JETBLACKS, THE
Last updated: 09-10-2020
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- Tony Clare And The Jetblacks
- Lester Roberts And The Jetblacks
- Ricky Southern And The Jetblacks
- Malcolm And The Jetblacks
Basic Information
- Norwich, Norfolk, Uk
- 60s Pop
L1959 - M1966
Musicians
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- Norvitones
Lead Vocals: Taff Davies (2)Tony Woods aka Tony Clare (3)Vic Keller
(4)Lester Middleton aka Lester Roberts (5)Tony Woods, brief return (6)Peter Read aka Ricky Southern (7)Malcolm Hooper
Guitar: Ted Lemmon (2)Roy Crook ?? (2)Brian Crook ??
Guitar: Richard Shakey Pitt > Bass (2)Adrian Johnny Ramshaw
Bass: Richard Shakey Pitt (2)Pat Wood (3)Bernard Barton (4)Roger Pymer
Drums: Taff Davies (2)Mick Corbyn (3)Chris Bell
Golden Years Reunion 19??-20
Lead Vocals: Malcolm Hooper
Guitar: Rodney Kidd
Keys: Adrian Johnny Ramshaw
Bass: Shakey Pitt
Drums: Mick Corbyn
This group of CNS school lads were spurred on by watching the likes of the slightly older Kenny Packwood playing in the old schoolhouse. It was Kenny that played in local skiffle outfit The Saints along with Tony Sheridan and later scooted off to London at 16 to join Marty Wilde’s Wildcats.
Quite by coincidence, the remaining positions of the band were filled by Taff Davies, both of them! Unrelated Little Taff Davies played the drums and Big Taff Davies became the vocalist, points out founder member Shakey Pitt. “We played around a handful of gigs as Taffy & The Tigers before Big Taff left and was replaced by Tony Woods. We then kind of joined up with a band playing as The Nomads,“ Shakey continues. “There was no scene in 59’ it was all very embryonic at the time, we played Chuck Berry, Elvis and Everly Brothers numbers. We would later go and watch many of the more established local bands such as The Offbeats, The Toffs and The Continentals. The Beatles and the beat scene were a long way off. The group had changed quite a bit by the time I left to join the RAF in November 1961. I had moved onto bass and played my last gig for the band at the Halesworth Rifle Hall. I then sold my bass guitar to Pat Wood, my replacement.” Wood had started his playing days on guitar with The Downhomers Skiffle Group, which also at one time included Nomads frontman, Lester Middleton. Middleton's stay was brief during a period where the band struggled to find a vocalist; Tony Woods also put in a second appearance at this time. Stability would come to the front of the band in ?? 196? when ex Toffs singer Malcolm Hooper joined the group. Malcolm had given up singing and was all set to emigrate to America when he got the call from new bass player Bernie Barton. Malcolm's plans to emigrate fell through and the rest, as they say, is history. The band continued to evolve. “We were a great band,” insists Malcolm. “As people left those replacing them pushed the band forward. We recorded quite a few tracks at various studios. I think we made three demos in all. Sadly I don’t have any of them now. I remember going to Jack Jackson's studio in Rickmansworth.”
unchecked
Still as popular as ever the band won the local heat of the Melody Maker Beat contest and headed off down to London to perform at the Pladium. It was on that night that the legendary Jetblacks ended their days. The band did not split but changed their name for the event to The Version.
During the later years of the group three acetate demos were recorded at the Jack Jackson Studio’s in Rickmansworth. In 196 the band landed a support slot to The Searchers to be staged at St Andrews Hall, a week before the concert it was to be cancelled! The reason was because it would not be right for the portraits of Norwichs past dignitaries that line the walls of the hall to look down on such an event. However a compromise was reached, the paintings were turned round and the concert went ahead.
Supports:
Joe Brown / Freddie & The Dreamers / Marmalade / The Searchers / Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers
The Sneakers / The Roof Raisers / The Interns / Shane Fenton & The Fentones / Grant Tracey & The Sunsets
Nite People / Terry Franks & The Avalons / Anthony & The Druids / The Nashville Teens
Erkey Grant & The Plus Fours / Long John Baldry & The Steam Packet / Chris Montez & The Eagles
Beryl Marsden & The Steve Aldo Crew
Discgography:
Malcolm Hooper believes that the band made 3 acetate demo discs but no longer has them or recalls the tracks recorded.
Mediography:
Great Beat - 69 Entries NMJ 30/04/1965[ ]
(Pymer - The Classics)(Hooper - The Toffs) The Nomads / The Tigers <> The Versions
