boy blue top' rank - world radio history

Nero Musical Frrnrems-March 13, 1959.

THIS WEEK'SNewReleases

DOTTY FREDERICKRICKY coupled with JUST WAIT JAR 106 (45 & 78)

BALLAD

ROCK

HARRY SIMEONE'SThe Little Drummer BDie Lorelei JAR

THE BELL NOTESI've Had itBe Mine

IN THIS ISSUE :

EXTRA 4 -PAGE

SUPPLEMENT ON

Registered at the G.R.0 as a Newspaper

JANE MORGAN'S

LONNIE JOHNNIEDONEGAN RAY

IF I COULD LIVE MYLIFE AGAIN

BILLY FURY'S

MAYBE

TOMORROW

THE

BARRY SISTERS

LITTLE

BOY BLUETHE PETER. MAURICE MUSIC CO. LTD.21 Denmark Street, London, W.C.2 TEM 3856

MUSICALEXPRESSWORLD'S LARGEST SALE - ABC certified figures

TOP' RANKTOP RANK is the label to watch !

TOP RANK presents thetopsin pops from the big

names and the newnames. This week twoexciting newcomersbring you two greatcouplings. America'squeen of the bigbeat, Dotty Fred-erick, with someswinging rock . . .

And Tony Hatchplaying some reallystylish piano with

smooth instrumentalbackingand first ratearrangements. A n dLOOK OUTforthe firstissues by TOP RANK'S

outstanding contractstars -SHEI LA BUXTON,

JOHNNY DANKWORTH,DICKIE HENDERSON, andmany more-in yourshop

soon. There'll be singlesaplenty and a terrific pro-

grammeofgreatEPsand LPsfrom British and American

artistes in all categories.Yes-TOP RANK is the labelto watch!

TONY HATCHCHICK coupled with SIDE SADDLE JAR 107 (45 & 78)

CHORALEoy101 (45 & 78)

JAR 102 (45 & 78)

THE KNIGHTSBRIDGE BRASSlo Sono 11 Vento (For you my lover)Italian Blu JAR 104 (45 & 78)

AN OUTSTANDING PROGRAMME OF

BRITISH AND AMERICAN E.P. and L.P.

RECORDINGS -WATCH FOR DETAILS

No. 635 EVERY FRIDAY 1.1:1('E 6d. March 13, 1959

MAXBYGRAVES

Napoli Napoli

F 11119 15,78

SHEILA BUXTON

JOHNNY DANKWORTH

DICKIE HENDERSON

2 NEW MUSICAL EXPRESS Friday. March 13, 1959

Oh Boy

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OUTTUESDAY

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HARRY SIMEONE'S 'DIFFERENT' SOUND PROMOTESTHERE is no doubt that the Top Rank disc concern is

rapidly developing into a major force in the recordingindustry. And when they have fully established themselvesas one of this country's major recording companies, asseems inevitable, they will surely regard the foundationstone of their success as ... Harry Simeone.

Why should this hitherto -unknown artist create such an impactupon the British public? Well, of course, we mustn't ignore thefact that, this being the first release, Top Rank launched an in-tensive publicity campaign on Harry's "Little Drummer Boy disc.

What's more, it had the advantage (with which all issues on thislabel are blessed) of being played in all Rank cinemas throughoutthe country.But this alone was not sufficient. The record itself had to he saleable.

And that's precisely what it turned out to he. Because " Little DrummerBoy " has a different sound -a strangely haunting and captivatingcharm, strong enough even to shake the States out of their over-whelming rock mentality.

Strong competitionAcross the Atlantic, the Simeone disc rose to No. 13 in the

" Billboard " charts, and a few weeks later attained a similar positionover here. Further proof to the contention that Britain is more melody -conscious than America is the fact that two other versions of the songhave found their way into the NME Charts.

The Beverley Sisters' version has just topped Simeone's in popularappeal, which is not surprising when one considers the affection inwhich the singing sisters are held here.Despite that, the achievement of Harry Simeone in reaching No. 13

in Britain is really amazing -more so, when one realises that this is

(Week commencing March 16)DAVID WHITFIELD, ALMA COGAN

P1'TULA CLARK. ROY CASTLE Glasgow Empire.Southampton Gaumont.

MICHAEL HOLLIDAYBelfast Opera House.

MARINO MARINI QUARTET,JOAN REGANShrewsbury Granada.

JACKIE DENNISLondon Metropolitan.

TOMMY STEELE, YANALondon Coliseum

BILLY DANIELSManchester Hippodrome.

RUBY MURRAY, GARY MILLERBirmingham Hippodrome.

SUNDAY6 Beaver Club; 6.15 Serenade; 6.45

Accordion Time; 7 Juke Box; 7.30 TheKing Brothers Show; 7.45 Teddy John-son and Pearl Carr; 8 Frank Sinatra;8.30 Take Your Pick; 9 Ward Sister;9.30 This I Believe; 10 Record Rendez-vous; 10.30 Woodbine Quiz Time; 11Top Twenty.

MONDAY6 Non -Stop Pops; 6.30 Monday's

Requests; 8 All Star Jubilee; 8.15 FilmTime; 8.30 Smash IIits; 9 Deep RiverBoys; 9.15 The New Lawrence WelkShow; 9.45 Perry Como; 10 JackJackson; 10.30 Pete Murray; 11 HowChristian Science Heals; 11.15 Frankand Ernest; 11.30 The World To-morrow.

TUESDAY6 Non -Stop Pops; 6.30 Tuesday's

Requests; 7.45 Gala Party; 8 TheDennis Day Show; 8.30 Godfrey Winn'sConcert; 9 All Star Jubilee; 9.15 TheBig Ben Banjo Band; 9.30 Your RecordDate; 9.45 Records From America; 10The Capitol Show; 10.30 Fontana FanFare; 11 Revival Time; 11.30 TheWorld Tomorrow.

MURRAY CAMPBELL,AUI)REY JEANS, TINO VALDIFinsbury Park Empire.

ORESTE KIRKOPLeeds Empire.

CONNIE FRANCIS, FRANK WEIRLiverpool Empire.

CHARLIE DRAKE,EDMUND HOCKRIDGE,BERNARD BRESSLAWLondon Palladium.

TONI MILLI, TRACY SISTERSChiswick Empire.

NEW LABEL TO MAJOR FORCE

HARRY SIMEONE

WEDNESDAY6 Non -Stop Pops; 6.30 Wednesday's

Requests; S Liberace; 8.30 First TimeRound; 9 Embassy Double Top; 9.15I Remember When; 9.45 Favourites Oldand New; 10 Pete Murray; 11 Back ToThe Bible; 11.30 The Hour Of Decision.THURSDAY

6 Non -Stop Pops; 6.30 Thursday'sRequests; 7.45 Record Hop; 8 TheBristol Club; 8.30 Lucky Number;Song Parade; 9.15 This Week's TopDiscs; 9.45 George Gershwin; 10 It'sRecord Time; 10.45 Italy Sings; 11 OldFashioned Revival Hour; 11.30 RadioBible Class.FRIDAY

6 Non -Stop Pops; 6.30 Friday'sRequests; 8 Band Parade; 8.30 MusicalMonograms; 9 David Jacobs; 9.15Dickie Valentine Show; 9.30 SportingChallenge; 9.45 Capitol Choice; 10.15Record Hop: 11 The Voice of Prophecy;11.30 The Bishop S. C. Johnson Pro-gramme.SATURDAY

6 Non -Stop Pops; 6.30 Saturday'sRequests; 7.30 Ranch House Serenade;8 Jamboree; 9.45 Juke Box Parade;10 Irish Requests; 10.30 Spin WithThe Stars; 11 Bringing Christ To TheNations; 11.30 Record Round Up.

AFN H. LIG..-S.4731114,.. IlifETFI

SUNDAY12.05 Family Theatre; 3.05 Scope;

5.05 Recollection At 30; 7.05 PeopleAre Funny; 8.05 AFN Playhouse; 9.15International Bandstand; 10.05 RomanceIn Music.MONDAY

11.15 Request Show; 12.05 MelodyMart; 1.05 Outpost Concert; 2.05 Stick -buddy Jamboree; 3.15 One Man'sFamily; 3.30 C. P. MacGregor; 5.15New Yorkers; 7.30 Crime Classics;9.30 Golden Record Gallery; 10.05 LateRequest Show.TUESDAY

11.15 Request Show; 12.05 MelodyMart; 1.05 Outpost Concert; 3.15 OneMan's Family; 6.05 Music In The Air;7.05 What's My Line; 9.30 ModernJazz, 1959; 10.05 Late Request Show.WEDNESDAY

11.15 Request Show; 11.55 Les Paul;12.05 Melody Mart; 3.15 One Man'sFamily; 4.05 Request Show; 6.05Music In The Air; 7.05 Groucho Marx;

8.30 Suspense; 9.30 Itr0.ye,. 10.30Late Request Show.THURSDAY

11.15 Request Show; 2.05 Stick -buddy Jamboree; 3.15 One Man'sFamily; 4.05 Request Show; 6.05 MusicIn The Air; 9.30 World of Music; 10.05Late Request Show.FRIDAY

11.15 Request Show; 11.55 Les Paul;2.05 Stickbuddy Jamboree; 2.30 RobertQ. Lewis; 3.15 One Man's Family; 4.05Request Show; 6.05 Music In The Air;7.05 Rusty Draper; 8.30 City Hospital;9.30 Stars Of Jazz; 11.05 Late RequestShow.SATURDAY

11.15 Request Show; 12.45 GuestStar; 1.05 Saturday Salute In -Music;3.30 Mery Griffin; 4.05 Request Show;6.05 Music In The Air; 7.30 UpbeatSaturday Night; 8.05 America's PopularMusic; 9.05 Dixie Beat; 9.30 Cha ChaTime; 11.05 Late Request Show.

JOHNNIE

RACODIANTBOYISH Johnnie R a y

breezed onto the Londonstage again on Monday andfor the seventh time completelywon over his audience.

It happened at London's PalaceTheatre, where Johnnie is playingfor a fortnight. Although mid -actscreams were missing, the Rayfavourite tunes were still there-for Johnnie has only added twonew numbers to his repertoiresince last we saw him in thecapital.

But no matter. The fans stillapplauded loudly for the now well -tried repertoire.He opened with " Who's Sorry

Now ?," a lively choice and a nicecompliment to the outgoing star atthe Palace -Connie Francis. " ShakeA Hand " is an old favourite andthe fast-tempoed gospel song createdmuch excitement and got the crowdin the mood for the next effort bythe slim Johnnie-" Walking MyBaby Back Home," another Ray oldtimer.

New to his act is "It's All In TheGame," sung with great sincerity andpower, and a big new winner for him.Next the hand -clapper, " Yes To-

yight , Josephine," followed by hisevergreen " Walking In The Rain."

Changing the mood, he wentgay with "Somebody Stole MyGal," and then probably his mostdramatic number-" All The Way."It was evident by this time that

Johnnie works as hard as ever andthe perspiration was dripping off hisface. He still wore that strained ex-pression at -times, changing it in atwinkling to oneaot'boyish hallpihess.

He still fumbled for words, andonce or twice lost the beat.A new number to Johnnie's pro-

gramme came next-" Love," the

JOHNNIE in action at rehearsal

the first time ever that a new British record label has appeared in theTop Twenty with its very first fecord release.

Although a newcomer to the record lists, Harry Simeone has beena musical hackroom-boy for many years, having been stall arrangerto the Columbia Broadcasting System, Fred Waring and the Pennsyl-vanians, and Paramount Pictures -in that order.

He comes from Newark in New Jersey, which is also the birthplaceof Connie Francis -though Harry would be the first to admit that theirchildhood days did not coincide. To he exact, Harry was horn in 1911!

The PennsylvaniansAfter graduating from the Julliard School of Music, he immediately

joined CBS, and remained there until bandleader Fred Waring recog-nised the worth of his arrangements in 1939, and took him onto hispermanent staff.

Many of the Waring records issued in this country. during the 1939-45 period flowed- from Harry's pen. He has also composed severalnumbers, although I can only trace one on record in this country -called " Drugstore Cowboy." it is included on Fred Waring's " ForListening Only " Brunswick L.P.

When he moved to Paramount, he worked in conjunction with thelate Victor Young. on such pictures as " Here Come The Waves,"" The Affairs Of Susan,"- and the Bing Crosby -Bob Hope "Road"series.

For the past seven years, Harry has been both arranger and con-ductor for a popular weekly American TV show, called " The FirestoneHour." This keeps him well occupied, though he does also manage toarrange for various other radio and TV shows.

And although his name is completely new on the British scene, thevery fact that over seven million copies of his own compositions andarrangements have been sold in America shows that he is by no meansa novice.

If he maintains the standard of his present hit, the " Little DrummerBoy " could be the forerunner of a whole procession of Harry Simeonehit recordings.

passionate summing up of the manyfacets of his emotion. Johnnie gaveit his all and made it powerfullistening. Next, more drama in " WithThese Hands," and his twelfth songspeeded up the pace with Up AboveMy Head."

Johnnie, as ever, paid a handsometribute to the orchestra -this time onthe stage with him and conducted byHarold Collins. Another round ofapplause went to Herman Kapp,Johnnie's MD, who plays drums forhim by special permission of theMusicians' Union. Kappy, as he iscalled, beat out a mean rhythm andset the tempo for the orchestra andJohnnie alike.

No Ray performances would be

complete without his " Little WhiteCloud That Cried " and " Cry "-and they came next, Johnnie sittingdown at the piano for the first timeduring these numbers.His final number was, again as

usual, " Going To Walk And TalkWith My Lord," the jubilee revivalnumber working tip to an excitingclimax.

Johnnie is still the great showman,using his lean, elegant hands, hisboyish figure, his unsteady legs tomaximum effect. Flowers were strewnat his feet from front row girls andfive girls in a box, who threw neck-laces of pink blooms down to him.Johnnie laughed and murmured:" This is a flower show " I A.E.

SUNDAY AFTN. Royal FestivalMARCH 29 at 3 Hall MAT 3191)

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Friday. March 13, 1959 NEW MUUSICAT. EXPR E.,SS 3

NMExclusive SCOOP*' PRESLEY THROUGH FEMININE EYES

HAZEL GUILDAinmGeerricmna

Germany, has, y, has seenthe world's rock 'n' roll king several

times and sums up

EEVIS poses by the milk white, super -charged BMW sports car he wasgiven by the workers. He waves to the crowd who wait outside to seeElvis in person. He often finds love messages in lipstick on his car.

MAX'S CO-STAR ARRIVES-AND GOES TO SLEEP !AMERICAN singing star Shirley Jones breezed into London on

Tuesday morning-and went straight to bed !After her tiring two-day journey,

the blonde songstress was unable totake telephone calls or receive visi-tors at her Dorchester Hotel suite.The purpose of her visit is to co-star with Max Bygraves in the 20thCentury Fox musical, " Bobbykins ",which goes into production on March16 at Boreham Wood Studios.

It is a great pleasure to welcomeShirley to these shores and we cer-tainly hope she will be able to findtime for at least one televisionappearance before she returns to theStates.

British viewers saw her on theirscreens during her previous visita few years ago.Shirley's rise to success was cer-

tainly a quick one, and this talentedyoung woman (she will not be twenty-five until the end of this month !)is already one of the world's foremostleading ladies in musicals.

Her entry into films was nothingshort of meteoric With only theexperience of a second lead in astage production " Me And Juliet "and a part in " South Pacific ", shewalked straight into a starring rolein the film version of " Oklahoma ".She followed this with " Carousel ",another Rodgers and Hammersteincreation. In both cases her co-starwas Gordon MacRae.

The delightful Miss Jones' nextscreen appearance was with PatBoone in ` April Love ". In eachfilm she made, Shirley's acting im-proved, and after " April Love ' shewas, quoted as saying: "I'd love to doa straight film without any music atall."

Her next film " Never StealAnythipg Small", in which JamesCagney stars, will soon be show-ing at British cinemas.Shirley always enjoyed singing, and

took lessons while still very young.At the age of six she used to travel28 miles from her home in Smithon-a small town with a populationof only 800-to Pittsburg for sing-ing instruction.

Even today, when she isn't workingShirley still studies voice, practisingscales and the like for three hours aday.

Married to Jack Cassidy, ShirleyJones is the name with which shewas christened.

DAVID SAMPSON.

ing Brotherson Radio Luxembourg

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ELVIS ISELY

EVEN with millions of dol-lars, there's one problem

you can't beat-loneliness !And Elvis Presley, world'srock 'n' roll king, and pro-bably the world's most famoussoldier, is a lonely lad.

He misses his mom, who diedlast summer. He misses his buddiesin the States. He misses home inTennessee, and that fine Southerncooking. All the money and famein the world can't make up forthese lacks !

So before you start to criticiseElvis, to talk about his hip -swingingand high-livin' antics, let's take alook at the real Elvis-a lonely Gl,a boy hiding behind a uniform.

" I want to do the best possiblejob that I can in the Army, 'almond -eyed Elvis Presley told merecently. The blue-eyed six-footer satquietly in the lobby of his hotel,.which he has since left, in BadNauheim, West Germany, as wechatted. His surroundings in an old-fashioned, quiet, little family hotelseemed at considerable odds withElvis, the hep young pelvis -swayer.

UniformBut he sank into a deep chair and

relaxed, perhaps here finding someof the homelike atmosphere forwhich he's been so lonely.

As soon as El gets home, likemost other soldiers, he clambers outof his uniform and crawls into hiscivvies-to give him a mark ofindividuality, the stamp of being aperson and not a military number.

The night I spoke to him, he waswearing dark grey flannel slacks anda jazzy flame -red turtle -neck sweaterof heavy wool.

"I brought the sweater fromHollywood," he added nostalgi-cally. " It's pretty comfortable."Elvis off stage is a great contrast

to the guitar -swinging, body -gyratingextrovert that he reveals to theaudience. He's calm and controlled,quiet and relaxed - but mightyserious about his current career as asoldier and his future back in theentertainment business.

" I'd expected to oe hounded andhated when I became a soldier,"Elvis admitted. Plenty of boys inuniform had threatened to gethim - when he cropped his sideburnsand became a GI.

" When I came in the Army I

was expecting a lot of kidding andso-called harrassment from the otherboys. People told me when I gotin they would make it hard for me.But it was really just the opposite.

" think that anything that hap-pened- to me in the Army I broughton myself. When the fellows foundout I was doing the same things theywere, on guard detail, road march-ing, KP (punishment- for minorfaults), they figured we're all alike."

He admitted that he got his share

Unusual picture of ELVIS thesedays. He's in civvy clothes duringa short leave trip to Munich towatch his friend Jerome Courtlandfilming there. Interesting note-Elvis is wearing the same sportsjacket he wore when recording"Jailhouse Rock" music two years

ago.

E.P's LATEST LP !LATEST Elvis Presley RCA

album will be released in aweek or so. Titled " Elvis," itwill include 14 titles.

They are That's Alright;Lawdy, Miss Clawdy ; MysteryTrain; Playing For Keeps; PoorBoy ; Money Honey ; I'm Count-ing On You.

My Baby Left Me; I Was TheOne ; Shake, Rattle and Roll ; I'mLeft, You're Right, She's Gone;You're A Heartbreaker ; Tryin'To Get To You; rlue SuedeShoes.

and a male secretary, are all nowliving in a rented home in BadNauheim.

Like other soldiers whose fami-lies are in Europe, Elvis is per-mitted to live with them.Since his mother's death, Elvis is

trying to find as much of a home aspossible in Europe-and, he pointsout, it hasn't been easy, being in astrange land with new customs andcultures.

Elvis talks earnestly about hisArmy job. He's proud, and justi-fiably so, of doing an excellent jobas jeep driver with Hq. Co., 1stMedium Tank Battalion of the ThirdArmoured Division, which means hedoes a mighty fine task of pilotinghis little Army wagon through theruts.

Elvis' outfit did such a bang-upgood job on their recent month -longmanoeuvres in the rugged Grafen-woehr training section, each memberof the unit rated a special three-daypass.

Elvis took his leave time overhis birthday, January 6, when hemarked up his 22nd year" I'm mighty homesick at times,"

he added when we met. "And I'llbe real glad when I can go back tothe States."

That won't be for quite a while,though, as his normal tour of dutyends only in March, 1960. Mean-time, he issues a most sincere, " Ihope the folk back home haven'tforgotten me."

He needn't worry too much onthat score, though. The boymodestly admits that he's way aheadfinancially. During 1958 his earningson hit records brought him overtwo million dollars in royalties, aconsiderable jump over the $94 amonth he earns as private, first class,with Uncle Sam's finest.

of bruises during the initial ruggedtraining. " During basic, you'realways getting skinned getting yourfingers cut, knocking the knees outof your breeches. But I've reallybeen enjoying the Service-and I'vemade.a lot of new friends."

Several nights during the week bebrings some of his ouddies home fora home -cooked meal GrandmaPresley, along with Elvis' father

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More mature" Being in the Army is a "good'

experience for any young man,"Elvis comments. Unlike some otherfamed American entertainers whoresented the two years out of thelimelight, Elvis points out: " Whenyou come out you are more mature,more capable of thinking for your-self."

He's tried to go about his personallife quietly, too. Although he'soften dated a pretty German girl,17 -year -old secretary Margrit Durgin,he comments, " That heavy romancetalk is a lot of publicity."

Just ..recently, too, the BMWfactory in Germany presented himwith a handsonie white sports car, thesupercharged $8,000 model.

When Elvis parks it in front ofhis Bad Nauheim home, the localgirls find a way of attracting hisattention-painting messages of " Ilove ' you ' and " Please call meat . . ." all over its snowy, whitebody.

Elvis' favourite music in Europe,as at home, is rock 'n' roll. Whenhe wants to go to sleep, he slings aclassical record on the record player.

" I'm not knocking anyone else'sfavourite type of music." he hastensto add.` But the longhair stuffisn't for me."

GuitarOne of his first purchases in Ger-

many was a guitar, to get' back tothe old plunkin' and grindin' rhythm.

" I wanted to bring my ownalong," he grins, " but there wasn'troom in my dufflebag."

He's been to a few jazz clubs inGermany. But since he doesn'tdrink or smoke, he finds the hazyatmosphere a little distasteful.

Next summer, he's hoping tovisit England and meet some ofhis active fan -club members. Butit'll have to wait until his nextleave -time pops up.Elvis would like to find two things

in life-the right girl and the rightsong.

"J wonder if the tolk back homehave forgotten me ? " muses thesoldier -a -long -way -from -home. " It'shard to tell from over here."

With a firm movie and record con-tract, and appearances on leadingTV shows scheduled for his returnto the States, Elvis doesn't have toworry.

Private Presley can chuck off thatuniform and be right back in busi-ness in his sideburns and blue jeans.

But Elvis Presley, the lonely lad,has a lot of personal problems towork out, either in uniform or incivvies. After meeting him andtalking to him, I'm sure I'm rightwhen I say he's just a sad youngsterout-of-theteen-ages, in search ofsomeone to love.

VIC DAMONE

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4 NEW MUSICAL EXPRESS Friday. March 13, 1959

Pat Boone disappoints, but threeBritish girls have ared hot rock disc

I SHAN'T earn any bouquets for predicting another hit forPat Boone, but I shall, I'm sure, collect a few brickbats

for saying that I find Pat's latest offering rather dull andboring.

Lengthy title is " With The Wind And The Rain In Your Hair."I like the idea enormously, but neither song nor singer make the mostof it ; the melody offers no " purple passage" and Pat is just thatmuch too relaxed so that he gives an impression of coldness with noreal feeling

Song is slowish, with a rock beatbut the accompaniment is not veryadventurous.In all it is one of the most dis-

appointing waxings 'hat I have heardfrom this excellent performer

" Good Rockin' Tonight " has afairly fast beat, features Pat in hisbrightest mood, but the number isonly commonplace. Label is London.

PETULA CLARKI first heard the song " Suddenly "

on BBC -TV as an entry for theEurovision Song Contest. At thattime I wasn't impressed, but nowI am veil impressed. What mademe change my mind ? A newarranger and a different singer.

Petula Clark gives an ideal inter-pretation on Nixa, with the aid ofa delightful arrangement from thepen of Bill Shepherd, who directsthe orchestra and chorus.

The rock-beguine tempo givesthe number brightness and sparkle.The lyric is well above average and,coming from Pet, is completelyconvincing." Watch Your Heart " is an Eng-

lish version of a French song, butit clearly doesn't come from theChampagne country.

It has a reasonably bright bounceabout it and Pet puts a smile intothe words but otherwise it is ordin-ary.

Mr. Interpreter, was your transla-tion really necessary ?

COASTERSRock with a novelty -nonsense

angle can be heard on London labelper The Coasters. " Charlie Brown "is a character full of woe, but hismisfortunes can be amusing to listento and there's a zipoy beat to helpthe number along.

Vocal is a group job and Istrongly fancy this original waxingto be the first to appear in

charts and to outsell rival versions.Flipover is the tale of " Three Cool

Cats," on the slow side rock -wise,but there's a faint smile to be hadfrom the lyric

MAX BYGRAVESNobody-least of all Max Bygraves

-will deny that the enormous suc-cess of " Tulips From Amsterdam "exceeded expectations. But the proofof the platter being in the selling,Max comes along with another happysounding ditty of similar type.

" Napoli Napoli " changes the loca-tion to Italy but the other ingredientsare the same-a simple, liltingmelody, a big chorus to add to thecheery mood, and Mr. Bygravessinging of romance in the sun.

Unpretentious but most enjoy-able; I don't see why this songshould not soon be in the hitparade.Coupling of this Decca release is

" Old Tymes Square," a bright jog -along slice of hometown nostalgia.

PAUL & FORDIt's a long time since I was able

to enthuse about a Les Paul andMary Ford record, but somethingof their originality turns up onceagain in " All I Need Is You "(Philips).

Side opens with a magical soundlike a hundred guitars strumming,muted and faraway as if out-of-doors on a summer night.

Not until half way through doesthe multi -voice vocal of Mary Fordstart ; again the faraway effect pre-dominatesStriking in its onginality, lovely

in the sound that is created.The warmest praise and recom-

mendation for a waxing that doescredit to the art of recording, andthat flatters the musical ear of thelistener.

On the other side Mary tells a

VOGUE POP RECORDSLONG-PLAYING

VA 160134 Bud Shank and Bob Cooper: The Swing's To T.V.VA 160136 George Wright Plays the Mighty WurIltzerJealousy. Ebb Tide, Caminito, Boogie, Angela Mia, Roller Coaster/The Boy NextDoor, Brazil, Stella By Starlight. Love For Sale. Dancing Tambourine, Stars AndStripes For Ever.

EXTENDED PLAYVE 170129 Bud Shank-Bob Cooper: Flute 'n' OboeThey Didn't Believe Me, I Want To Be Happy/Blues For Delilah.VE 170137 Pepe De Almeria: Flamenco GuitarZambra Gitana. Guaiiras/Granadinos, Fandango FlamencoYE 170141 Shorty Petterstein: Interviews Of Our Time -2Telephone Therapy, Drums In My Typewriter/Breakin' The Habit, ChildhoodTraumas, Setf Analysis

POPULAR SINGLES (Available on 45 and 78 rpm)V.9134 Sonny Knight V.9135 Shirley and LeeBut Officer/Dear Wonderful God, A Little Word/That's What I'll Do.

V.9138 Earl CadillacMarchand De Poissons/Tremendo ChaCha Cha.

V.9139 Thurston Harris V.9141 Sidney BechetPurple Stew/I Hear A Rhapsody Petite Fleur/Dana Les Rues D'Antibes.

V.9136 Gene and EuniceBorn Bom Lulu/Hi Diddle Diddle

RECORD PRESS FROM YOUR DEALER. PRICE 1d.

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THE PRIZE- WINNING SONGFROM THE

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ORIOLE RECORDS LTD., 315-7 OXFORD STREET, W.I.

THE THREE BARRY SISTERS

tale of love in the supermarket." At The Save -A -Penny Super Store "is medium -paced and pleasant andhas the merit of finding an unusualsetting for the story.

ARLYNE TYEThe name of Arlyne Tye may not

be familiar to you but I reckon ifyou once heard her sing "The Uni-verse " (London) you wouldn't for-get her quickly.

To a slow rock beat the lass singsthis unusual semi -ballad in a voicevarying from a whisper to a fullstrength high note on echoing echo.

The title not being very informa-tive I must tell you that Arlyneuses the universe as a descriptionof how much her loved one'slove means to her.Which in turn means that this is

a strongly commercial lyric. It onlyremains for this disc to get the neces-sary airings-pretty difficult for anunknown like Miss Tye.

" Who Is The One ' is anotherslow rocker, this time following thetheme of the eternal triangle.

Again the voice and delivery ofMiss T. command the attention andearn most favourable comment. Iwould like to hear more of thislady

ONE of the hottest rock records of the year hasbeen etched by an English vocal group of three

girls-The Three Barry Sisters. Their treatment of" Tall Paul " just could not be bettered althoughmuch credit must go to the arranger, who turnedout the pile -driving accompaniment.

Number moves relentlessly and with enough energyto launch a rocket into orbit.

If records like this can be made in British studios,then we have nothing to learn from the Americans.Rather the reverse!

A first-class production is again the keynote on thecoupling, " Till Then." This oldie is given a firm but not wildrock treatment, and the girls bring their feminine charm intoplay in their delightful vocalising.

For my money this is the stronger item, but Decca aretreating " Tall Paul " as the "A" side.

By ALLEN EVANSKAYES AT COLONY

The Kaye Sisters in gay mooddoing their cabaret act at theColony Restaurant, accompaniedby the resident Felix King or-chestra. There are six tunes on thePhilips EP, plus King's introduc-tion and audience applause. Bestsongs are the calypso WomanSmarter and A Certain Smile.They take off various sister acts,including The Beverleys, inanother number called Sisters,which is quite amusing.

* *LADY IS A SQUARE

Frankie Vaughan sings foursongs from his current film on aPhilips EP. He tries rock-inHoney Bunny Baby, with fairgiccess; ballad-Ray Noble'sLove Is The Sweetest Thing, withso-so results, Ile Lady Is ASquare is not much better-butThat's My Doll is much morelike the Frankie we know andlike so much.

* * *PAT BOONE SINGS SONGS

FROM " MARDI GRAS "Pat Boone sounds mighty good

on this London F.P. Accom-panied by Billy Vaughn, he singsa soft, swingy Bourbon StreetBlues, romps through a hand-slapper called Bigger Than Texas,and a pioneer song-A Fiddle,A Rifle, An Axe And A Bible.In Loyalty he duets with SteveAllen. Recommended buy.

THAT CRAZY QUARTETMarino Marini and his three

co - instrumental - singers makesunny weather of Nel Blu Dipintodi Blu (Volare to you), and threeother Italian songs-Capricciosa,L'Amore Non Conosce Confiniand Bbe. Goad singing andguitar work make this a stand-out EP on Durium label.

DO I LOVE YOU ?Vic Damone orings his roman-

tic voice to four love ballads onthis Philips EP. All are givenfine treatment, specially Gigi.Other tunes are Separate Tables,Do I Love You ? (from "Cin-derella ") and Unafraid. In thetwo last-named songs he haschoral backing.

BLUES BY BASSEYShirley Hassey chants " I was

born to sing the blues," and youbelieve her. She really lets her-self go as she warbles her waythrough Basin Street Blues, Care-less Love Blues, Birth Of TheBlues (her greatest number), andBorn To Sing The Blues. WithWally Stott's backing, this PhilipsEP proves that Britain can pro-duce a bluesy disc as thrillingas any from over the Atlantic

* * *THERE GOES MY HEARTJohnny Mathis is a high-toned,

iispy, sensative singer, and he isheard on this Fontana EP toperfection while singing I'm GladThere is You, which is excellent.Other songs, too, are worth listen-ing to --There Goes My Heart,Street Of Dreams and My OneAnd Only Love (the weakest ofthe four).

* * *HITS FOR SIX -9

Ian Stewart continues his goodwork on Fontana, with his latestpiano medley-Gigi, As I LoveYou, Petite Fleur, Tonight, BabyFace and Thank Heaven ForLittle Girls. All excellent

* * *SOPHISTICATED LADY

Manny Albam, his chorus andorchestra, play songs of DukeEllington on this Coral EP Vocalchords are mostly used like in-struments. Songs like In ASentimental Mood and In AMellotone come out well

TOMMY DORSEYThe disc that confirmed the arrival

of the cha cha was the irresistibleTommy Dorsey band waxing of" Tea For Two." So can the sameorchestra cash in on that successwith a follow-up in the same tempo ?

I wouldn't like to say, but I cansay that " Dinah Cha Cha," fromthe Tommy Dorsey orchestra. is ajoyful earful.

The precision of the brass givesthe disc " bite " and buyers of theearlier disc will be well pleasedwith this one." I Still Get Jealous Cha Cha "

fills the reverse of this Brunswickbiscuit, and again an exciting soundis achieved without striving for un-usual effects

ROGER WILLIAMSThe Key To The Kingdom "

opens quietly and buildsto an impressive concerto -like climax,a frequent format for recording bypianist Roger Williams

A quiet and serious ballad, classi-cal in style with words sung by amixed chorus. Music like this makesan agreeable change, but this par-ticular composition does not stir theemotions quite so deeply as may havebeen intended.

In sharp contrast, " Dearer ThanDear " is a light trifle which mayjust possibly have been inspiredby " Trudie."Small female vocal group croons

for most of the time, and the Wil-liams piano gets rhythm and guitarbacking. That's on London.

VERA LYNN" Walk With Faith In Your

Heart " is a religious ballad andthere are not many vocalists who canput over such a song with sincerityand conviction

One who can do so is Vera Lynnand she's going to give a lot ofpeople a lot of pleasure with thisrecording.

The Roland Shaw orchestra pro-vides the accompaniment for thisside and for " The Glory Of Love."

The oldie is brought out andbrushed up bright and new but themodernisation is the mildest possible.A completely straight performancefrom Vera. That's on Decca.

GARY MILLERGary Miller is joined on Nixa by

the Bill Shepherd Music and theBeryl Stott Chorus for " The Rail-road Song."

A rousing " I'll -sing -the -verses -you -join -in -with -the -chorus " song with asuggestion of rock in the accompani-ment.

Maybe the fine " Someone's inthe kitchen with Dinah " will ringa bell for you.Good fun but I don't see this as

a pop best-seller. Gary Miller makesan excellent job of the vocal, sing-ing with hearty, open-air zest

Coupling is "Jezebel," sung mostadmirably by Gary, but no-one cansing this like Frankie did. Agree ?An altogether odd choice of songsfor Gary Miller

RONNIECARROLL

A religious ballad. " Walk WithFaith In Your Heart," is sung byRonnie Carroll on Philips. There's aquiet rock beat in the background formuch of the time and the melody issuitably impressive and dignified.

Ronnie sings quite convincingly,but this sort of material Ls notideal for him. nor is he ideal forthe song.Far more satisfying for the listener

is " Sweet Music," a smoothlyromantic ditty for the early hours,Ronnie is much more at home withthis sweet melody and lazy tempo.

No. 4 IN THE AMERICAN HIT PARADE

TI SjusT

A MATTEROF TIME

Recorded by

BROOK BENTONon MERCURY

FRANCIS, DAY & HUNTER LTD.1 4 0 LCONNADR 01 NNG CROSS RD.,

Record Dealers'Directory

LES ALDRICH14, Firs Parade, Muswell 11111, N.I0

(opp. Athensetn). TUD 51131Popular and Jazz Labels stocked.

. For all your Gramophonet Records and Sheer Music Prompt attention mail

orders, over £2 post free

.NELSON'S rhea.... Travel Agency

12 Frognal Parade, Finchley Rd.Tel. HAM 3655 & 8663. NW3

Friday, March 13, 1959

Eddie Calvert

COLUMBIADB4252 (45 878)

CON,NIEFRANCIS

MY HAPPINESS

Gotta Travel On

44,

E.M.I.RECORDS OE; 8-11 Great Castle Strr,t London W.1

'POP' FANS!Get the disc news of the month in "RECORD MAIL "-a 16 -page

paper, price only id., obtainable from your record dealer.

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NEW MITS1CAL EXPRESSrors ,s.xisliSES:Esiis2P*Vr.

Walk with faith in your heartPB 904 (45/78)

PHILIPSGfreaettiayPhilips Electrical Limited. Gramophone Records Division,Stanhope House. Stanhope Place. London W.2

7.Mms.

NME MUSIC CHARTSBEST SELLING POP

RECORDS IN BRITAIN(Wednesday, March 11, 1959)

Last ThisWeek

1 1 AS I LOVE YOUShirley Bassey (Philips)

2 2 SMOKE GETS IN YOUREYES Platters (Mercury)

3 3 A PUB WITH NO BEERSlim Dusty (Columbia)

8 4 SIDE SADDLERuss Conway (Columbia)

6 5 PETITE FLEURChris Barber (Pye-Nixa)

5 6 KISS ME, HONEY HONEY,KISS ME

Shirley Bassey (Philips)9 6 LITTLE DRUMMER BOY

Beverley Sisters (Decca)4 8 DOES YOUR CHEWING

GUM LOSE ITS FLAVOUR?Lonnie Donegan (Pye-Nixa)

10 9 MY HAPPINESSConnie Francis (MGM)

11 10 MY HEART SINGSPaul Anka (Columbia)

7 11 I GOT STUNG/ONENIGHT Elvis Presley (RCA)

15 12 STAGGER LEELloyd Price (HMV)

16 13 IT DOESN'T MATTERANY MORE

Buddy Holly (Coral)19 14 GIGI

Billy Eckstine (Mercury)12 15 PROBLEMS

Everly Brothers (London)12 16 TO KNOW HIM IS TO

LOVE HIMTeddy Bears (London)

21 17 WONDERFUL SECRETOF LOVE

Robert Earl (Philips)20 18 TOM BOY

Perry Como (RCA)16 18 LITTLE DRUMMER BOY

Harry Simeone (Top Rank)- 20 C'MON EVERYBODY

Eddie Cochran (London)14 21 BABY FACE

Little Richard (London)26 22 I'LL REMEMBER TONIGHT

Pat Boone (London)23 23 MANHATTAN SPIRITUAL

Reg Owen (Pye-lnt.)18 24 THE DAY THE RAINS

CAMEJane Morgan (London)

24 25 THE WORLD OUTSIDERuss Conway (Columbia)

22 26 MAYBE TOMORROWBilly Fury (Decca)

- 27 WAIT FOR MEMalcolm Vaughan (HMV)

- 28 VENUSDickie Valentine (Pye-Nixa)

30 29 DONNAMarty Wilde (Philips)

25 30 APPLE BLOSSOM TIMERosemary June (Pye-lnt.)

BEST SELLING SHEETMUSIC IN BRITAIN(Tuesday, March 10, 1959)

Last ThisWeek

1 1 AS I LOVE YOU (Macmelodies)3 2 SIDE SADDLE (Mills Music)2 3 A PUB WITH NO BEER

(Good Music)7 4 SMOKE GETS IN YOUR EYES

(Sterling)6 5 THE LITTLE DRUMMER BOY

(Bregman, Vocco & Conn)5 6 KISS ME. HONEY HONEY,

KISS ME (Lakeview)10 7 DOES YOUR CHEWING GUM

LOSE ITS FLAVOUR ?(Feldman)

4 8 THE WORLD OUTSIDE(Keith Prowse)

B 9 THE DAY THE RAINS CAME(John Fields)

17 10 GIGI (Chappell)12 11 THE WONDERFUL SECRET OF

LOVE (Leeds)It 12 APPLE BLOSSOM TIME

(F.D. & H.)9 13 TO KNOW HIM IS TO LOVE

HIM (Bourne)13 14 LAST NIGHT ON TILE BACK

PORCH (Keith Prowse)14 15 TRUDIE (Henderson)18 16 MY HAPPINESS (Sterling)15 17 A CERTAIN SMILE (Robbins)23 18 PETITE FLEUR (Greenwich)18 19 PROBLEMS (Acuff -Rose)20 20 BABY FACE (F.D. & H.)- 21 WAIT FOR ME (Sterling)19 22 MANDOLINS IN THE MOON-

LIGHT (Yale)- 23 I'LL REMEMBER TONIGHT

(Robbins)29 24 SING LITTLE BIRDIE

(Good Music)21 24 SOMEDAY (Duchess)- 28 THANK HEAVEN FOR LITTLE

GIRLS (Chappell)- 27 ANGELINA (Gabriel)28 28 I GOT STUNG (Hill & Range)23 29 (ALL OF A SUDDEN) MY

HEART SINGS(Peter Maurice)

- 30 KISS ME AND KISS ME ANDKISS ME (Leeds)

BEST SELLING POPRECORDS IN U.S..

5

1313000011011301:313013131313C1001313

David Seville andTHE CHIPMUNKSALVIN'S HARMONICAHLIJ 0823 45/78

ARTOWARTrr7:31129FEREFEBEaarilit

PAT BOONEWith the wind and

the rain in your hairHLO 8024 45/78

RECORDS MAGAZINE now In a new form. 16 pages of pictures andfeatures. Complete details of all Decca-group stereo and monoreleases. Full colour. Your monthly guide to good record buying.

LONDON RECORDS DIVISION OF THE DECCA RECORD COMPANY LTDDECCA HOUSE ALBERT EMBANKMENT LONDON SE 11

13000001:10001:11013301010013010

(Tuesday, March 10, 1959)Last This

Week7 1 VENUS Frankie Avalon3 2 CHARLIE BROWN Coasters1 3 STAGGER LEE Lloyd Price2 4 DONNA Ritchie Valens

10 5 ALVIN'S HARMONICADavid Seville & The Chipmunks

13 8 I'VE HAD IT Bell Notes15 7 IT'S JUST A MATTER OF TIME

Brook Benton5 8 PETITE FLEUR Chris Barber6 9 I CRIED A TEAR LaVern Baker4 10 SIXTEEN CANDLES Crests

11 11 HAWAIIAN WEDDING SONGCAndy Williams

8 12 PETER GUNN THEMERay Anthony

12 13 TALL PAUL Annette9 14 ALL AMERICAN BOY

Bill Parsons- 15 TRAGEDY Thomas Wayne19 18 MAY YOU ALWAYS

McGuire Sisters14 17 LONELY TEARDROPS

Jackie Wilson20 18 THE CHILDREN'S MARCHING

SONG Mitch Miller19 NEVER BE ANYONE ELSE

BUT YOU Ricky Nelson- 20 SHE SAY (00M DOOBY

DOOM) The DiamondsThe American chart is published

by courtesy of " Billboard "

ILof the week

EYDIE GORME sings(Ah, the apple trees) When the world was young;In love in vain; Here I am in love again;Why shouldn't I ?; In the wee small hours of the morning;Love Letters; In other words; When I fall in love;Idle conversation; Why try to change me now;Impossible; It could happen to you.

HIS MASTER'S VOICE CLP 1250

MI ft. 191 .S

Listen to 'RECORD HOP'Radio Luxembourg. MB metres, Friday. lathMarch at 10.15 p.m. and bear an extract from

this great record.

E.M.I. RECORDS LTD.. 8-11 Great Castle Street, London. W.1

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Editor: ANDY GRAYNews Editor: DON WEDGE

Advertisement Manager;PERCY C. stokiNG

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MARION RYAN'SUNIQUE TV PACT

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7 NEW MUSICAL EXPRESS - SALUTE TO LONNIE DONEGAN Friday. March 13. 1959

ASK any artist and he'lltell you the same thing-

appearing before a hugeaudience can be a terrifyingexperience or a lot of fun.Personally, I always enjoymyself when I'm on stage-and there Eve touched on oneof the many important reasonswhy people seem to like myact and my singing.

I've always thought that thepeople in the audience realise thatI'm enjoying myself. Of ten,they've said to me later : " Youknow, you appear to be having awonderful time up there." Well,it's true. I was --and I always will.

You see, I [nave a genuine feelingfor the songs I sing. My interest infolk and skiffle music goes back farlonger than I care to remember, andit is this, I think, that gives addeddepth and authenticity to my per-formance.

By delving back into the history offolk music, I have learned manythings which have aided my rise tosuccess. For example, I've locatedmany songs which have become bigdisc hits.

From memoryI find them in books, on old

records (many of which are unavail-able in Britain), and also in mymemory, which is a storehouse ofall the songs that I've learned sincemy early childhood. Sometimes, I

only find lyrics-as in the case of" Nobody Loves Like An Irishman."Then, I write a melody myself.

In the main, however, I' try torevitalise old, long -forgotten songsvia the skiffie interpretation. In thisway, I can reintroduce great songsto a public who, in most cases, knownothing whatsoever of their existence.

You know, it has always beenmy intention to provide entertain-ment for a wide public and notfor an isolated few.I like to think that I've succeeded,

too, because my audiences today arenot made up simply of teenagers.

When looking at a variety audiencetoday, I see more older people andyoungsters just entering their 'teensthan people whose ages vary between15 and 18. And that, of course,pleases Inc immensely. because it

LONNIE DONEGAN REVEALS THESECRETS OF HIS SUCCESS

in this specialsuggests that I'm presenting a suc-cessful family show.

What is my formula for success?Well, in a nutshell, I firmly believethat a little of everything goes along way.

The word "everything" embracesa lot of things, so let's begin with

the question of showmanship. Eachartist has his own definition of theword: my idea is that it should beas informal as possible to conformwith the style of music I sing.

If you've seen my act, you'llprobably agree with me that myparticular brand of showmanshipembodies an earth y, uninhibitedquality. f don't try to give thisimpression consciously - it's some-thing that just happens when I'm onstage.

I try to appear as natural aspossible because in this manner, Ithink, I can get just that much closerto my audience. And another thing-I like to feel relaxed, which is theultimate aim of every performer.

Next, let's pass on to the ever -important essence of variety, whichis very necessary towards thesuccess or failure of an act.By varying your material, you can

inject spice and colour into a per-formance, and that's why I try topresent a wide range of differentmaterial.

I get the same kick out of singingvarious types of songs ranging fromfolky ballads to up -tempo skifflenumbers. Mind you, if I can put

LONNIE spends as much time as he can keeping up-to-date with thelatest recordings, specially country-and-western discs. Here he is putting

on the " Country Guitar " EP.

IACOATIVIM AT HOMEIN a few days time Lonnie Donegan and his familyI move into the luxurious Scandinavian -style househe has had built in Epping Forest, on the north-eastfringe of London.

It is a belated concession to show businessstardom. For, during the past few years, he has livedin an unpretentious, semi-detached house in the neigh-bouring area of Wanstead.

Inside, there are few indications that you are in ththome of one of Britain's top box-office entertainers-except, perhaps, for the 12 -stringed guitar lying acros,a chair, and the large collection of folk -song records.

What is it like being a guest in the Donegan house-hold?

Almost certainly the first thing your host will do ismake a cup of tea. For Lonnie is an inveterate tea -

drinker .and expects everyone else to share hisenthusiasm.

The conversation will be interrupted from time totime, as he attends in turn to the needs of the familyand the needs of his career.

First, a telephone call from his agent, then a requestfrom Fiona, his three -year -Old daughter, to help tieher shoe -laces up. Nest, he may play you a couple oftracks from the latest disc in his collection, then hegives a gasp of despair as Fiona informs him she ishaving trouble polishing her new red shoes-with blackpolish !

Proudly be will show you the china set on his mantle-piece-a magnificent blue cigarette box and two ash-trays, with the skiffle emblems of guitar, box -bass andwashboard on them. They were designed and presentedto him by one of his fans.

LONNIE is never happier than when ae is surrounded by his family-and Dairy Ilammond found him inhis happiest mood when he called at the Donegan home this week. Lennie is seen with his ;vile, Maureen,yaw first met him through being one of his first fans, and his daughters. Fiona (3) and Corrine 19 months).

SALUTE TO A GREATBRITISH PERFORMER

over a simple folk song withoutinvolving much in the way of show-manship and it is well received, thisreally pleases me because it indicatesthat I'm helping to spread thepopularity of this music.

Finally, the ingredient which hasplayed such a noteworthy part in mysuccess story is comedy-a difficultsubject at which, I freely admit, I'mstill what can be termed a learner.But at least I'm a good pupil, andI'm determined, sooner or later, togain sufficient technical knowledgeof the comedy idiom to be able touse it confidently and without undueworry.

Through two pantomime appear-ances, I seem to have built upsomething of a reputation as aslapstick comedian.I'm happy I've been accepted in

this style, of course, but, at the sametime, I also want to try my hand atthe subtler form of laughter raising.

Most of the comedy material inmy present act is either "off thecuff " or previous " off the cuff "remarks that have gone down well

and I've retained. I have a habit ofspeaking my mind, and if a gagcomes to me in the middle of theact, I never hesitate about crackingit.

This isn't necessarily a good thing.Ad lib " gags can fall flat on their

face and leave you feeling somewhatembarrassed. It depends, of course,on the nature of the joke, but fortu-nately, I haven't "laid an egg" toomany times !

Hit recordsPeople often ask me the secret of

my hit parade consistency - theywant to know why my records breakinto the best-sellers with unfailingregularity. Well, here's a two-partanswer.

First, and without trying toappear egotistical, I think I knowmy subject well, which gives mea head start over most of my con-temporaries.By that, I mean that I don't think

anyone can sing folk or skiffle songsvery well unless they know what

they're doing. And years of studyand research have given me a con-cise insight into the subject.

Second, on both personal appear-ances, TV and record dates, we (theLonnie Donegan Skiffie Group) havecontinually striven to maintain thehighest possible standard of enter-tainment. Failure to attain thatstandard would depress us more thanit would the audience, and with thisaim in mind, we're half way towardssuccess.

My ambitions for the future ? Tostay at the top, to improve, toentertain the people who come tosee me, and to further my appealabroad. Regarding the last item,I'm pleased to be able to say thatprogress is being made, since " TomDooley" is now third in the Frenchhit parade and I'm due for a Parisengagement soon.

Finally, a word of thanks to theNEW MUSICAL EXPRESS for devotingso much space to me this week, andalso for allowing me to express someof my own views here. It's anhonour for which I'm truly grateful.

The Great Hits of

LONNIE

DONEGANrecorded exclusively on

His Latest Record !

"Relax withLonnie"

NEP 24107 (7" E.P.)

* Ask your localrecord dealer for

furtherdetails

-Lonnie Donegan Showcase"NPT 19012 (10 L.P.)

"Lonnie"NPT 19027 (10' L.P.)

-Lonnie Donegan Hit Parade"5 volumes

NEP 24031'40/67'81,104(7' E.P.$)

"Donegan On -Stage"NEP 24075 (7' E.P.)

ra GROUP RECORDS (SALES) LIMITED 10a CHANDOS STREET LONDON W.14

Friday, March 13, 1959 NEW MUSICAL EXPRESS - SALUTE TO LONNIE DONEGAN 8

`MY LONNIE'NATURALLY Lonnie's rise

to stardom has affectedour lives to some extent.From my point of view, forinstance, it means that I canbuy that new refrigeratorwithout quibbling over theprice-and I can havepractically all the clothes Iwant.

But it has its disadvantages, too. . . small things like being verycareful where we go for a meal,in case Lonnie is spotted andpounced upon. In fact, I thinkthe difficulty of being on ourown is probably the biggest han-dicap of all.

For all that, Lonnie himself hasn'tchanged in the slightest. He re-mains the placid, easy-going LonnieI married years ago-and at homeyou just wouldn't credit that he's

LONNIE'SNME HIT SCOREBelow are Lonnie Donegan's hits, together with the dates they

entered and left the NME British Charts, as well as the highestposition each title reached.

Title Date InRock Island Line 6/ 1/56Lost John/Stewball 20/ 4/56Skiffle Session EP 6/ 7/56Bring A Little Water Sylvie/

Dead Or Alive 7/ 9/56Lonnie Donegan Showcase LP 21/12/56Don't You Rock Me Daddy -0 18/ 1/57Cumberland Gap 5/ 4/57Putting On The Style/ 7/ 6/57

Gambling ManMy Dixie Darling 11/10/57Jack 0' Diamonds 20/12/57Grand Coolie Dam 11/ 4/58Sally Don't You Grieve/ 11/ 7/58

Betty BettyLonesome Traveller 26/ 9/58Lonnie's Skiffle Party 14/11/58Tom Dooley 21/11/58Does Your Chewing Gum Lose

Its Flavour ?

QUOTES - from Stars

CONNIE FRANCIS(American singing star, w h oappeared on Lonnie's "SaturdaySpectacular" during her previous

visit to this country);Lonnie Ls one of the most fas-

cinating performers and completeentertainers that I have met. Heis also a most charming person-one of the nicest in the business.

CLIFF RICHARDI have not had the pleasure

of working with Lonnie and get-ting to know him, unless youcount the NME pollwinners con-cert at the Albert Hall in January.

But I will say this. His musicdoes appeal to me. It is notexactly my type of music, but Ilike it just the same. I wouldcertainly say he is a great artist.

6/ 2/59

Date Out15/ 6/5617/ 8/5613/ 7/56

HighestPosition

82

20

23/11/56 711/ 1/57 2617/ 5/57 4

28/ 6/57 1

18/10/57 1

17/ 1/587/ 2/58

25/ 7/5829/ 8/58

3/10/5819/12/5827/ 2/59

10146

11

2823

3

3

LONNIE loves to play thecomedian, as you see him above,with his drummer, NICK

NICHOLLS.

CongratulationsLONNIE

On your great success with

DOES YOUR CHEWING

CUM LOSE ITS FLAVOUR(ON THE BEDPOST OVERNIGHT ?)

On PYE-NIXA 7N 15181from

FELDMAN'S, 64 Dean Street, W.1 GER 9336

AND

AUNT RIMYOn PYE-NIXA 7N 15181

fromESSEX MUSIC LTD., 4 Denmark Street, W.C.2

by his wife,an artist who is so con-tinually in the public eye.

Lonnie is a great believer inthe truth, and always saysexactly what he thinks. AndI don't think that type ofperson can ever veer away from hisnormal course, do you?

When he is at home, Lonnie likeswhenever possible to break awaycompletely from show business.The entertainment world is his life,and he couldn't be in any other-but he doesn't like the false sideof it.

He realises the importance, both to

DONEGANHIGHLIGHTSALTHOUGH once billed as

"The Irish Hillbilly," he wasborn in Scotland and has livedmost of his life in East London.

His real name is Anthony(mother calls him Tony), but hetook on a new first name for pro-fessional purposes after seeing theAmerican folk singer Lonnie John-son at the Royal Festival Hall.

He once worked as an assistantin a stationery shop.

During his National Service heplayed drums with The Wolverinesjazz band in Southampton.

He received only a small sessionfee for his recording of "RockIsland Line," which appeared inthe U.S. Top Ten and went on tosell more than a million copies.

He was the first British artist toget every one of his first five discsinto the top five of the hit parade,and the first British artist to havean LP and an EP in the singlebest-sellers.

His recording of "It Takes AWorried Man To Sing A WorriedSong" was once used to introducethe BBC religious programme," Lift Up Your Hearts."

His starring season at the PalaceTheatre later this month meansthat he will have topped at all ofLondon's leading variety theatresduring the past two years. Theothers were the Palladium, theHippodrome and the Prince ofWales.

He has made two long workingtrips to the States, the second timeas part of the famous HarlemGlobetrotters package show.

He was the first British artist tobe " given the treatment " bysatirist Stan Freberg, who made amickey - taking disc of RockIsland Line."

Formerly a banjoist with theChris Barber jazz band, lie appearsas an instrumentalist on the re-verse side of the current hit,"Petite Fleur."

He made his film debut in " 6.5Special" and his pantomime debutin " Aladdin " at Chiswick Empirein December, 1957.

Last summer he appeared in thespecial Scottish Royal VarietyShow in Glasgow.

QUOTES-from TV Stars

HUGHIE GREEN(TV personality who has starredwith Lonnie on main' occasions):

For my taste, skiffle has muchmore to offer than rock 'n' roll,and I rate Lonnie as the skifflersupreme. He is a very talentedperformer.

JACK JACKSON(Top disc -jockey and TV persona-

lity):Lonnie has worked with me on

my show on many occasions,and 1 think he's just great-a wonderful performer I Tomy mind, he is an artist who willlive in the business for a veryconsiderable time.

Maureenhis health and his outlook, ofhaving a break when he can.

He's found a relatively new interestin golf ; he likes it particularly be-cause it's one game you can playon your own, and it giVes him thechance of having a round on thelocal course when he is on tour.He's also a great football fan, bythe way.

At home, he spends a great deal oftime listening to his belovedrecords, specially his folk musiccollection. -

He's not a wildly enthusiastic tele-viewer-though a few programmesdo succeed in keeping him gluedto the screen. Number one on hishit parade is " Highway Patrol."

But right now we are both morethan fully occupied in preparing tomove into our new house at Wood-ford on the edge of EppingForest.

We're hoping to take possession nextweek-Lonnie has a couple ofweeks off and, instead of goingaway on holiday, we shall spendthe time settling into the newplace.

We're both wildly excited about itand can't wait to get in 1 It shouldhave been ready at Christmas, yousee, so we're nearly three monthslate now !

Own designAt the moment, Lonnie eats, sleeps

and breathes his new house. It'sbeen designed largely to his ownideas, so that obviously whips uphis enthusiasm.

It's an L-shaped house, not particu-larly big, but blessed with plentyof daylight, most of the frontagebeing glass. And one of the show-pieces of the house is its curvedwooden staircase.

The only drawback at the momentis-when is Lonnie going to haveenough free time to live in it?

Indeed, the only regret about thesummer season in Yarmouth isleaving the new house behind.

But that's a small consideration,really. The main thing is that weare both very fortunate to be in aposition where we have such anattractive new home. And I'm verylucky to have such a wonderfulhusband as Lonnie.

When Lonnie was one of the band

A picture from the past-notice the banjo player on the extreme leftof the picture. Yes, it's LONNIE, in the days when he played withChris Barber's band. Clarinettist MONTY SUNSHINE is beside himand CHRIS and OTTILIE PATTERSON are on the right of the picture.

QUOTES fromHERBERT SMITH

(Producer of the film "6.5Special"):

Lonnie Donegan is a great per-former, most co-operative, ex-tremely conscientious and has agreat sense of humour.

I remember well the day hewas filming with me. He wasworking in front of a crowd of350 people, who were franklymore interested in Lonnie thanthe job in hand.

After a really hard day's workunder these trying conditions,Lonnie was still as cheerful asever, keeping everybody laughing.

Lonnie is one of the greatestentertainers of his kind and noth-ing would give me more pleasurethan to work with him again.

KEITH FORDYCE(Disc -jockey and NME record

reviewer):Lonnie's disc consistency over

the past three years is unequalledby anyone in this country-andonly by Presley and Boone inAmerica. He rose with the tidalwave of skiffle but hasn't gonedown with it. He is surely aunique artist, and a credit toBritish show business.

`Backroom BoysCYRIL BERLIN

(Ills Agent) :I think Lonnie Donegan Is

magic! Please don't ask me todefine that, but there is some-thing about him that the othershave never had.

I can't think why, but somepeople have got the idea thatLonnie is " difficult." I wouldlike to say that he is the easieststar to get along with that Ihave ever handled, and by farthe most intelligent.

ALAN FREEMAN(Lonnie's recording manager at

Pye-Nixa):Lonnie, Michael Barclay and I

get along together like a houseon fire. He's most co-operativeand easy to work with. Despitethe cynics who said he was ashort-lived wond-r, Michael and1 have always had faith in bins.

ALBERT LOCKE(Star ATV producer):

I think he's a really grandfellow. I always thoroughly enjoyworking with hint because he'ssuch good fun. And he's a verytalented boy, too-deserves everybit of his success.

ooking forwardto seeing you

at the

PALACE THEATRE

Write (enclosing s.a.e.) for details of joining

THE LONNIE DONEGAN CLUB34 GREEK STREET, LONDON, W.1

GERrard 0209

9 NEW MUSICAL EXPRESS - JOHNNIE RAY SUPPLEMENT Friday, March 13. 1959

.E` 41A-4S;41A4;tr..E_SPECIAL TRIBUTE TO

JOHNNIEBAY

-Ti111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111

HIGHLIGHTS

OF A GREAT

CAREERHIS first hit record, " Cry," sold

more than two million copieswithin a few months of its release.

He made his British stage debutat the London Palladium on March23, 1953, and has played a seasonin the West End every year sincethen. He has appeared at -thePalladium more times than anyother American entertainer.

He has the ability to win overaudiences whether they speakEnglish or not, and has played inplaces as far apart as SouthAmerica and the Far East !

He has been awarded more tagtitles than any other show busi-ness personality, including " CryGuy," " Nabob Of Sob," " Mr.Emotion," "Prince Of Wails,"" Master Of Misery," "S o n gWringer," "Million DollarMoaner," etc.

He was formerly married toMarilyn Morrison and was onceengaged to the Vic Lewis bandvocalist Sylvia Drew.

In 1954 he played the part of apriest in the Twentieth Century -Fox film, "There's No BusinessLike Show Business."

He has recorded with Doris Day,Frankie Laine and the DukeEllington Orchestra.

He had a hit record of "Who'sSorry Now ?" two years beforeConnie Francis became famous.

Early in 1952 he had four titlesin the American Top Twenty atthe same time-" Cry," " BrokenHearted," " Little White Cloud "and " Please Mr. Sun."

His own compositions include :" Little White Cloud That Cried,""Paths Of Paradise," " She Didn'tSay Nothin' At All," "Tell TheLady I Said Goodbye," " WhiskeyAnd Gin," " Mountains In TheMoonlight," " The Lady DrinksChampagne," " A Sinner Am I,"" Destiny."

He made his first broadcast withan amateur show from Portland,Oregon, in 1943.

He appeared in the RoyalVariety Show at the VictoriaPalace in November, 1955.

A FRANK, STRAIGHT -FROM -THE -SHOULDER DISCUSSION

don't always agree with Me qualityof Me hit parade-says JOINNE RAy

JOHNNIE'SNME HIT SCOREBelow are Johnnie Ray's hits, together with the dates they

entered and left the NME British Charts, as well as the highestposition each title reached.

TitleWalkin' My Baby Back Home

(first week of NME charts)Faith Can Move Mountains 9/Ma Says, Pa Says (with Doris Day) 3/Somebody Stole My Girl 10/Full Time Job (with Doris Day) 17/Let's Walk That A -Way 24/

(with Doris Day)Such A NightIf You BelievePaths Of ParadiseHey, ThereHernando's HideawaySong Of The DreamerWho's Sorry NowAin't Misbehavin'Just Walking In The RainYou Don't Owe Me A ThingLook Homeward, AngelYes, Tonight, JosephineBuild Your Love

highestDate In Date Out Position

14/11/52 14/11/52 12

1/534/534/534/537/53

9/ 4/548/ 4/55

20/ 5/5514/10/557/10/55

28/10/5517/ 2/5620/ 4/5612/10/5618/ 1/5718/ 1/5710/ 5/576/ 9/57

Up Above My Head/Good EveningFriends (with Frankie Laine) 4/10/57

JOHNNIEBECOMESDRUMMER

JOHNNIE'S LATEST & GREATEST!

WHEN IS YOUR

BIRTHDAY BABY?Recorded by JOHNNIE RAY

on PHILIPS P.B.901

9/ 1/53 93/ 4/53 127/ 8/53 6

17/ 4/53 11

23/10/53 4(for 7 wks.)

6/ 8/54 1

15/ 8/55 7

20/ 5/55 209/12/55 5

4/11/55 11

25/11/55 1024/ 2/56 17

8/ 6/56 1722/ 2/57 1

3/ 5/57 1231/ 5/57 7

30/ 8/57 1

25/10/57 17

1/11/57 25

JOHNNIE RAY takes over thedrums from his musical director,HERMAN KAPP, who usuallydrums while Johnnie sings. Kappyis thinking of getting his own back

-by singing !

JOHNNIE RAY came to the door of his fifth -floor suite in one of London'splushest hotels and greeted me with outstretched hand. With his ever-

present and never -failing charm, he ushered me into his lounge, poured twoice-cold lagers and settled down to talk about his current variety season atthe Palace Theatre.

The conversation went likethis :J.R.: It was the most sensational

opening night I could havewished for. The audiences werereally appreciative. I get the im-pression that they don't come toscream so much as they used to-they concentrate more onlistening.

D.J.: You must have been verypleased with your Press notices.

J.R.: Well, I honestly believe it'sthe best Press I've had in sevenyears of visits to this country.Even " The Times" gave me agreat write-up - that reallyknocked me out !

D.J.: It must have seemed strangeworking at the Palace, whereyou've never played before ?

J.R.: Yes, and believe me, it's adifficult theatre to work. I wasvery nervous before I went onstage on Monday, because theytold me that the theatre didn'tnormally play variety and thismade it quite a challenge.

Home againBut as soon as I had finished

my first number, I thought-' Well, I'm home again.' I likethe lighting at the Palace andthe orchestra there is one of thebest I have worked with.

DJ.: Johnnie, I hope this isn'ttouching upon a sore point, butyou haven't had a record in thehit parade lately. How do youfeel about that-does it worryyou at all ? And would you saythat your recordings are lesscommercial now than they usedto be ?

J.R.: Let's face it-if you, I, oranyone could predict what wasgoing to be a hit record, we'dall be millionaires. I admit Idon't always agree with thequality of the material I record,but then I don't always agreewith the quality of the hitparade !

In any case, I don't think it'sessential for a singer always tobe in the hit parade in order tokeep his name alive.

As a matter of fact, I don'tthink it's healthy for an artist tohave one hit after another, be-cause all the time he is having totry to top his last success.

I feel it's much better to haveconsistency in record sales and Ithink the audiences at the PalaceTheatre this week have provedthat it's not absolutely necessaryfor an artist to have a currentbest-seller.

n 0 0 C/5(5 /Win 0 0 0 0 0 0 olibT1512:1515 sm 615-0 CO CM 15 -12 -

DEREK JOHNSONconducted this

conversational interview(asking questions submitted by NME readers)

D.J.: Do you make a point ofalways including your latest re-cord titles in your act ?

J.R. : Oh, no. My latest release inBritain is " When's Your Birth-day, Baby ?" but I'm not doingit at the Palace.

D.J.: How often do you find itnecessary to revise your stageact?

J.R.: There's no particular timelimit. I make changes only whenI feel the act is no longer fresh.Of course, I always have to sing" Cry," "Little White Cloud"and " Walking My Baby BackHome "-they're three numberswhich I'm never allowed to drop.

You see, an audience getsirritated if it isn't given what ithas paid to see ; so I always tryto give my audiences somethingof what they are anticipating.

D.J.: I wanted to compliment youon your recent LP with the BillyTaylor Trio, which I thoughtwas excellent. How come yougot together with this group-were you attempting to breakfresh ground or to widen yourapi eal ?

J.R.: Certainly not. It's just some-thing that Billy and I havealways wanted to do, so we wentahead and did it. We selectedthe songs ourselves, and per-formed them exactly as wewanted without any interference.

New film?D.J.: Well, 1 must say it turned

out great. By the way, ourreaders are constantly wanting toknow why you haven't made afilm since "There's No BusinessLike Show Business." Is thereany explanation for this?

J.R.: It's simply that all thescripts 1 have read have seemedinferior. I don't think it's worthwhile making a movie just forthe sake of it-that -could domore harm than good.

There is another factor, too-I do prefer to work to liveaudiences. But I'm sure that I

shall have another movie whenthe right part comes along.

It would have to be projectedwell into the future, though, be-cause right now I don't havemuch time for that sort of thing.

D.J.: Yes, I expect you're prettyheavily booked, aren't you ?

J.R.: I think the bookings go wellinto next year, but I don't sayfor sure, because I never knowmore than two or three jobsahead. I let Bernie Lang, mymanager, worry about that.

D.J.: I've often wondered whetheran artist of your stature still hasto practise regularly - scales,voice projection, and so on.

J.R.: I can't answer for othersingers, but in my case, I don'tdo a thing. But that isn't reallysurprising because I never havepractised. You know, I don'tthink I've ever sung a scale inmy whole life.

Off stageMatter of fact, you'll hardly

ever hear me sing a note whenI'm off stage-except when I'mcomposing at the piano, that is.

D.J.: By the way, excuse me forbeing personal, but I'm curiousto know what that is you weararound your neck.

J.R.: Oh, that's a St. Christopher.I always wear it.

DJ. : Do you have any lucky-charms, which you take on stagewith you ? I know a lot of artistsdo.

J.R.: No, not me. And I'm notreally superstitious, either. Theonly phobia that I've got is thatI intensely dislike working withsomething over my head-like achandelier.

DJ.: Coming back to singing,Johnnie, what about all theseimpressions of you that othersingers are frequently doing ?Do you mind ?

J.R.: Not in the least. I think it'svery flattering-especially when

(Continued on next page)

Philips Electrical Limited, GramophoneRecords Division, Stanhope House,

Stanhope Place, London W.2.

PKILIPS

TIL

MORNINGBBL 7285

Also his latest hit:

'When's Your

Birthday, Baby?'c w

'One man's love song is

another man's blues'

PB 901 (45;78)

PHILIPS Tigeonioisi46-44-lly

Friday, March 13. 1959 NEW MUSICAL EXPRESS - JOHNNIE. R AY SUPPLEMENTSass

JOHNNIE RA Y'S GREATEST SORROWA QUESTION l aM con- 1C037- who has 1-13..EiLMILMK

scantly asked by JohnnieRay fans and admirers-eitherpersonally or by letter-is :Way does he still wear a hear-* aid, when they believe hisoperation in 1957 was suc-cessful

The truth of the matter is some -What regrettable. Despite earlierIndications, Johnnie is generallysot enjoying clearer sound than hedad prior to undergoing hospitalsurgery. But believe me, sincerely,thishandicap is something whichhas caused Johnnie endless pain-besides psychological sufferingwhich has plagued him for almosttwenty years-the most importantpart of his life.

I am deeply concerned and in-setted when I hear irresponsiblepeople suggest Johnnie uses his hear -leg aid as a publicity stunt. This iscreel and completely untrue.

_ sin.ce his pre-fame days31GIEuri.

Going hack Io the latter part of1951. 1 can tell you about a braveattempt by Johnnie to discard thisassistance, although a was makinghis professional and personal lifesomewhat easier.

DisguisesIn those days Johnnie was so con-

scious of other people's detrimentalremarks, and I began helping to tryalternative ways of disguising theequipment. One of them was toplace the internal button behind his

ear, with scotch rapt, holding thecord on to the back of his neck-so it was not so visiblt to audiences.

But in those days, Johnnie workedlong hours in hot night club rooms,particularly playing a great deal ofpiano besides singin. I rememberonly too well the Copa, Pittsburgh(during the latter part of 1951) whenhis act worked up into a frenzy-but with shattering results.

Because Johnnie perspired sucha great deal, it caused the tape tofall away on his neck, with theear apparatus hanging down.

I nearly fell out of the box !'(Continued from page 9)

they're good impressions. Quitethe best I've ever seen is DickieValentine's. He not only has myvoice, but he's got my walk,bows and gestures, too. Gee,when I saw him at the PalladiumI nearly fell out of the box !

DJ.: One thing I'm very anxious

to ask is this-what do youthink of trends in pop music atthe moment?

J.R.: In my opinion, rock 'n' rollis not nearly as dominant as itwas a year or two ago. Morethan that, I can't say-I wish Icould.

I'd like to know what's going

JOHNNIE RAY relaxes in his dressing room between shows. Dig thenatty emblems on his shirt!

to happen. The music businesstoday is rather like the chickenthat's laid the egg-and we'renow waiting to see what willcome out !

DJ.: Well, that's greatthanks for giving meI'll be off now.

J.R.: Hey, not so fast, Before yougo, I've got a question to ask.

DJ.: What's that, Johnnie ?J.R.: I want to know why your

readers seem to place so muchimportance upon the hit parade.Does this imply that theirloyalty rises and falls with thepositions in the best-sellerslists ?

Because from my experience,that is certainly not the case-and I have my audiences at thePalace Theatre to prove it. So,tell me, why is the hit paradeso all - important to yourreaders ?

DJ.: Well, that's certainly a con-troversial subject, Johnnie. Ithink we'd better pass it over tothe readers, don't you ?

: You do that Don't forget !

and manyyour time.

Phis caused Johome great persoaalhumiliation-and he made a braveattempt to dispense entirely with anyassistance. Returning to the dressingroom, he threw the hearing aid atme, exclaiming he would not wearit again!

For three years he denied himselfthis virtual necessity : during thattime the amazing fact came to lightwhich confounded Johnnie. He hadalways been under the impressionhis deficiency was the aftermath ofa school accident (suffered at the ageof twelve) when being tossed from ablanket, he struck the ground heavilywith his head. Doctors, however,were absolutely certain Johnnie wasborn with it. It may have beenhereditary, but he was a victim fromthe time of his birth, although thenoticeable effects were not realiseduntil several years later.

Because of this diagnosis, asudden hope of possible restorationto normal hearing became a

hopeful reality. Accordingly anoperation was tried in 1957-butit did Hot prove successful.At the beginning of the following

year, he underwent a fenestrationoperation as a further attempt toremedy the drawback of a lifetime.In Johnnie's case, the mechanics werecorrect and no after-effects weresuffered.

Hope of cureImagine his joy when, shortly

afterwards, there was a surge ofhearing : he was convinced thisdenoted a miracle cure. But regret-fully, progress did not advance.Johnnie's hearing faltered and hishopes gradually diminished. True,he gained some advantages but therewere losses as well ; overall Johnniewas then finding more discomfortby the unbalanced condition of hishearing, as opposed to what he hadbecome accustomed to

JOHNNIE'SFASCINATING

HANDS

JOHNNIE withBERNIE LANG

Only when he oecame an intei-national star in 1954 did Johnniedecide-after three years-to revertto his apparatus. He had missed thebenefit of them in personal comfort(despite his world-wide successes),bin only then did he decide to usethem again-expressing the view thatany unfounded allegations of " pub-licity gimmicks " or seeking sym-pathy" could not be levelled at him.

That same year he decided tocreate the Johnnie Ray Foundation-a trust fund helping less fortunatepeople who were partially deaf orvictims of hearing defects. Children,mainly, were the prime object oflaunching this scheme, to which hehas made substantial contributions.These include his entire TV fee fromvarious shows.

Although so many people haveasked Johnnie how to secure hear-ing apparatus, be never makes anypersonal recommendation; depend-ing on each individual case, thetype of aid required would have tobe defined.He has always refused offers to

endorse any manufacturers' brandof equipment, feeling this might leadpeople to think a iublicity attemptwas his object. Besides, Johnnie istoo deeply concerned to allow anycommercial aspect to be associatedwith him.

Having been closely beside Johnniesince the start of his fame, I knowmore than anybody how severe ahandicap this defect has been. Atall times Johnnie desires to bejudged solely on the basis of hisperformances-not for any otherreason.

Perhaps his greatest reward cameonly this week-when national presscritics gave his Palace Theatre open-ing the best -ever reviews of his sevenWest End variety appearances since1953.

PALMIST AMAZED=CRY" GUY'IT is now almost six years since the "New Musical Express" conceived-1- an idea so enterprising and intriguing in its originality that, evento this day, it never fails to capture the imagination and stir the pulsesof those who read it.

I refer to the remarkable andfascinating reading of JohnnieRay's hands, on the occasion of hisfirst visit to this country in thespring of 1953. Hailed by Johnniehimself as a unique piece ofjournalism, it is without parallel inthe history of the musical press.

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* BALCONY 4/ -COMPLETE BOOKING FORM NOW

BOOKING FORM : WRITE NOW TO PALACETHEATRE, W.1 (enclosing remittance made payable toPalace Theatre. W,I, and stamped addressed envelope)

Please reserve Stalls/Circle/Balconyprice.. each for the Performanceon (date) Phone NoNameAddress

a

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saarmailanammaaamamammaImmaImammaamaammaammanamitammammuirllammomman(Capital letter)

Since there must be manythousands of our readers who arenot familiar with the circumstancesof this chain of events, let me tellyou briefly what took place.

Johnnie had been swept to thecrest of the wave in America, wherehe had taken the entire country bystorm. Now he was undertaking hisfirst visit to Britain, to play his initialengagement at the London Palladium.

As he stepped off the plane atLondon Airport, a battery of photo-graphers greeted him. Our staffphotographer brought back a pictureof Johnny genially waving hisacknowledgment to the assembledcrowds, and it was this photographwhich was responsible for setting thewhole stunt in motion.

SensitiveIt was immediately seen from it

that Johnnie possessed the most sen-sitive and distinctive hands, full ofcharacter, and in themselves tellingthe story of this amazing young man.

So the NME decided to have thehands read professionally-withoutJohnnie's knowledge and without thepalmist being aware of the identityof their owner. We sought out apalmist in Wardour Street and tookalong enlarged pictures of Johnnie'shands.

The palmist had no idea whosehands she was reading (in fact, whenshe was subsequently told, she statedthat she had never heard of himsince she knew nothing at all aboutshow business)

She knew nothing of his nationalityor his profession, for we gave her noclue to the newspaper making theenquiries.

Yet her reading was so amazinglyaccurate that even Johnnie was spell-bound when he read it. Let me tellyou just a few of the comments madeby the palmist about her unknownsubject:"I have never seen a pair of hands

that express such a highly emo-tional and sincere character. He hashad a lot of trouble, most of itfinancial, but that is all past. Hewill climb to the very peak ofsuccess in his own sphere.

"He has a straightforward character.

with plenty of understanding, grit,pluck-and certainly confidence.He'll achieve fame-the sort offame where his name will be inlights.

' That person is terribly emotional.At times he suffers from awful de-pression-one moment he could beon top of the world, and the nexthe could be right down. The heartline is also emotional, indicatingthe highly artistic side of the per-son.

" He will go far in life, and he hasa remarkable gift that has to dowith the public. Travel is indicated-plenty of land and water. He'llbe world-renowned later in life.Fame and position are indicated-both financial and positional_These hands fascinate me. He willuse them in a way you or I wouldnot, they -will earn their owner alot of money. His artistic talentsare strong, and he will go right tothe top of his profession."This is but a segment of the fan-

tastically accurate reading by thepalmist, which summed up JohnnieRay even more clearly than he couldhave done himself I

She also stressed the importance ofthe initials T, H and Lin Johnnie'slife. When our reporter asked Johnnie,without indicating the nature of hisquest, what significance the initialsheld, Johnnie replied unhesitatingly:

" Well, T and H are obviously TomRockwell and Harry Angers, whohave probably helped my career morethan anyone. And J-she's' a girlwhom 1 knew very well at one time,although unfortunately there was an

unhappy ending to our association."When Johnnie was finaUy con-

fronted with the reading of hishands he was completely non-plussed.He agreed that it was a most

accurate summing up, and was quickto congratulate the NME on theirinitiative in devising such a scheme.Madame Ve-ara, the palmist, hascertainly shown that there is a posi-tive answer tb all who are preparedto scoff at the business of hand -reading.

If you think that your own handsmay bear the characteristics of aJohnnie Ray, you may be interestedto know that (six years after herrevealing Ray reading) Ve-ara is stilloperating from her small office inWardour Street !

DEREK JOHNSONa

JOIN NOW !THE OFFICIAL BRITISH

JOHNNIERAY

FAN CLUBFor full details send stamped addressed

envelope to : JAMES HOLDER,

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DE MONTFORT HALL - LEICESTERSUNDAY, MARCH 29th, at 5.40 and 8.0 p.m.

JOHNNIE RAYCYRIL STAPLETON AND THE SHOW BAND

SUNDAY, MARCH 22nd, at 5.40 and 8.0 p.m.Arthur Kimbrell presents America's Top Vocal Star

CONNIE FRANCISPLUS A BIG ALL STAR SUPPORTING BILL

Ticket for both shows-flalcony 10/6, 9/6. Gallery 7/6. Stalls 9/., 7/., 5/..Municipal Sex Office, Charles Street, Leicester. Or Arthur Kimbrell, 3$, Rugby

Road, Hinckley, Leicester. Enclose S.A.E.

12 NEW MUSICAL EXPRESS Friday, March 13. 1959

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* NAT HENTOFF'S COLUMN FROM AMERICA *

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MARILYNMONROE

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Voice coach praises Marilyn MonroeMA1TY MALNECK was Marilyn Monroe's voice coach for the picture, "Some Like It Hot,"

and he reports to writer Henderson Cleaves : "She is a very hard worker and has a goodinstinct for how to sing a song. She has a wonderful pre -knowledge of how to sing a recordedsong in such a way as to co-ordinate with her actions on film later.

"` She sings every note of hersongs. I don't see any reason touse any other voice for Marilyn'sin any picture. She has a verygood range. She's just gorgeousall around !"

* It looks as if MontgomeryCM will co-star with ElizabethTaylor in " Suddenly LastSummer," which will be shot inLondon this summer . .

* According to Frank Capra,one of the best of all screendirectors, Frank Sinatra could bea great director " if he'd settledown " .

* It's quite possible, say peoplein the business, that signing withCapitol will mean a renaissanceof Dinah Shore's recording career.She's been extremely successfulon television in recent years, butsomehow hasn't been able to geta record hit . .

*Writes columnist JackO'Brian: "Lawrence Welk willgross $3,500,000 this year andwill laugh all the way to the bankat all the people who call himsquare "

PUBLICITY HELPED TOMMYTOMMY LEONETTI'S career seemed at first to be seriously

damaged when a Senate Investigating Committee unearthedevidence that a former manager of his had been involved withhoodlums.

Dick Clark summarily cancelled * Frank Sinatra will have Ginaa Leonetti appearance on his TV Lollobrigida as a co-star inshow-an action for which Clark ' Never So Few." Sammy Davishas since been widely criticised Jr. will definitely not he in the-but now has rehired him.

Leonetti's night club engage-ments have zoomed up, and hisnew record of " Moonlight Sere-nade " has been doing very wellsince the publicity.

He's also about to be marriedto Patricia Quinn. daughter of adiplomat

* Connie Boswell is back inthe big time with a featured rolein the Jack Webb TV series," Pete Kelly's Blues " .

picture* There's a new Ron Goodwin

album on Capitol " Music InOrbit " .

* Reporters are surprised at thestrong showing Chris Barber ismaking on his tour. Usually, onehit record is not enough toguarantee large turnouts at con-certs, but Chris nas been an ex-ception .

* Nat Cole's oest album inyears is " Welcome To The Club."That's the Basic band behind himwith Gerald Wiggins on pianoinstead of Count

* Harry Belafonte may sign along-term contract with NBC forabout three spectaculars eachseason

*A Conference of Christiansand Jews has given RichardRodgers a Human RelationsAward for his song, " You HaveTo Be Carefully Taught." from" South Pacific .

* The Mills Brothers deny re-tirement rumours " We're tooyoung "

* Fats Domino might add hisson to his act. He's ten. singsand plays piano

* It finally nappened: therewill be a " Newport Jazz Festivalof Fashions " at this year's New-port FestivalaReareedielOINWMieldisernsWelaW.W.W.

* Max Bygraves' heavy cold(which prevented him being guestof honour at the Cancer Careluncheon in New York) wascaught when his plane was side-tracked to Goose Bay. Hestepped out for a while into theArctic snow and got a chill .

* There is a rumour that, whilein London, Liberace might try tocome up with a show that canbe the framework for a new TVseries for him .

* The film Julie London madein England will be released inAmerica under a new title. " MyStrange Affair " . .

* Tony March, whose father isthe famous actor, FredericMarch, has signed with AmericanDecca as a pop singer

'Mardi Gras' girl's big breakNEWEST

glamour girl is dancer Barrie Chase, a sensation in theFred Astaire TV spectacular, which received such fervent reviews

it had to be repeated. She's been signed by 20th Century -Fox as aresult of a bit part she did in Mardi Gras " and shell co-star in" Can Can "

C. KIERNANDER, of London,S.W.1, writes:A few months ago Philips issued

LPs of Frankie Laine, Guy Mitchell,Frankie Vaughan and Johnnie Ray,comprising their hit songs. RCA haverecently followed suit with releasesof Perry Como and Elvis Presley.

Surely it would not be expectingtoo much for their companies tofollow this example, with, say, Nat"King " Cole and Malcolm Vaughanamong others.

I am sure many pop fans wouldgreatly appreciate such a move, as itproves a most satisfactory way ofcollecting hits by one's favourites.

* *MICHAEL SHEPHERD, of Belfast,

Northern Ireland, writes:Could you please explain why

Nicky Sullivan, guitarist of TheCrickets, is never mentioned in anyarticles or featured in any photo-graphs of the group ?

(Nicky Sullivan left the group be-fore its British tour last year.)

* * *BERYL GREENWOOD, of Brent-

wood, Essex, writes:My friends and I are glad to see

that Russ Hamilton has recorded" The Reprieve Of Tom Dooley."

We always knew that scoundrelwas not meant to hang, and we thinkthis might also prove another breakfor Russ !

DAVE M USK ETT writes fromBognor Regis, Sussex:It makes me mad to keep on read-

ing letters from people like MaySmethurst.

Just because she doesn't like cer-tain artists and their songs, whatgives her the right to say that therecord -buyers don't know whatthey're doing ?

Can't people be allowed to buy therecords they like without beingdictated to by other people'sopinions ?

This also applies to some, for-tunately not all, of our oh so partialdisc critics.

G. ABRAHAMS writes from Houns-low, Middlesex:I am curious to know if anyone in

the recording industry can give asatisfactory explanation as to why anLP comprising a group of previouslyissued 78s or 45s should sell at thesame price as a specially recordedalbum.

Surely, the cost of such recordsshould be reduced considerably.

* *J. D. FOWLER, of Crewkerne

School, Somerset, writes:With the latest success of Austra- The show cannot be expected to

Ilan Slim Dusty in the Top Ten, I run for so long when its contentshope it means we will be hearing remain almost the same week aftermore Australian talent. week.

There is a lot of good music in I'm afraid that unless some drasticAustralia and I particularly look for- changes are made, " Oh Boy 1" willward to seeing a lot more of Shirley suffer the same fate as the old " Six-Abicair. Five Special."

WRITE TO.NEW MUSICAL EXPRESS,

23 DENMARK STREET,LONDON. W.C.2

WENDY LEWIS, of Cowley, Oxford,writes:Why do so many people have a

grudge against British talent?Take, for instance, Cliff Richard.

Many people say he is a carbon copyof Elvis Presley. Even if this is so,why shouldn't Britain have its ownElvis in the person of Cliff Richard ?

Perhaps someone would like towrite and tell me when America hasdiscovered a Tommy Steele.

* *RAYMOND PRICE, of Wallasey,

Cheshire, writes:I notice that the already long run

of "Oh Boy I" has been extended. Ithink this is wishful thinking !

I SAW BUDDY, BOPPERAND RITCHIE OFF ON THE PLANEby BRUCE HOLLAND

(Iowa disc Jockey and regularNME reader since he was basedwith the United States Air Force

In Britain.)I WAS one of the last persons2- to speak to Buddy Holly, BigBopper and Ritchie Valens beforethey took off from Mason CityMunicipal Airport last month onthe flight that ended their bril-liant lives.

I was present at the 'teen hopin which Buddy, Bopper andRitchie appeared and met andtalked with them for some time.

went to the airport and sawthem off on their Iasi journey.

The pilot, Roger Peterson, wasa personal friend of mine andwe belonged to the same club inClear Lake, near Mason City,where the dance took place.

The reason he three askedPeterson to fly them to Fargowas because they were weary of

travelling by coach and wanteda chance to get their dirty clotheswashed.

When they took off, flyingweather visibility was over fivemiles. What caused the plane tocrash still hasn't been determined.

The plane came down only fivemiles from the airport. It was dis-covered at eight in the morningby the owner of the flying ser-vice from which the plane hadbeen hired.

It's a truly tragic thing andprobably wouldn t happen againin a hundred years, but It didthis time. On February 14,Valentine's Day, Ritchie Valens'new LP was released. Disc -jockeysall over America called that Satur-day " Valens -time Day " In tri-bute to the " next Elvis Presley."

Here in Mason City we are stillshocked at their deaths. Theywere three fine people, and formedpart of the cleanest and finestshow I have ever seen.

Friday, March 13, 1959 NEW MUSICAL EXPRESS

* THE MAN I'M VERY FOND OF * WHY BRITISH AUDIENCES THRILL ME *I THINK ROCK WILL LAST * MY OWN FAVOURITE SONG *

These, and many other secrets, revealed in* WHY

MANY readers sent usquestions they'd like to

put to Connie Francis. Wesent a reporter to see her andshe gladly sat down and gaveher answers, which are printedbelow :

9eA Are you completely devoted to1r show business, or do you haveany marriage and possible retirementplans in view? (Eileen Winterfield ofGreat Yarmouth).

Well, of course, show businessin does tend to dominate my out-

look at the moment, and I hope togo on singing just as long as thepublic wants me. But as soon asthere is a slackening of interest, I'dlike to marry and have a dozenbabies

That's how I'd like it to work outat the moment. But plans can changefrom day to day - circumstancesalter cases.

Right now I don't have anymarriage plans, although I am veryfond of Dave Sommerville, who isone of The Diamonds vocal group,and whom I met in Hawaii.

He's one of the most refreshinglywell -adjusted people I have met inshow business, and it's always apleasure to be with him.

? 9ea To what do you attribute theT fact that your records have donebetter in Britain than in America,from the point of view of chartplacings? (Cheryl Williams of Lee,S.E.12).AThat's a difficult one. I think

' there are probably two reasons.The main one is that beat music isstill very predominant in the States,much more so than in Britain-andsince straightforward rock isn't suitedto girl singers, it stands to reason thatthe men have been controlling therecord lists

Over here, there's a much heavieraccent on the melody, so it gave me agreater chance to make headway.Also in America right now, there'san enormous craze for vocal groups,and they have been well to the forein the hit parade.

QUESTION

TIMEwith

DAVE SOMMERVILLE

CONNIEFRANCIS4What Is your opinion of current trends in pop music? Is rock

'n' roll here to stay ? (Leslie Flowersof Darlington).AI believe there will be rock just

* as long as there is pop music.Of course, the sound will be modifiedas time goes on. I think we are in asort of transition period right now,and a more subtle kind of rock is inthe process of developing.

9 9QYou are particularly associated with your treatment of oldies.

Who picks all these revivals for you ?(P. L. Owen of Kettering).AMy father picks nearly all my

' material for me, and events

have shown how I can rely upon hisjudgment. He decided upon " Who'sSorry Now?" and all my subsequentbig hits.

The two numbers which sold theleast copies since my father startedtaking a hand were " Fallin' " and" I'm Sorry I Made You Cry "-andthose were the only two I picked formyself

9 9

et Which medium gives you the greatest satisfaction - TV, re-

cords or live performances (JanetCuthbert of Market Harborough).ANo doubt about it-records. I

' absolutely live for my recordingsessions. And what with new singles,

are

plus EPs and LPs, I find I'm in thestudio every week now. Contrary togeneral opinion, I don't find itfatiguing.

9 94They say that a singer Is her

" own severest critic. Do you findfault with your own performances,and in what respect ? (Peter Nortonof Swindon).AMy dynamics have always been

. my weakest point. I notice onlistening to my records that I have

the tendency to blast rather toosuddenly. I always used to be lackingin microphone technique-I neverknew just how far to position myselfaway from the mike.

But I think I am beginning torectify these faults now. And the newalbum which I have just completedis my first recorded work to eliminatethese faults to the full.

9 9

Q is your own particular favourite from amongst your

many recordings, and is there any

reason for your choice? (JackieGreenham of Manchester 11).

AIt's a recording which youhaven't heard yet. because k

forms part of my new album. Thetitle is "Hold Me. Thrill Me, KissMe" - and the reason I choose it isbecause I sang it for someone special,who was present at the session.

? ?CI What is your impression ofy British audiences, comparedwith American audiences? (LilyCharlesworth of King's Lynn).

A There's a very clear distinc-tion between the two, in that

over here the audiences seem to bemuch more impressed by per-formances rather than by names.That's how it used to be in theStates 30 years ago, but it doesn'tapply any more.

Back home an artist can give aterrible performance, but as long ashe has a couple of hit records behindhim, he can do no wrong. And that,I think, is unfortunate.

Personally, I feel that Britishaudiences are very warm, and I amvery happy and thrilled by their re-actions.

9 9

et Have you any special alms orambitions in show business, or

are you perfectly content as you areat present ? (Sally and Marian Martinof Paisley).AWell, 1 don't have any aims like

. going into musical comedy, orbecoming an all-round entertainer, ifthat's what you mean. I should liketo extend my TV experience to someextent, and it looks as though thiswish will be fulfilled on my return tothe States, because I'm going to do aweekly colour series with JimmieRodgers, replacing the George GobelShow

Another thing is that today my lifeis dominated by record charts. Theyare all-important to me. I'd like to bean established star, so that I don'thave to worry about charts. Let'sface it, I'm sure Sinatra and Elladon't bother about them !

to

RayYaw-

Copy ow/

TOMMY STEELE*

ItOtirt,/"Concentrate on my left eye," said Tommy ... Thus began one ofthe most unusual interviews ever given by the rock 'n' roll Idol

"THE ODD LEFT EYE OF TOMMY STEELE"-it will leave you spellbound !

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14 NEW MUSICAL EXPRESS Friday, March 13. 1950

KEITH GOODWINTHE curtain rises, the orchestra plays

the opening bars of " That Old BlackMagic," and on to the stage strides asmiling figure whose hair, greying at thetemples, gives him an air of maturedignity.

That will be the scene at Manchester Hippo-drome on Monday when lithe, finger -snappingBilly Daniels-hailed as one of the entertain-ment world's greatest showmen-opens his fifthBritish variety tour.

Since the advent of rock 'n' roll a few years ago,Billy has become one of the many near -forgotten" greats " of show business as far as British fansate concerned. But early tomorrow (Saturday), hearrives to begin four weeks of music hall, concertand TV dates which should re-establish him as amajor force here once again.

Unlike so many visiting American artists, Billycomes to Britain without a hit record to boost hisbox-office appeal. But there's nothing really strangeabout this.

In the past, he has never reliedon a best seller in order to comehere, yet he's always been success-ful.Not that he hasn't had a fair share

of hit discs to his credit. You'll hearsome of them during this tour-established Daniels' favourites like"Bye, Bye Blackbird," "I Get AKick Out Of You," " Them ThereEyes," Too Marvellous ForWords," " My Yiddisher Momma,""'Deed I Do," and, of course, hisperennial theme " That Old BlackMagic."

But if Billy's popularity hassuffered a temporary slump inBritain, it definitely hasn't dwindledacross the Atlantic. Since we last sawhim in April, 1956 (a tour which heopened at the London Palladium),he's been kept busy with sundryengagements.

In California, he starred in his ownhighly successful TV series and latelast year wound up an extensive resi-dency in cabaret at the Stardust Hotelin Las Vegas. where he played toenthusiastic audiences every night forseveral months.

If you haven't seen the efferves-cent Mr. Black Magic " since hisfirst trip here back in 1952, thenyou're in for a surprise.

welcomes `That Old Black Magic' man

Billy's stage personality has under-gone many radical changes-now he'sa less extrovert and far more relaxedand mature performer.

Many of the mannerisms whichwere his trade marks-the high kick-ing, wild arm movements and fre-quent clapping of his hand to hisears-have all but disappeared. You'llsee them still, but only in modera-tion in a lighthearted way when hevirtually pokes fun at himself.

More subtleHis singing has changed. too. He's

inclined now towards a softer, subtlerapproach that emphasises his distinc-tive ballad style, though he's by nomeans forgotten how to punch

BILLY DANIELS, themaster showman

over a jump number with a force andvigour that is all too rare these days.

His range has suffered not at allover the years and he continues to hithigh notes with ease and precision.He still bends notes at certain pointsin a song where few of his contem-poraries would think of doing so-another noteworthy highlight of hisunique style.

But contrary to general belief, theartistry of Billy Daniels isn't the kindthat can only be enjoyed via " inperson " performances.

The warmth and intimacy, life andvitality of his sparkling stage act isaccurately reflected in the grooves ofa Vogue album recorded a few yearsago at Hollywood's famous Cres-cendo Club niterie.

9333 EBEE++FEEBEIEEFE+43EFEfiEBEB+++EFElliFf++1143+43EFE::EfiEBEBEBEEFFEE++EFFEEEEEFEEE

IT'S THE NME's SEVENTH BIRTHDAY .TO those of us who find the

passing years recede all tooquickly, 1952 seems a lifetime ago.And that's precisely what it is-and the lifetime in question is thatof the newspaper which you, dearreader, are now busily absorbing. . . the " New Musical Express."

For this week marks the seventhbirthday of the paper with whichwe are proud to be associated, andwhich you-we sincerely believe-arealways happy to read.

Many platters have spun roundand round since the first editionappeared on the bookstalls. Aglance at the paper in those dayswould have revealed that the pre-dominant news was of radio pro-grammes and of the activities ofBritain's big bands.

Now the emphasis has shifted veryconsiderably-every aspect of thepaper is centred on records andrecording stars. Radio has givenway to television and the lead storiesfrequently tell of more and moreAmerican visitors descending uponour shores.

The story of musical entertain-ment over the last seven yearsnarrows down to two main con-siderations-the tremendous up-surge of stay-at-home entertain-ment, namely records and tele-vision.In 1952, television was scarcely at

the beginning of its domination, yettoday it is all-powerful (aided bythe advent of ITV in 1955) and hasbeen largely responsible for the clos-ing of countless theatres andcinemas.

Live showsHowever, it is significant that at-

tractive live shows, and certain in-dividual entertainers, have provedthat they can still draw the crowdsdespite the counter -attraction of TV.

From the musical point of view,even more important has been theadvent of the record boom. To-day, discs are all-important in as-sessing the box-office value andstar appeal of an artist.The period of the NME's life has

also marked the birth and develop-ment of the long-playing record,which is rapidly assuming domin-ance in record sales and could beresponsible for the decline of stan-dard play records.

In the past few years, we havealso seen the breakdown of the stale-mate in Anglo-American band ex-changes. Starting with the StanKenton tour, in which the NMEplayed a substantial part, most ofthe leading American aggregationshave visited these shores-to such anextent that their arrival is now be-coming common -place.

There 'has also been a tremendousinflux of American stars, for whichry and records must again be held

Music has changed

a great deallargely responsible. For most ofthem who visit these shores haveachieved a reputation on the strengthof record sales, and hope to exploittheir latest releases through themedium of British television.

For this is the era of overnightsensations, the day when unknownszoom into the limelight on the crestof a disc success, and more oftenthan not disappear from the reckon-ing just as quickly as they arrived.

Elvis arrivesThere are exceptions of course,

The most notable throughout thisperiod being one of the most re-markable phenomena ever to appearon the show business scene . . .

Elvis Presley. He arrived in a blazeof glory in 1956, and he's still here-as big as ever.

In Britain, the same year sawthe advent of our own young starin Tommy Steele, who has alsobeen able to maintain his positionat the top.Yet others, who have enjoyed their

moment of glory, have now fadedfrom the scene, the most outstandingbeing Bill Haley, the man whoreigned supreme through the hey-day of rock. But Haley was largelyrestricted to the gimmick of theday, whereas Presley and Steele haveproved their adaptability and ver-satility.

In 1952 pop music couldn'tmake up its mind in which directionit wanted to travel. Names likeJohnnie Ray, Frankie Laine andGuy Mitchell began to assume impor-tance in the best-sellers lists, whichthe NME inaugurated for the firsttime in Britain at the end of 1952.

In 1955, the ballad was at itspeak, and we applauded the birthof a new star in Ruby Murray, whocarved her own little corner in his-tory by having five simultaneousentries in the Top Twenty.

Suddenly, a bombshell burst inTin Pan Alley, when rock 'n' rollexploded upon the world. Themelody was forgotten, and beatreigned supreme. This was the sig-nal for hundreds of new rhythmicentertainers to launch themselvesupon an eager world.

In Britain, a new and comple-mentary craze started - skiffie.

Today it has faded, but it leavesbehind one of the only big namesit created during its short, pulsat-ing career-Lonnie Donegan.

Now the initial excitement of rockhas subsided. The melody is begin-ning to come back into its own, andthere is now in process a fusion be-tween beat and melody, which isproducing one of the most refresh-ingly exciting periods in the historyof pop music.

Rock will never die-let us saythat it is being absorbed into themainstream of Tin Pan Alley'soutput.It is taking with it the fascinating

lilt of the colourful Latin-Americanrhythms, and the captivating nos-talgia of the current Italian influence.

After a period of male dominationat the height of the rock craze, girlsingers are beginning to come backinto their own - though their chal-lenge is headed by new names in thehit parade stakes. . . . names likeConnie Francis, Shirley Bassey, JaneMorgan.

Apart from Presley the 1952-59period has seen the establishment ofmany young international artists,notably Pat Boone, while Britain hasproduced a considerable number ofnew stars of substantial box-officeappeal, of the calibre of FrankieVaughan, Michael Holliday and CliffRichard.

World-wideIt is an age when the gramophone

record has become all-powerful indetermining star status . . . an agewhen the world is shrinking, andthere is developing a healthier in-tegration of nations through themedium of show business.

A much more widespread in-terest in pop music and itsperformers has become apparentover the past seven years.Since 1952, the NME's circulation

figures have rapidly increased, untilwe are now proud to have theworld's largest sale for a musicalnewspaper.

We have tried to serve you faith-fully through these exciting years,and have every intention of main-taining our service and principlesin the years to come.

DEREK JOHNSON.

On his album, Billy presents a finecross-section of his impressive reper-toire supported only by a smallinstrumental group headed by hiserstwhile pianist and friend BennyPayne, who'll be with him in Britainagain this trip.

Billy gags his way through an actthat can only be described asbrilliant and concludes with asnappy cross -talk routine with acelebrated member of the audience-the multi -talented Sammy Davis,inn

StandardsOn another recent album-" You

Go To My Head " (HMV)-he in-jected a new lease of life into 10time -worn ballads and up -tempostandards with a brassy, jazz -inflectedbig band directed by alto saxistBenny Carter. This was somethingfresh and new in Billy's recordingcareer, yet it turned out to be one ofhis finest albums.

Success didn't open its well -guarded

doors to Billy until he was 35. Beforethe war, he sang on a local radiostation in his home-town-Jackson-ville, Florida-and later worked as asinging waiter in New York.

During the middle thirties, a talentscout booked him into a daily radiospot and he also cuthis first record forRCA - Victor-" Diane." A spellwith the little-knownbut excellent ErskineHawkins band gavehim the confidenceto launch a solo act,but aside of occa-sional night clubdates, he made onlyminor headway. BENNYThe war found PAYNEBilly wearing theuniform of the Merchant Marines forthree years, but on his discharge, hegot his foot firmly on the first rungof the success ladder when he teamedup with Benny Payne, who had pre-viously worked for Duke Ellington,Cab Calloway and Pearl Bailey, and

who will be with Billy again on thistrip.

Billy prepared a polished, colour-ful act and soon became a much -sought -after club attraction.Then his million -selling " That Old

Black Magic " disc added the finish-ing touches to his success story andin turn paved the way for his Britishdebut.

ForerunnerIn a roundabout way, Billy was the

forerunner of many of today's young" big beat " stars as far as presenta-tion is concerned. But whereas hipswivelling and general body move-ments are an integral part of therockers' approach to singing, Billy'sgyrations were never anything morethan a genuine attempt on his partto add a welcome touch of humourto his act.

And there we have touched on thevery secret of " Mr. Black Magic's "success. He likes to enjoy himselfwhile he's working. But it doesn't endthere. He likes the audience to havefun, too-and they always do

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A BEI I E R CHANCE F 0 RSINGEILS I Leading agents andmanagers offer opportunities to pupilsof ARNOLD ROSE, London's No, 1Singing 'Teacher. Latest success, DaleGreaves signs f35,000 contract. -Tel.:PARk 8305, or write 6, Holland Park.Kensington, W.11, for audition.

CENTRAL. SCHOOL OF DANCEMUSIC. Teachers of Britain's starmusicians, singers and arrangers.Principal. IVOR MAIRANTSI PER-SONAE POSTAL COURSES forPIANO, HARMONY and THEXIIRY ;PLEA:THUM or SPANISH GUITAR byIVOR MAIRANTS. All musical instru-ments in stock. -Apply: C.S.D.M.195, Wardour Street, W.1. REG0644/5,

DRUM tuition Beginners or ad-vanced. 31AURICE PLACQUET, SHE5485.

FREDDY STAFF, trumpet tuition.-Swakeleys 2167.

REG MORGAN. Singing tutor to lateSTEVE CONWAY, will train YOURVOICE. -Studio : HOL 3379.

SURREY DRUM TUITION. - PhoneEMBerbrook 2254.

RECORDS WANTED 6d. per wordRECORDS BOUGHT, sold, exchanged.

-Fowler, 264, Vauxhall Bridge Road,S.W.I. (Callers only).

WANTED 12in. LP's 15/-: 10In, 10/-:EP's 4/6; 45's 1/6. Good condition. -Write or call, DISCLAND, 7, QueenStreet, Gravesend, Kent.

ARTICLES FOR SALE 6d. per wordFILM STAR postcard photos. Only

4d. each. S.a.e., Cummings, 15, Camp-bell Street, Newcastle -on -Tyne.

ENGAGEMENTS WANTED 3d. per wordABLE ACCORDIONIST. PIANIST.

-PRO 4542,ALTO."PENOR.--13NA 2162.CONTINENTAL, Tam available gigs.

Perm. -Box No. 929.

MUSICIANS WANTED 6d. per wood

ACCAIRDIONIST (male or female)Solo for famous Chelsea Restaurant.Four sessions weekly : Monday night,Sunday night (alternating Tuesdaynight if needed), Saturday and Sundaylunch. (Nights 8-11.45 p.m., luncheons1'2-3.30 p m.) Fees 50/- per session.Meals provided. Must be fully ex-perienced, personable and have compre-hensive request repertoire. Permanentengagement subject to audition. WriteIn first instance to Mr. L. G. Brampton,The Magic Carpet Inn, 124, King'sRoad, Chelsea, S.W.3.

EXPERIENCED DRUMMER, pianistand wind instrumentalists required forthe Band of The Staffordshire Regi-ment. - Apply to: Bandmaster R. A.Hunt. L.R.A.M., A.R.C.M., 1stStaffordshir.) Regiment, British ForcesPost Office 29

MERCIAN Brigade School for JuniorBandsmen will teach young men be-tween 15-17 to play a Military Bandinstrument.- Flee tuition and first classmusical education in preparation forInteresting career in the Bands ofCheshire, Worcestershire or Stafford-shire Regiments. Partially trainedmusicians eau be placed in these bandsimmediately.- Apply: Brigade Band-master, Mercian Brigade, LICHFIELD,Staffs. Tel.: Lichfield 3071, Ext. 5.

TRAVEL THE world with the band,The King's Own Scottish Borderers,Start by coming to Berlin. Lessons freefrom the finest German professors.Vacancies for musicians, age 176.Piano, Violin, etc. Particulars, write :

Bandmaster, B.F.P.O. 45.

BANDS 6d. per wordA BAND available. PRO 4542.DANCE BAND, 6-14 piece. -George

Darwin, A.L.C.M., 19, George StreetSt. Helens. Phone 4246.

MEIMNOTES, 3-8 piece, fully re-hearsed and experienced. SNA 2162.

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES 9d. per word- .

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY. Equip-ment to produce 121n, 101n., 7in.Gramophone Records, in excellent con-dition. Comprising 4 presses completewith platens, pumps and hydraulicaccumulator. Price f1,500. -Write BoxNo. 938.

THE THRILLING MAGAZINE

STARS OF 6.5 SPECIA65 pages. 100 pictures. Gigantic Pin up portrait of TOMMY STEELE (13) in.deep x gin. wide). Magnificent 2 -coloured art cover. Wonderful articles andpictures of all your " 6.5 Special " favourites. Beautifully printed on art paper.

Price only 2/6d.JOIN ALL YOUR FAVOURITE DISC STARS ABOARD THE " 6.S SPECIAL."Copies are limited, so order today from newsagents or bookstall; alternatively

complete coupon below and POST NOW ICUT HERE

To STANLEY ITKIN LTD. (SF). c/o " New Musical Express." 23. DenmarkStreet, London. W.C.2. Please send me a copy of the "65 Stars of 6.5 Special"magazine by return. I enclose herewith 2/9 (inclusive of return postage).Stamps not accepted.Name

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11111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111M1111111111111111111MWINIII II

The MARCH issue of AI

NOW IN

The great monthly magazine for all

followers of disc stars and dancea

13IPARAN a11

II

III II

ON SALE. .. .

music enthusiastsin

36 pages, illustrated on glossy art paper I PRICE 2/- 1:

Personally written articles by these famous stars:

E DORIS DAY EVERLY BROTHERS JOHNNY MATHIS iE JERRY LEE LEVilSSHIRLEY BASSEYCLIFF RICHARD aat is

Front cover portrait: CONNIE FRANCIS .Special full-length feature stories -

IN

Ell TAB HUNTER CONNIE FRANCIS THE PLATTERS BIG HOPPER ;

; RONNIE HILTON -LOUIS ARMSTRONG -AL SAXON- ROSEMARY JUNE 1

111 Leaders of the Band CHRIS BARBER REG OWEN :iiPortrait Gallery' JEFF CHANDLER .....

P;us ! Secrets revealed by LITTLE RICHARD, TERESA BREWER,

VERA LYNN, COLIN HICKS, NEVILLE TAYLOR, FRANKIELAINE. PLUS ! PICTURE PARADE OF WORLD'S TOP TEENAGE STARS ieII Pop and Jazz Record Reviews; American Disc and Film Gossip; HOME ADDRESSES OF HOLLYWOOD SCREEN STARS; Readers' Letters Page; Fan Club Page; Excit- ing Quiz; March Birthdays of the Stars -plus many more great novelty features,

NIpg Make sure of your copy by placing an order with your newsagent or bookstall. in Alternatively, fill in this coupon and receive the March issue packed with thrilling N contents by return. POST NOW I

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DRUMMERS!you need this book

If you want to know about thedrums that are helping top drummerseverywhere to play their best . . .

that are raved over by Duke Elling-ton's drummer, Sam Woodyard, andother aces in the U S. and seventy-three other countries If you wishto know about everything for thedrummer, send today for the latest

Premier catalogue.

To Premier, 57, Regent Street,London, W.I.

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TAPE RECORDERS 9d. per wordALL MAKES interest free ! 1/- in

deposit i Biggest sales in England IWhy 7 Guaranteed best terms you canget ! Free tape offer ! 35 models, 150machines stocked. Free brochures :HOWARD PHOTOGRAPHIC, 218, HighStreet, Bromley. RAV 4477.

NEW GRUNDIG TAPE RECORDERSDEMONSTRATED IN YOUR HOMEXs-FREE SAMPLE RECORDINGS GIVEN.Part Exchanges welcomed. Up to 3years to pay. All Makes availablefrom stock. -Ita pp Tape RecorderSpecialists-AMHerst 5253, STEpney3270. 181, palm . Lane. E.B.

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PHOTO FAVOURITE. This month'sstars: Elvis Presley, Tommy Steele andMarty Wilde. New exclusives : JohnnieRay, Cliff Richard, Michael Hollidayand Billy Fury, 10in. x Sin, glossyphotographs 2/3d. inclusive of p. and p.Photo Favourite, c/o 22, NorfolkCrescent, Sidcup, Kent.

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THE

PAUL ANKA STORYA fabulous publication devotedexclusively to this teenage sensation.24 large size pages, beautifully pro-duced on glossy paper with attractive

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16 NEW MUSICAL EXPRESS Friday, March 13, 1959

WE PREDICT-THE No. 1 BALLAD!

I KNEEL ATYOUR THRONE

RECORDED BY

JIMMY LLOYD;Philips)

JOE MEDLIN(Mercury)

BOURNE MUSIC LTD., 21 Denmark Street, London, W.C.2

TAIL -PIECES A LLE CATTY HE

BECAUSERECAUSE his latest disc did not rise higher in hit parade, CliffRichard failed to join the select group-of Lonnie Donegan, Paul

Anka and U.S. vocal team The Crickets-who entered Top Ten herewith first three releases . . . Horatio Nicholls' " Mistakes " hasbeen deleted from Connie Francis' album of British songs-also theLily Beadell-Nell Tolerton title, " Cruising Down The River" . . .

Four days r)rior to booking Chris Barber's Band for his U.S.-TV showlast Sunday, Ed Sullivan refused them-then changed his mind . . .

While Glen Mason searches fora new flat, he and Ronnie Carrollshare a West End hotel room . . .

Lena Horne conveyed receivingthe "message " on Perry Como'sShow (BBC -TV, Friday) . . . NextTommy Steele film is in colour ...

TWO HITSHOWCASES

ROSEMARY CLOONEY(Rosemary Clooney sings Come

On -a My House, Half As Much,'Ilea Ole House, Man (111h -huh),_Mangos, Hey There, We'll BeTogether Again, Botch -a Me, Ten-derly, Where Will The Dimple Be?,Blues In The Night, Be My Life'sCompanion, Love-You Didn't DoRight By Me, Mambo ltaliano.)

Fourteen winners from theversatile Rosemary Clooney, whoc. . switch from sad song to gaysong and make both as convin-cingly sincere. On the gay side,Rosie is happy with " Botch -aMe," " Where Will The DimpleBe?," " Man (Uh-huh)" and"Come On -a My House."

The sadder songs leave a tenderfeeling-" Blues In The Night,"" Tenderly " and " Half AsMuch." On Philips label.

DORIS DAY(Doris Day sings Sentimental

Journey; Beady, Willing And Able;If I Give My Heart To You; What-ever Will Be Will Be; A VeryPrecious Love; Lullaby Of Broad-way; Secret Love; It's Magic; TheDeadwood Stage; Bewitched; Cana-dian Capers; Love Me Or Leave Me;The Black Hills Of Dakota; Every-body Loves A Lover.)

Philips have rounded up four-teen of Doris Day's most success-ful discs, using the NME Chartsfor their choice. Doris handles allthe songs with great skill and thealbum offers much entertainment-both for fans who knew thesongs when they were first issued,and for the new Day convertsalike. " Whatever Will Be WillBe," "If I Give My Heart ToYou," " A Very Precious Love "and "The Black Hills Of Dakota"are four standouts from 14 out-standingly sung songs.

Here's a switch, Toni Dalli didnot sing " Granada " on ATV" Saturday Spectacular " - but JaneMorgan did ! . . . 20th Century -Foxlabel is Al Martino's third withinlast year . . . An Alley Cat forecastconfirmed - Capitol have signedDinah Shore . . .

First Decca LP by Max Bygravesscheduled to start waxing yesterday-with Ted Heath and his orchestra ...Jane Morgan's real name is JaneCurrier . . . During Saturday's "OhBoy !" show, Marty Wilde of tenseemed to resemble FrankieHowerd . . .

Spectacular rise by Connie Francis'" If I Didn't Care ' in U.S. " CashBox " sellers-also Ricky Nelson's" It's Late," The Fleetwoods' " ComeSoftly To Me," Lloyd Price's "WhereWere You On Your Wedding Day,"Teresa Brewer's " Heavenly Lover "

This all-star trio brought last week's " Oh Boy !" to a great climax.They are (1 to r) CLIFF RICHARD, MARION RYAN and MARTY

WILDE.

and Buddy Holly's " It Doesn'tMatter Any More " (penned by PaulAnka), etc. . . . In New York, ex-NME circulation manager MikeCollier appointed National Promo-tion Director by Hugo & Luigi-within RCA group . . . New JohnnyFranz Philips' singer -composer couldhit first time-Johnny Gentle with" Wendy "

Turning film producer, Julie Lon-don also appears in " The GoldenHatchet "-with Dana Andrews co-starring . . . Palladium TV audienceapplauded Bruce Forsyth-when hepaid tribute to Perry Como on Sun-day's show . . . Had Johnnie Rayrecorded " It's All In The Game,"

Tommy Edwards might have re-mained unknown . . .

David Platz (Essex Music chiefhere), visiting his boss Howie Rich-mond in New York . . . HollywoodDot Records' Randy Wood securessound -track score of Red Nichols'screen biography "The Five Pennies"-starring Danny Kaye, who sings"The Saints " with Louis Armstrong. . . Don't expect one-horse race forBilly Eckstine with " Gigi "; an out-sider worthy of place bet is VicDamon . .

After twenty years, Russ Morganleaves U.S. Decca for Mercury . . .

Joe Henderson writes musical scoreof "Jazzboat "; title song by SammyCahn and Jimmy Van Heusen forthis British filmusical . . . On Mon -

NOW No. 13 Best Selling Record ! BUDDY HOLLY sings

IT DOESN'TMATTER

ANY MOREMONARCH MUSIC LTD., 30 NEW BOND STREET, W.1 MAY 3272

Life -lines of Dickie PalestineReal name : Richard Bryce.Birthdate : November 4, 1929.Birthplace : St. Pancras, London.Height : 5ft. 8in.Hair and eyes : Dark brown.Family: Dickie married former Glas-

gow ice skater Elizabeth Flynn onOctober 27, 1954, at Caxton Hall,London. They now have two youngchildren - Kim Elizabeth andRichard Jr.

Present home: Sunbury -on -Thames,Middlesex.

First band engagement: On February13, 1949, he began a five-year spellas the featured singer with TedHeath and his Music-his onlyregular band engagement.

First song with Heath: " It's Magic."which he performed at the band'sLondon Palladium "Swing Session"on February 13, 1949.

First solo variety appearance: AtManchester Hippodrome on April19, 1954.

Former record label: Decca.No. 1 disc hits: " Finger Of Sus-

picion" and "Christmas Alphabet."Other major disc hits: "A Blossom

Fell," " Mr. Sandman," " IWonder," " Old Pianna Rag "

0`,.`,:.`v,evs.`.." Nos.i\`4,:*"?`,`',Ws.?`,"4",'tWv`.`:WesvNO. 20 BEST RECORD SELLER I`C'MON

,4

'4/,/

E ERYBODY'(5

(

Recorded by EDDIE COCHRAN on London HLU 8792BURLINGTON MUSIC co. LTD., 9 Albert Embankment, London, S.E.11 y5

Sole Selling Agents: SOUTHERN MUSIC CO., 8 Denmark Street, London, W.C.2.ssessNise`40,. :.".04,e`sesise,.."".4..essoNt oNe,..".essi,e`....4.40,"tissKr'sr,". X

ANOTHER HIT FOR THE PONI -TAILS

EARLYTO BED

Recorded on H.M V POP 596

BRON ASSOC. PUBLISHERS LTD., 133a Charing Cross Rd., W.C.2 GER 5063

"Three heads are better than one,"is DICKIE'S motto, according to this

picture of him.

(composed by his wife), " Christ-mas Island," " All The Time AndEverywhere," "In A GoldenCoach," "The Windsor Waltz,"" Broken Wings."

Decca LPs: " Presenting DickieValentine," " Here's Dickie,""Over My Shoulder " and "WithVocal Refrain By Dickie Valen-tine."

Current record label: Pye-Nixa.Latest hit parade entry : " Venue "

(No. 28 this week). Backed byWhere " (on which he is accom-

panied by his three -year -olddaughter Kim. Her royalties? Asweet for every record sold I).

Royal Command Performances: In1954 and 1957 at the London Pal-ladium.

Pantomime appearances: Newcastle(1955 and 1957), Liverpool (1956),and Finsbury Park (1958).

Cabaret debut: Just before joiningTed Heath and his Music, Dickieappeared as a solo artist at Lon-don's Blue Lagoon and PanamaClubs. Since then, he's starred atthe famous Café de Paris.

Film debut: At the age of three in" Jack's The Boy," starring JackHulbert.

Most recent film: The screen versionof the BBC -TV " 6.5 Special"show.

U.S.-TV appearances: He starred inEd Sullivan's celebrated "Toast OfThe Town " show from New York

in the spring of 1954.British TV: He has starred in all the

major BBC and ITV productions(" Sunday Night At The LondonPalladium," " Startime," " SaturdaySpectacular," " 6.5 Special," " JackJackson Show," etc.) and has twicehad his own series-" The DickieValentine Show " and " Free AndEasy " for ITV.

Major poll honours: He was voted" Britain's Top Male Singer " inthe NME Poll in 1952/3/4/5/6/7; inthe 1957 poll he was also voted" Outstanding Musical PersonalityOf The Year " and was placedfourth as the " World's Outstand-ing Singer "; in 1955/56, he wastwice a Daily Mirror Disc Festivalwinner.

Most thrilling experience: Toppingthe bill in variety at the LondonPalladium for a fortnight beginningon April 11, 1955. He later toppedthe bill at London's Prince OfWales Theatre on two separateoccasions.

Early setback: As a child, he sufferedwith asthma-and was told by amedical specialist that he would bewasting his time by making sing-ing his profession. But Dickie'senthusiasm wasn't dampened soeasily, and he eventually overcamehis physical disability.

Owes a debt of gratitude to: Stagestar Bill O'Connor, who paid forDickie's singing lessons at the startof his career and continued for ayear.

Favourite of own recordings: " Don'tLeave Me Now."

Favourite of own impressions:Johnnie Ray and Mario Lanza.Ray is one of Dickie's most ardentadmirers.

Favourite singers: Frank Sinatra,Perry Como, the late Al Jolson,Peggy Lee and Jeri Southern.

Favourite orchestras: Ted Heath, LesBrown, Stan Kenton and StanleyBlack.

Favourite composers: George Gersh-win, Jerome Kern and TolchardEvans.

Favourite screen star: Rod Steiger.Favourite colour: Blue.Favourite food: Spaghetti.Lucky number: 13.Hobbies: Cine photography and ex-

perimenting with tape recorders.Sports: Swimming and fishing.Hardest professional task: "To

maintain a good performance, holdthe position I have secured, retainthe goodwill of my fans-and con-tinue to equal or better previoustheatre box-office figures."

Advice to aspiring vocalists: " Startyour career by singing with a danceband-the experience is essential."

Professional ambition: To appear ina musical at Her Majesty's Theatre,London, where he was a call boyfor 34 years!

day, Dennis Lotis commenced re-hearsals for stage production of JohnOsborne's " World Of Paul Slicky."

Not a singing star until 36, FrankieLaine (now ten years older) is fore-cast by critic Dane Marlowe to havedramatic acting career . . . Long-awaited Bernard Bresslaw disc sur-prisingly competes with The Coasters'U.S. " Charlie Brown " hit . . . LastMonday week, Lonnie Donegan wasbilled in AR -TV " Alfred MarksShow "-but did not appear . . .

Rival labels now issuing ChrisBarber discs in America . . . If theDean of Canterbury has any connec-tion with Terry Dene, perhaps hecan help Edna Savage's maritalproblems ? . . . Singer June Huttonpresented a son to her husband AxelStordahl, noted orchestra leader . . .

Capitol orchestra leader LesBaxter takes legal steps - claims"Tequila" by The Champs infringedone of his compositions . . . Con-gratulations Frankie Avalon, "Bill-board" No. 1 with "Venus"; sametitle brings Dickie Valentine backin British charts . . . When TheKing Brothers appeared in BBC -TVseries "A to Z" last week, Denis Kingwas unable to appear - but JoyceShock replaced him for onenumber . . .

If Shirley Bassey continues guard-ing her front door from The

Platters, then "Pub With No Beer"could have Slim Dusty occupyingtop bar . . . Possible Nancy WhiskeyScottish TV series . . . HarrySecombe planed to Jamaican holidaythis week with the family . .

The late Manic Sacks had a U.S.-TV tribute last week - includingNat "King" Cole (who revived" Mona Lisa "), plus Dinah Snorewith "Buttons & Bows," EddieFisher, a trumpet solo by HarryJames, more singing from RosemaryClooney, assistance by screen starJane Wyman - for Kay Starr's"Side By Side," a medley ofFrank Sinatra tunes, two TonyMartin vocal offerings, Ethel Mer-man joining forces with MaryMartin; introducing the parade ofstars was Perry Como! . .

Harry Belafonte stars in film ofrecent London play-Errol John's" Moon On A Rainbow Shawl " .

Guest appearance by Guy Mitchellin next U.S.-TV " Bob Hope Show "

From same label as RosemaryJune, Arlene Fontana's TV dates,starting on Sunday's Palladium show,are plentiful - excluding "TheEpilogue" . . . Don Lang on BBC"Saturday Club" gave latest PeggyLee disc title, "Okay, Alright, YouWin" a great work-out . . . JackBenny cracked at a Hollywoodluncheon: "Eddie Cantor hassuffered in the same way as GeorgeJessel throughout their careers -they wanted to be Al Jolson!" . . .

Prior to the formation of

CYRIL BERLINASSOCIATES Ltd.

(which will operate fromMorris House, Jermyn St., S. W. 1/

Mr. CYRIL BERLINwishes to announce that histemporary address whereall communications shouldbe made until further notice

34 GREEK STREET,LONDON, W.1

Telephone: GERrard 1412

PICK OF THE WEEK !

THE REPRIEVEOF

TOM DOOLEYRecorded on ORIOLE records by

RUSS HAMILTONROBBINS MUSIC CORP. LTD. 23

ENNDMOANR K wS Tc R. E T ,

Printed for the Publishers, New Musical Express, Ltd., 5 Denmark Street, London. W.C.2,*by The Walthamstow Press L d. (T.U. all depts.), 644 Forest Road, B.17.Trade Agents: Horace Marshall & Son. Ltd.. Temple House, Tallis Street, London. E.C.4.

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