk Alone" (Gerry & The Pacemakers) and "Twist And Shout" (The Beatles). 
A month after their Pavilion appearance they recorded "Remember That Girl"  on Fontana Records and in July of the following year "Do You Love That Girl?"

Feb 15              Johnny Carr and the Cadillacs

                        The Strathpeffer Dance Band

Feb 15              Tain Town Hall

                        One lucky girl chosen to go to Aberdeen Capitol Cinema on 17 March to

                        Meet backstage the Searchers and the rest of the Bobby Vee show: Bobby

                        Vee / Dusty Springfield / Big Dee Irwin / The Undertakers

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Feb 21              Johnny Law and the MI5 and Susie

Feb 22             Johnny Law and the MI5 and Susie















Feb 28             The Chaperones from Glasgow’s top ballroom

Feb 29             The Chaperones

Mar 6               Johnny Law and the MI5 and Susie

Mar 7               Johnny Law and the MI5 and Susie

Mar 13             The Royal Crests from Glasgow

Mar 14             The Royal Crests

Mar 20             Johnny Little and the Giants and Susie

Mar 21             Johnny Little and the Giants and Susie

Mar 27             Pat, Wally and the Crusaders STV stars of One Night Stand

Mar 28             Pat, Wally and the Crusaders

Apr 3               The Chaperones

Apr 4               The Chaperones

Apr 10             Johnny Law and the MI5

Apr 11              Johnny Law and the MI5

Apr 17             The first Liverpool group ever to come North

                        Chuck Graham and the Coasters

                        Radio, recording and TV artistes of Thank Your Lucky Stars

                        Plus Johnny Little and the Giants


Chuck Graham and the Coasters released the 7" single "I Know" in 1964. Lindsay Thomson who played with Johnny Little and the Giants says that Chuck Graham and the Coasters from Liverpool had to change their name because it clashed with the name of the Coasters from America.

Apr 18              Johnny Little and the Giants

Apr 24             Another great attraction appearing for the first time in the North

                        Helen and the Kinsmen direct from Glasgow’s top clubs 9.30 – 1.30                5/-

Apr 25             Helen and the Kinsmen 8.30 – 11.45     4/-

May 1               Strathpeffer Spa Golf Club presents the fantastic Cherokee Showband

May 2              The Cherokee Showband

May 8              Caberfeidh Shinty Club present the return of the Fabulous Falcons with Cal Phillips who is                                 making his last appearance at the Spa before emigrating to America

May 9              Cal Phillips and the Fabulous Falcons

May 15             Ross Shire Roads Cycling Club

                        Johnny Law and the MI Five

May 16             Johnny Law and the MI Five

May 22             Dingwall Highland Gathering Association present a great 2 band

                        Attraction featuring Scotland’s top group the Golden Crusaders

                        (TV and recording artistes)

                        Also the very popular Erle Blue Stars.

                        Both bands appearing for the first time in Strathpeffer

                        Plus the Miss Pavilion 1964 contest when the winner will receive free admission each Friday till                         the end of the year


May 23            The Erle Blue Stars


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May 28             Highland Cabaret 4/-

                        Kenny Ross – Bill Webster – Katherine Gordon

                        The Ben Wyvis Troupe of Highland Dancers with Pipe Major

                        George Innes – The Strathpeffer Dance Band

                        Comedian John (The Bogan) Urquhart

                        Compère Eck Wilson



This postcard was written and sent in September 1964 but was produced for the first Highland Cabaret in 1963. It was one of a series of four, the other three featuring the younger cast, Edith McKnight (née McLeod) and Lloyd Gollan, son of Dorothy Gollan who ran the Dancing School.

This picture features the dancers (from L to R)
Sheila Newton (née Buchanan), Helen Finlayson, Jean McCulloch (née Swanson), Edith McKnight (née McLeod), and Diane McGillivray (née Robb).


The band in the background is the Melotones featuring (from L to R) Bob Hunter (guitar), Willie Wilson (double bass), Dodo Ross (accordion) and, barely visible, Jackie Cameron (drums).


May 29             Lochussie Football Club present the Dance of the Year featuring

                        Dave Mackintosh with Jack Sinclair and his Band of Grampian TV

                        Plus the Federals all the way from London

                        8 lucky admission tickets

May 30             The Federals

                        The Midnights

Jun 5               Ross Shire Camanachd Association

                        Pat, Wally and the Crusaders who proved most popular on their l
ast appearance

Jun 6               Pat, Wally and the Crusaders

Jun 6               Tain Modern Dancing Enterprises       Town Hall

                        The Federals & The Wild Kats

Jun 12              Johnny Law and the MI Five Scotland’s top group

Jun 13              Johnny Law and the MI Five

Jun 12               Tain Modern Dancing enterprises        Town Hall

                        Mod Ball featuring the Dynamic Rave Girl of “Shout” fame

                        Lulu and the Luvvers


                   
           Come, See or Be – a Mod         6/6

Jun 13              Return visit of the “Shakes” now known as the Deacons

                        Spa Pavilion Cabaret every Mon, Wed and Thursday

Jun 19              The Chaperones

Jun 20             The Chaperones

Jun 26             Ross County Football Development Club present a great 2 band attraction featuring

                        Johnny Carr and the Cadillacs TV and recording artistes from Bristol

                        Plus the ever popular Johnny Law and the MI Five

                        Also super draw holiday abroad for two or £100 in cash

Jun 27             Johnny Carr and the Cadillacs

                        Johnny Law and the MI Five

Jul 3                Sol Byron and the Impacts

Jul 4                Sol Byron and the Impacts

Jul 10              Valery Lemay and Les Vagabonds

Jul 11               Valery Lemay and Les Vagabonds

Jul 17              Johnny Law and the MI Five

Jul 18              Johnny Law and the MI Five

Jul 24              Phil’s Feelgoods all the way from Manchester

                        The Kwintones from Glasgow

Jul 25              Phil’s Feelgoods

                        The Kwintones

Jul 25              Tain Modern dancing Enterprises        Town Hall

                        The Jacobeats        the all Highland Outfit Group

                        Rebel Sounds           
                                        5/-

Jul 31              Tony and the Traders appearing for the first time in the North

Aug 1               Tony and the Traders

Aug 7               Johnny Law and the MI Five and Suzy  

Aug 8               Johnny Law and the MI Five and Suzy

Aug 14             The Federals from London

                        Recently appeared on Thank Your Lucky Stars and Ready Steady Go

                        The Berries

Aug 15              The Federals

                        The Berries

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Aug 21              Dean Ford and the Gaylords Radio, TV and recording stars
Aug 22             Dean Ford and the Gaylords

                       

                                                     













When the group appeared at the Pavilion it consisted of Dean Ford - vocals (real name Thomas MacAleese),
Pat Fairlie - guitar, Junior (William)  Campbell - guitar, Raymond Duffy - drums and Billy Irving - bass. Not long after, they attended a successful audition held by Norrie Paramor in Glasgow and they were offered a contract with Columbia records. In an attempt to gain more recognition, the group moved to London and by 1967 Duffy had left (replaced by Alan Whitehead) and the group evolved into Marmalade. 
Alan Whitehead started his career in the music industry in 1966 as the drummer for Crispian St Peters but then joined Marmalade whose most successful single in the UK was a cover version of Paul McCartney's song 'Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da'. In 1969 Marmalade were signed to Decca and their next song 'Reflections of my Life' became a number 3 hit in the UK and reached number 10 in the USA. Whitehead left the band in 1978 and set up his own management company.

Aug 28             The Pavilion Ballroom Strathpeffer

                        Bookings now being accepted for 1965 for clubs and organisations

                        wishing to run Friday night dances. Applications should be made to the

                        manager in writing and received no later than 15 September 1964

Aug 28             The Chaperones

Aug 29             The Chaperones

Sep 4               Jay Anders and the Chevlons

Sep 5               Jay Anders and the Chevlons


The band was originally formed pre 1960 by Mike Allison on accordion and John Houston on drums as a wedding band. Jay Anders and the Chevlons formed in the middle of 1960. The band members were Jay Anders (vocals), Mike Allison (lead guitar and vocals), Ian Mitchell (rhythm guitar and vocals), Alex Johnston (bass) and Sandy Bissett (drums). Jay Anders was actually the stage name of James Anderson. They were based in the Springburn area of Glasgow and played mostly pop, R&B, ballads and some original material.
 
The club scene in Glasgow at that time was very limited and beat groups were in competition with jazz bands.  As a result the larger ballrooms were the place to be.
 
The band backed named groups who came to Scotland on tour: Billy J Kramer, Manfred Mann and many others, and they were alongside the Kinks with a prime time slot on Scottish Television during a Scottish tour. The band also had radio work.
 
They played many local venues, with a weekly gig at the East Kilbride Olimpia, monthly slots in Allanton, Stranraer, Millport, Prestwick U.S. Air Force Base, Arran, Troon, The Cave in Glasgow and had a regular slot at the Flamingo Cardonald. In 1964 the band recorded a single on the Impact Label, ' Girls were made for loving'.
 
They played Strathpeffer on the 4th and 5th September 1964. Jay Anders and Sandy Bissett left the band during the early part of 1965. The reformed group, with a new vocalist and drummer, and now known as The Chevlons, played again on the15th and 16th October 1965.
 
At the turn of 1965 the band played The Cavern in Liverpool and the 2I's cafe in London.
 
Ian Mitchell and Alex Johnston left the band towards the end of 1965 and the beginning of 1966.
 
With Mike Allison a new band was formed, still as the Chevlons, and they had some success in Scotland, recording songs on the Pye Label, and the band move to London.
 
In 1967 they changed their name to Cartoone and they had considerable success in the UK and USA, doing good work with Peter Staker.
 
A few years later Mike Allison started to concentrate on writing. He wrote a No 1 song for Olivia Newton John, ' Every face tells a story' and got a US Grammy for his part in it. He also wrote ' I'm nearly famous' for Cliff Richard and a number of songs on that album. He has a recording studio in Essex.
 
This information and the photos are credited to Jay Anders. It was kindly submitted by Alex Johnston.



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From left to right
 ALEX JOHNSTON [Bass Guitar] JAY ANDERS [Vocals] IAN MITCHELL [Rhythm Guitar and Vocals]  
BILLY J. KRAMER   MIKE ALLISON  [Lead Guitar and Vocals]  SANDY BISSETT [Drums].

Sep 11              Johnny Law and the MI Five

Sep 12             Johnny Law and the MI Five


Sep 17             Highland Cabaret last show of season Thursday
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Sep 18             Vince Newman and the Veltones

Sep 19             Vince Newman and the Veltones



​Vince Newman and the Veltones consisted of L to R:
Ali Mcdonald (guitar), 

Tam Baxter (drums), 
Ian Miller(keyboards), 
Jim Steele (bass), 
Harry Miller (guitar) 
and in front Ronnie Christie (vocals).

Jim and Harry’s guitars were Burns Vista Sonics, both cutting edge at the time and highly sought after nowadays.
Ali’s looks like an early sunburst Fender Stratocaster.


Thanks to Ali’s daughter Vikki for the photo and information.


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"From modest beginnings in the late 1950s on the bandstand in Leven’s Letham Glen, the Veltones broadened their circuit across Fife, then Scotland, then south of the Border and then Hamburg.
Ali McDonald (guitar), Tam Baxter (drums), Ronnie Christie (vocals), Ian Miller (keyboards), Jim Steele (bass), Harry Miller (guitar) were seasoned musicians when the ‘60s music boom came. A couple of hours rehearsal after hearing the latest ‘tip for the top’ and they were ready to include it in their set.

The Veltones for a spell were the resident Sunday afternoon band at The Burma in Kirkcaldy; in Blackpool they shared the bill with the Karl Denver Trio and the newly-formed Nazareth even cut their teeth by filling the interval slot during gigs in Rosyth.
 
Complete with a manager, a pretty good demo and the chance of a German residency. the sharp-dressed band members had to decide if they were prepared to take the leap and become full-time professionals. When that didn’t happen they remained on the circuit until 1965.
Bassist Steele went on to work for a spell as a session musician in London with EMI but The Veltones remain the band that could have been so much more".

 
Gratefully sourced from http://globalteam.co.uk/fftw/forums/index.php?/topic/13823-levenmouth-band-pay-tribute-to-amazing-fans/
​on 24th March 2016


​Sep 25             The Cherokee Showband

Sep 26             The Cherokee Showband

Oct 2               Strathpeffer Victory Hall Committee present a great 2 band attraction

                        Featuring popular TV and recording Liverpool group

                        The Four Dimensions with Tiffany ex leader of the Liverbirds all-Girl Liverpool group

                        Plus your old favourites Johnny Law and the MI 5                 6/-

Oct 3               Johnny Law and the MI 5

Oct 9               The Black Isle water Ski Club present

                        The Chaperones

Oct 10             The Chaperones

Oct 16              Vince Newman and the Veltones

Oct 17              Vince Newman and the Veltones

Oct 23             Johnny Law and the MI Five

Oct 24             Johnny Law and the MI Five

Oct 30             Mark Anthony and the Chariots

Oct 31             Mark Anthony and the Chariots

Nov 6               Tommy and the Apaches winners of Scotland’s MacBeat contest.

                                 The Apaches had won the Daily Record's Macbeat final at the Kelvin Hall, Glasgow,
                         just six weeks earlier on 18th September 1964.


                        Plus the Vaqueros                                            6/-                                           

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        The leaders of the Red Hawks, the MI5, the Black Diamonds & the Apaches shake hands. 
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​Nov 7               Dancing to another great attraction from Liverpool
                        The Fabulous Blackwells (better known as the Blonde Bombshells
                        who were starring with Gerry and the Pacemakers in the new film 'Ferry across the Mersey')

                         Plus the Vaqueros


​
The Fabulous Blackwells started off as the Ravens, then split and reformed as the Blackwells, in the summer of 1963. They appeared in the film 'Ferry Cross the Mersey' and as a promotion gag they dyed their hair blond. Their dyed hair and skin-tight leather outfits resulted in them becoming known as "the blond bombshells". They were resident at the Peppermint Lounge in Liverpool's city centre. One publicity photograph shows them with Jimmy Savile, who appeared with them in the film Ferry Cross The Mersey. Their 1965 Columbia single, "Why Don't You Love Me", is indicative of their gutsy sound. They split in 1965. Band members were:
Albie Gornell rhythm, Tex McDermott lead, Dave Trimhall bass, Roy Little drums and Jimmy McManus rhythm/ vocals.
​They released 2 singles in 1965
Why Don’t You Love me b/w All I want is Love and Love or Money b/w Big Daddy and the Cat 

Info gratefully sourced from http://www.liverpoolbeat.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=50

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Nov 13             The Dynamic Boston Dexters from Edinburgh’s top clubs – this is a group to suit all ages,

                        plus a group with a difference


                        Brad Ford and the Frenzie Beats




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The Frenziebeats originally started out in 1961 as the Rockets then changed to the Chessmen then finally Brad Ford and the Frenziebeats. The band ended in 1965. Norman Bradford was vocalist and the other members were Brian Clements lead guitar, Danny Pirie bass guitar, Robert Moffat rhythm guitar and Jimmy McCourt drummer. 

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Tam White was a guitar replacement when they played the Pavilion. These photos of them on the steps and on stage are from 1964. They came third in the Daily Record's MacBeat contest in May 1964.
















Nov 14             The Dynamic Boston Dexters

                        Brad Ford and the Frenzie Beats

Nov 20             Vince Newman and the Veltones                                  6/-

                        The Drovers   

Nov 21              Vince Newman and the Veltones                                  5/-

                        The Drovers   

                        The Drovers were a very popular band at the Pavilion and developed a

                        loyal following. They were from the Glasgow area and did a tour in America.

Nov 27             Johnny Law and the MI Five

                        The Boyfriends

Nov 28             Johnny Law and the MI Five

                        The Boyfriends

Dec 4               The fantastic Beat Unlimited

                        Tibby and the Cats

Dec 5                Beat Unlimited

                        Tibby and the Cats

Dec 11              The Hurricanes

                        The Take Five (both appearing for the first time in the North)

Dec 12              The Hurricanes

                        The Take Five

Dec 18              The Hi Fi Showband

                         This 7 piece band, stars of STV, should prove very popular on their first visit North

                         The Drovers – popular Country and Western group

Dec 19              Johnny Law and the MI Five

                        The Drovers

Dec 24             Thursday



                        A Grand Christmas Eve Carnival Dance featuring 2 of Scotland’s top bands the fabulous 7                                 piece Senate Showband presenting the new sound of 1965 and the Kimbos popular TV and                                 recording artistes.


                        This undoubtedly will be the dance of the year, which will suit all ages.

                        Hundreds of balloons, hats, streamers, carnival novelties. Prizes galore.

                        This will be a night to remember. Dancing 9.00 – 2.00            Only 6/-

                        Although they were not billed the Mackinley Sisters appeared on Christmas Eve, backed by                             the Senates.

Dec 25              Christmas night

                        The Senate Showband

                        The Kimbos and the fabulous Mackinley Sisters

Dec 26             The Drovers


The Senates were a comparatively new 7 piece band from Glasgow, featuring organ, saxophones and guitars.
The Kimbos were led by Andy Semple, a happy-go-lucky sort of young chap who played rhythm guitar. He was at pains to point out that the Pavilion was one of the best ballrooms in the country, saying it was like a palace compared to some of the places they had to play in down south. What made the Kimbos stand out among many modern pop groups of the time was that they were versatile enough to play ballroom and old time equally as well as the twist and the shake!

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 updated on 15th July 2020     contact: craigvar@talk21.com         © arthur scott