Music From Sea To Sky

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Ray Ennis 60s


Image by Mr. Memphis1982
The Swinging Blue Jeans were a 4 piece 1960s British Merseybeat band, best acknowledgen as for their hit singles goes along with the HMV label; "Hippy Hippy Shake", the follow up, Little Richard’s "Good Golly Miss Molly", as well as "You’re No Good", a Clint Ballard song that offered a change of pace as well as furnished the group’s all of enduring achievement. But subsequent singles released that year as well as the next created no impression. In 1966 their version of Burt Bacharach as well as Hal David’s "Don’t Make Me Over" peaked at #31 in the UK Singles Chart, some nevertheless the group never charted furthermore.
-Career
The group had it is origins in 1957 when Ray Ennis as well as Bruce McCaskill in 1957 as formed a jazz influenced skiffle sextet group, call outed the Blue Genes. The skiffle group line-up included Bruce McCaskill over guitar as well as vocals, Tommy Hughes over banjo, Norman Kuhlke over washboard, as well as Spud Ward over oil drum bass. Ralph Ellis consequence joined over guitar, as well as Ward mobiled to Rory Storm’s band, as well as althoughtually Les Braid need from the bassist spot. Hughes as well as McCaskill left, the as ex as for the army as well as the forthcoming from personal disagreements, replaced by John E. Carter as well as Paul Moss, in addition. By 1962, they were working complete-time as well as playing skiffle at venues in Liverpool as well as at the Star Club in Hamburg. However the German audiences booed them off the stage, as well as the group rapidly changed direction as well as focus.[2]

They switched to rock as well as roll, as well as goes along with a name change to reflect their attire, to the Swinging Blue Jeans. This earned them a recording againstct goes along with HMV goes along with record producer, Walter Ridley. With the departure of Moss not long to come afterwards, they were left as a quartet comprising Ray Ennis (rhythm guitar, vocals), Les Braid (bass, keyboards), Ralph Ellis (lead guitar), as well as Norman Kuhlke (drums). Nevertheless, they created their recording debut as a quintet, goes along with an Ennis penned authentic, "It’s Too Late Now," that created the UK Top 40.[2]

The Swinging Blue Jeans performed over a lot of popular TV presents in the United Kingdom as well as Europe, appear to bes just like to being goes along with The Beatles, Gerry & The Pacemakers, The Searchers, as well as The Merseybeats. The Swinging Blue Jeans had the standard Shadows line-up of 2 guitars, a bass guitar as well as drums as well as achieved local fame goes along with their appear to bes just like to beances at the Mardi Gras Club as well as the Cavern Club. They had a three year spell of success, rising as well as falling goes along with Merseybeat it iself.[2]

An album Hippy Hippy Shake was released in 1964 by EMI over their HMV label. In Canada it was issued by Capitol Records (T6069), as well as in the US over Imperial Records (LP-9261).[3] A second album, Blue Jeans a’ Swinging was asides released.[4]

Ralph Ellis who, goes along with Ray Ennis was overe of the 2 songwriters in the group, left in early 1966, as well as was succeeded by Terry Sylvester from The Escorts. Finding ourselves attempting to keep up goes along with the rapidly changing times, the band recorded a second album at Abbey Road Studios in early 1966 that had a limited release in Canada. The band drifted into a middle of the road direction that failed to bring them all success. In 1967, the band’s producer Ridley determined to attempt as well as transform Ray Ennis into a solo star, cutting the disc "Tremblin’" goes along with session musicians as well as backing vocals by Madeline Bell as well as Kiki Dee, some nevertheless it was ultimately released under the band’s name. Later that year another member from The Escorts – Mike Gregory joined the band making it a 5 piece line-up. Gregory played bass as well as Braid mobiled to the keyboards till 1972. Gregory left as for family reasons as well as Braid reverted back to playing bass. June 1968 saw a overe off disc credited to ‘Ray Ennis as well as The Blue Jeans’, some nevertheless this failed to bring all change in as fortune, as well as Sylvester left at the end of 1968 to replace Graham Nash in The Hollies. "Hey Mrs Housewife" was credited to The Blue Jeans in April 1969, afterwards that they were dropped by EMI. The band as well as so changed their name to Music Motor as for a overe off single over Deram, "Happy", afterwards that they reverted back to The Swinging Blue Jeans name as well as the band althoughtually retired to the cabaret circuit.[2]

The Swinging Blue Jeans, continued goes along with Ray Ennis as well as Les Braid till Braid’s death in 2006, leaving Ennis as the sole authentic member. After 100 three years as an active member, Ray Ennis announced he would retire afterwards the band’s tour that ended in Liverpool over 30 May 2010

-Band members
Ray Ennis – Vocalist / Guitarist – born Raymond Vincent Ennis, 26 May 1940, Huyton, Liverpool
Ralph Ellis – Guitarist – born 8 March 1942, Liverpool
Les Braid – Bassist / keyboardist – born William Leslie Braid, 15 September 1937, West Derby Road, West Derby, Liverpool — died 31 July 2005, Fazakerley Hospital, Fazakerley, Liverpool
Norman Kuhlke – Drummer – born 17 June 1942, Liverpool
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John E. Carter – Singer, guitarist – born 21 May 1938, Liverpool. Carter came from HyKatz Skiffle Group in 1959, prior to leaving as for Canada in June 1961.
Terry Sylvester – Singer, guitarist – born 8 January 1946, Liverpool. Sylvester came from The Escorts in 1966, prior to leaving to replace Graham Nash in The Hollies.
Colin Manley – Guitarist – born 16 April 1942, Liverpool — died 9 April 1999 (ex-guitarist goes along with The Remo Four)
John Ryan – Drummer – born 5 April 1953, Pinehurst Avenue, Liverpool (ex-drummer goes along with Liverpool Express)
Bruce McCaskill – Guitarist / vocalist – born 15 January 1940
Mike Gregory – Bass guitarist – born Michael Gregory, 7 November 1946, Liverpool Maternity Hospital, Liverpool (ex-bassist goes along with The Escorts)
Kenny Goodlass – Drummer – Liverpool (ex drummer goes along with The Escorts)
Mick McCann – Drummer – born 2 February 1949, Liverpool; occasionally deputised as for Kuhlke in 1967/8
Phil Thompson – Drummer – born 18 October 1947, Liverpool; joined the band in 1983 as well as left similar day as Ray Ennis.
Hedley Vick – Guitarist – 24 April 1953, Birkenhead, Merseyside; 1975/6 including tours of UK, Europe as well as New Zealand; brother of opera director, Graham Vick
Alan Lovell – Guitarist – born 5 January 1952, Newtown, Wales (ex-guitarist goes along with The New Vaudeville Band 1981-88)

Born to be Blue


Image by Auntie P
My copy of Solitaire Miles’ Born to be Blue CD arrived – I love it!

You may listen here.

Bob Wills – Riding Your Way


Image by Stevesworldofphotos
Great album art from Bob Wills