AYTONES, THE

Lead Vocals: Sandra Gooch

Vocals, Guitar: Hilary Gooch

Bass: Bernard Shanks added member

Keys: Pat Ayton (2)Graham Dickerson

Drums: Barry Wortley (2)John Wolsey (3) ??   

This predominant sister act formed in late 1963. Blyth School girls Hilary and Sandra Gooch met and struck up a friendship with Yarmouth pianist Ayton while auditioning for Anglia TV’s Junior Angle Club in 1963, Hilary passed the audition that day and went on to perform Brenda Lee’s, As Usual on the show. The liaison continued when the sisters met up again with Ayton at one of her performances in Great Yarmouth, and the trio formed.

Hilary recalls the early years, “We would eat, drink and sleep music. We wanted to be The Supremes, we were a close harmony act and wanted everything to sound just right. We became good mimics. Later Barry came in on drums and we auditioned for Opportunity Knocks in Lowestoft. We won the round but didn’t get any further, all in all, we had a great time.”

In early 1965 it appears the trio amalgamate with young Norwich band The Sonics and enter The NM&J Great Beat Comp. The band did not progress and not long after split back into their respective groups.

In September 1966 the group won through to the final of The Lowestoft Pier Pavilion Talent Contest but were pipped to the post by Beccles beat band The Judges and solo singer Vera Moore, who had tied for first place. They add some beat in late 1966 bringing in young drummer Wortley and later Sonic’s bassman Shanks.

The group became a popular attraction at The Norwood Rooms, Nch and also played the East Coast summer season circuit. The biggest departure from the band came around 1968 when founder Ayton moved on. Both Wortley and Shanks went on to play in The Shade Of Pale, a band that had sprung from The Sonics. The group disband in August 1969 when Sandra left to join the new augmented Lew Day Trio.

Over the years many venues and promoters have struggled to get their head around the bands name and they were advertised in many name variations the most popular being The A-Tones.

Residency: Seacroft Holiday Camp, Hemsby - 1968                         

Mediography & TV:

Hilary Gooch -Junior Angle Club ??/??196? [ ]BBC/ITV?

Talent-In-Waiting For Opportunity NM&J 3/5/68 (P)

<> (S.Gooch - The Lew Day Set) The Shade Of Pale