Bernie Calvert
Encyclopedia
Bernie Calvert played bass guitar
and keyboards
with The Hollies
from 1966 until 1981.
groups
during the early 1960s, most notably Rickie Shaw and the Dolphins, where he worked with future Hollies Tony Hicks
and Bobby Elliott
. Originally a pianist
, Calvert, on Hicks's suggestion, switched to bass.
After the break-up of the Dolphins, Calvert played in a number of semi-professional outfits. However, unable to advance his musical career, Calvert took a factory job until he was asked to substitute for Hollies' then bassist
, Eric Haydock
, in a tour of Scandinavia
. After the tour, Calvert played on an Everly Brothers album
, and on the Hollies' single
, "Bus Stop
", before returning to his factory job. Shortly after that, he was invited to join the Hollies permanently in 1966.
Calvert was friends with Mama Cass Elliot from The Mamas & the Papas
.
Calvert was delighted when, on an American
tour, jazz
bassist Ray Brown
approached him and praised his bass playing on "Bus Stop".
Calvert also played piano
, organ
and harpsichord
with the group, and composed their instrumental
, "Reflections of a Long Time Past".
In 1969, Calvert was invited to play bass on a still-unreleased album
with the Bread and Beer band, which included Caleb Quaye
, Roger Pope, Elton John
and two Jamaica
n percussionists, Lennox & Rolfo.
Calvert left The Hollies in 1981, and is now playing with a Catholic church music group in Clitheroe
, Lancashire. He still performs at local venues for charity, playing classic songs from the Hollies' era. Recently, he has been joined on stage by his son Mark, playing lead guitar
. Calvert is currently busy writing and recording new material, with his friend and well known local musician, John Maycraft.
On September 24, 2009, the Hollies were nominated for induction to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame[11], and on December 18, 2009, were announced as inductees, to be inducted on March 15, 2010. They were represented at the RRHOF ceremony by Clarke, Nash, Sylvester, Eric Haydock and Calvert.
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
and keyboards
Keyboard instrument
A keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
with The Hollies
The Hollies
The Hollies are an English pop and rock group, formed in Manchester in the early 1960s, though most of the band members are from throughout East Lancashire. Known for their distinctive vocal harmony style, they became one of the leading British groups of the 1960s and 1970s...
from 1966 until 1981.
Career
He worked with several rock and rollRock and roll
Rock and roll is a genre of popular music that originated and evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s, primarily from a combination of African American blues, country, jazz, and gospel music...
groups
Band (music)
In music, a musical ensemble or band is a group of musicians that works together to perform music. The following articles concern types of musical bands:* All-female band* Big band* Boy band* Christian band* Church band* Concert band* Cover band...
during the early 1960s, most notably Rickie Shaw and the Dolphins, where he worked with future Hollies Tony Hicks
Tony Hicks
Tony Hicks is a guitarist and singer who has been a member of the British pop group The Hollies since 1963.-Career:...
and Bobby Elliott
Bobby Elliott
Robert Hartley "Bobby" Elliott is a rock drummer, best known for playing with The Hollies, who has been described as "one of the very finest drummers in all of pop/rock".-Early life:...
. Originally a pianist
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
, Calvert, on Hicks's suggestion, switched to bass.
After the break-up of the Dolphins, Calvert played in a number of semi-professional outfits. However, unable to advance his musical career, Calvert took a factory job until he was asked to substitute for Hollies' then bassist
Bassist
A bass player, or bassist is a musician who plays a bass instrument such as a double bass, bass guitar, keyboard bass or a low brass instrument such as a tuba or sousaphone. Different musical genres tend to be associated with one or more of these instruments...
, Eric Haydock
Eric Haydock
Eric Haydock was the original bass guitarist with The Hollies from December 1962 until 1966. Although considered a great bassist, he was replaced in 1966 by Bernie Calvert, after disputes related to the conduct of the band's managers.-External links:*...
, in a tour of Scandinavia
Scandinavia
Scandinavia is a cultural, historical and ethno-linguistic region in northern Europe that includes the three kingdoms of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, characterized by their common ethno-cultural heritage and language. Modern Norway and Sweden proper are situated on the Scandinavian Peninsula,...
. After the tour, Calvert played on an Everly Brothers album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
, and on the Hollies' single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
, "Bus Stop
Bus Stop (song)
"Bus Stop" is the title of a song recorded and released as a 7-inch 45 rpm vinyl single by the British pop band The Hollies. It became a hit in 1966, reaching #5 in the UK Singles Chart...
", before returning to his factory job. Shortly after that, he was invited to join the Hollies permanently in 1966.
Calvert was friends with Mama Cass Elliot from The Mamas & the Papas
The Mamas & the Papas
The Mamas & the Papas were a Canadian/American vocal group of the 1960s . The group recorded and performed from 1965 to 1968 with a short reunion in 1971, releasing five albums and 11 Top 40 hit singles...
.
Calvert was delighted when, on an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
tour, jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
bassist Ray Brown
Ray Brown (musician)
Raymond Matthews Brown was an American jazz double bassist.-Biography:Ray Brown was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and had piano lessons from the age of eight. After noticing how many pianists attended his high school, he thought of taking up the trombone, but was unable to afford one...
approached him and praised his bass playing on "Bus Stop".
Calvert also played piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
, organ
Electronic organ
An electronic organ is an electronic keyboard instrument which was derived from the harmonium, pipe organ and theatre organ. Originally, it was designed to imitate the sound of pipe organs, theatre organs, band sounds, or orchestral sounds....
and harpsichord
Harpsichord
A harpsichord is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It produces sound by plucking a string when a key is pressed.In the narrow sense, "harpsichord" designates only the large wing-shaped instruments in which the strings are perpendicular to the keyboard...
with the group, and composed their instrumental
Instrumental
An instrumental is a musical composition or recording without lyrics or singing, although it might include some non-articulate vocal input; the music is primarily or exclusively produced by musical instruments....
, "Reflections of a Long Time Past".
In 1969, Calvert was invited to play bass on a still-unreleased album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
with the Bread and Beer band, which included Caleb Quaye
Caleb Quaye
Caleb Quaye , is an English Afro-European rock guitarist and studio musician best known for his work in the 1960s and 1970s with Elton John, Mick Jagger, Pete Townshend, Paul McCartney and Hall & Oates...
, Roger Pope, Elton John
Elton John
Sir Elton Hercules John, CBE, Hon DMus is an English rock singer-songwriter, composer, pianist and occasional actor...
and two Jamaica
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
n percussionists, Lennox & Rolfo.
Calvert left The Hollies in 1981, and is now playing with a Catholic church music group in Clitheroe
Clitheroe
Clitheroe is a town and civil parish in the Borough of Ribble Valley in Lancashire, England. It is 1½ miles from the Forest of Bowland and is often used as a base for tourists in the area. It has a population of 14,697...
, Lancashire. He still performs at local venues for charity, playing classic songs from the Hollies' era. Recently, he has been joined on stage by his son Mark, playing lead guitar
Lead guitar
Lead guitar is a guitar part which plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs within a song structure...
. Calvert is currently busy writing and recording new material, with his friend and well known local musician, John Maycraft.
On September 24, 2009, the Hollies were nominated for induction to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame[11], and on December 18, 2009, were announced as inductees, to be inducted on March 15, 2010. They were represented at the RRHOF ceremony by Clarke, Nash, Sylvester, Eric Haydock and Calvert.