The Echoes
Encyclopedia
The Echoes were formed in London England in early 1960 by singer Chris Wayne for the Conway Twitty
, Johnny Preston
and Freddy Cannon
tour of Great Britain. The Echoes were originally made up from “The Spacemen skiffle group” which were Joe Browns skiffle group. Joe was a regular on Boy Meets Girls
a television show with Marty Wilde
. The Spacemen had no other work while Joe was contracted to do the show so they were able to do this tour with Chris Wayne as "The Echoes". Original line up was: Chris Wayne (vocals), Tony Oakman (rhythm guitar), George Staff (rhythm guitar), Peter Oakman (bass), Bert Crome (drums). As Joe Brown
was usually the lead guitarist another one had to be found for the tour and he was Dave Burns (lead guitar). After the tour The Echoes disbanded with Tony Oakman, George Staff,Peter Oakman, Bert Crome returning to Joe Brown as his group The Bruvvers. Later Peter Oakman would go on to play bass for Lonnie Donegan
which he did until Lonnie’s death. Chris Wayne continued to work solo, Dave Burns went to work with Wee Willie Harris
in Italy.
(1961)
Chris Wayne had another tour this time with Gene Vincent
so he decided to reform The Echoes. Chris had a drummer Laurie Jay but needed guitar, piano and bass. The Dynamos agreed to do this tour as The Echoes as they had recently parted from Sonny Stewart. The Dynamos became The Echoes to accompany Gene Vincent
when he visited Britain at the beginning of 1961. The line up of this group was Laurie Jay (drums), Tony Collins (guitar), Les Smith (piano) and Douggie Reece (bass). During this tour Tony Collins had a car accident and was unable to continue. For the remainder of the tour he was replaced by Big Jim Sullivan
(originally from Marty Wilde's Wildcats and later Musical Director for Tom Jones
) on guitar. After such a successful tour it was decided to continue The Echoes, as with their ability to stand alone as a band and to also play for other artists, plenty of work including touring was assured. Les Smith (piano) left the group after the tour to continue his career as an architect. His replacement was Ian Hines (piano), and brother of Frazer Hines
who played Jamie in the Doctor Who
television series. Tony Collins (guitar) was unable to continue due to the car accident so interim guitarists Billy Kye and Vic Briggs
were used until a permanent guitarist could be found. This was Dave Burns who had just returned from Italy and was also a founder member of the original group. Ian Hines (piano) went to work in Hamburg and was replaced in 1961 by Perry Ford a very talented musician/singer/songwriter. Perry left in early 1962 to pursue his own career. He would have his own hits a few years later with a group called The Ivy League
. Records: "Funny How Love Can Be" and "Tossing and Turning". Ian Hines returned from Hamburg and came back into the group.
(1962)
The Echoes had one last show to do on The Jerry Lee Lewis
tour at The Tower Ballroom New Brighton playing for Jerry Lee Lewis
, when Laurie Jay left the group. A drummer was needed that night so a local drummer was brought in and he was Ringo Starr
who had just returned from Hamburg playing for Rory Storm
and The Hurricanes. Laurie Jay went into management and was to later become the manager for Billy Ocean
and Shirley Bassey
. On returning to London Tommy Frost then became The Echoes new drummer. After this tour Ian Hines also left for Hamburg again, and was replaced by Ray Murray on keyboards.
(May 1962)
The Echoes line up at this time was now: Tommy Frost (drums), Dave Burns (guitar), Ray Murray (keyboards), and Douggie Reece (bass).
(September 1963)
After 18 months of heavy work, recording and a summer season (1962) on the Isle of Mann and another in Jersey (1963) some of the band members decided to pursue their own dreams. Dave Burns went on to form a duo with his wife. Tommy Frost decided to stay in Jersey for a while. Pete Clifford from the Jesters took Dave Burns place on guitar. Shortly after the group returned to London Ray Murray left to go back to Scotland.
Audition Dusty Springfield
:-
The audition to play for Dusty was with Douggie Reece (bass), Micky Garrett (organ), Martin Gibbs (stand in drummer for Tommy Frost) and Pete Clifford (lead guitar). After the audition Tommy Frost was replaced by Bob Wackett on drums.
In 1963 DUSTY’S FIRST ECHOES WERE:
Douggie Reece (bass), Micky Garrett (keyboards), Bob Wackett(drums), Pete Clifford (guitar) Throughout 1964 many shows were done with Dusty including the tour of Australia with Gerry Marsden
and The Pacemakers
, Gene Pitney
, Brian Poole and The Tremeloes
. As well as a tour of America this time with The Searchers
and Eden Kane
. Bob Wackett stayed with The Echoes until just before The South African tour December 1964 with Dusty Springfield. His replacement was Johnny Dryden.
(1965)
Both Pete Clifford (guitar), Micky Garrett (keyboards) left to form their own group in early 1965. Clifford subsequently played with The 004, Floribunda Rose and The Bats. Their replacements were Vic Briggs
(guitar) and Jimmy O’Brien (keyboards).
Dusty wanted to add a front line and more rhythm section to the group, so the line-up became Ian Harper (Trumpet 1), Derek Andrews (Trumpet 2), Derek Wadsworth
(Trombone), Tony Scott (Percussion), Vic Briggs
(guitar), Jimmy O’Brien (keyboards), Johnny Dryden (drums), Douggie Reece (bass). All the backing vocals were done by the group at this time. Later Dusty would get a female vocal group for most of the big shows. These singers included Madeline Bell
, Kiki Dee
, Lesley Duncan
, Kay Garner, plus many others. In 1965 Peter Wolf
replaced Johnny Dryden on drums, and in 1966 Gary Boyle replaced Vic Briggs
who left to join 'The Steam Packet'.
(1966)
Gary Boyle (guitar), Jimmy O’Brien (keyboards), Peter Wolf (drums), Douggie Reece (bass). Still retaining the brass section, percussion and vocal group. Jimmy O’Brien (keyboards) was replaced by Mike O’Neil, formerly Nero from the group 'Nero and the Gladiators'. Mike O’Neil only stayed a short time then Ivan Chandler became the new keyboard player. Gary Boyle left The Echoes and took Vic Briggs position in The Steam Packet when he joined The Animals
. Stuart Taylor became The Echoes guitarist.
(1967)
Stuart Taylor (guitarist), Ivan Chandler (keyboards), Peter Wolf (drums), Douggie Reece (bass). Still with the brass section, percussion and vocal group.
(1968)
Ivan Chandler (keyboards) was replaced by Chris Sparrow for a short time, then Chris was replaced by Don Shinn on (keyboards). Ivan Chandler subsequently joined Oedipus Complex and Daddy Longlegs, and was to become a very active music producer in England. Chris Sparrow recorded the lead vocal on “Searching for you Baby” while he was with the band. Stuart Taylor left and Paul Hodgson joined the band. Paul Hodgson (guitarist), Don Shinn (keyboards), Peter Wolf (drums), Douggie Reece (bass). Brass section, percussion and vocal group.
(1969/70)
Peter Wolf (drums) left to play in the band for “Hair
”. Don Burrell then became the last drummer with the Echoes. Don Shinn (keyboards) left and was replaced by Brian Bennett. Paul Hodgson (guitarist), Brian Bennett (keyboards), Don Burrell (drums), Douggie Reece (bass). Brass section, percussion and vocal group. Paul Hodgson (guitarist) then left to join Peter Wolf in The Hair Band. Brian Bennett (keyboards) became musical director for the “Hair” touring company.
(1970/71)
Rod Stone (guitar), Tweed Harris (keyboards) both from an Australian group “The Groove (band)
” Don Burrell (drums), Douggie Reece (bass). Later in the year THE ECHOES disbanded.
In 1971 Douggie Reece married Wendy Cook from the Australian top female vocal group Marcie and The Cookies
. They went to live in Melbourne Australia and Douggie went on to become a prolific music producer and arranger and has for many years played in The Burlington Lodge Group.
During the period 1959 - 1971 The Echoes toured extensively throughout the United Kingdom and the rest of the World playing for various artists also doing the backing on many recordings. The Echoes recorded seven singles in their own right from 1962 - 1968. Some of the artists with whom The Echoes played: Bobby Allen, The Allisons, The Bachelors
, Madeline Bell
, Peppi Borza, Tommy Bruce
, Freddy Cannon
, The Caravelles
, The Chantelles, Michael Cox
, Rolly Daniels, Kiki Dee
, Terry Dean, Vince Eager
, Dick Emery
, The Four Seasons
, Johnny Gentle
, Julie Grant, Rolf Harris
, Frankie Howard, Eden Kane
, Jerry Lee Lewis
, Lulu
, Susan Maughan
, The Monkees
, Matt Monro
, The Mudlarks
, Des O'Connor
, Roy Orbison
, Paper Dolls, Gene Pitney
, Duffy Power
, Johnny Preston
, Mike Preston
, Joan Regan
, Danny Rivers, John Rowles
, Paul
and Barry Ryan
, Terry Scott
, Screaming Lord Sutch
, Helen Shapiro
, Dee Dee Sharp
, Anne Shelton, Dusty Springfield
, Cat Stevens
, Vince Taylor
, Norma Tanega
, Conway Twitty
, Ricky Valance
, Bobby Vee
, Gene Vincent
, Bert Weedon
, David Whitfield
and Mark Wynter
.
The Echoes performed on the same bill as virtually every major act in Great Britain in this era.
Cloak & Dagger/Sounds Like Winter. --- Fontana 267254 TF.
1963.
The Happy Whistler/Sticks & Stones. --- Fontana TF 392.
Marchin’ Thru/The Jog. --- Fontana TF 415.
1964.
My Little Girl/More. --- Fontana TF 439
Don’t you Believe Them/Over You. --- Philips BF
1966.
Got to Run/Thanks a lot. --- Philips BF 1480
1967.
Stick to me Like Glue. (Not Released)
1968.
Searching for you Baby/Listen to me Baby --- Philips BF 1683
Other Artists:
Bert Weedon
1961
China Doll/Red Guitar --- H.M.V. Pop 946.
1962
Bobby Allen
Your Cheating Heart/I’ll Forget About You. --- Fontana 267252 TF
1963
Bert Weedon
Night Cry/Charlie Boy --- H.M.V. Pop 1141
Bobby Allen
Here Comes the Bride/Nothing's Impossible --- Fontana TF 401
Wendy Walker
Window Shopping/ There Ain't a Boy in the World. --- Decca F-11573
Boys will be Boys/ Casanova ---Decca F-11671
The Triffids
Lookin’ Around/ She’s no Longer your Girl --- Columbia DB 7084
Frazer Hines
Wallaby Sue --- Planet MPA 555
Dusty Springfield
1964
Can I Get a Witness --- Philips BF 12564
1965
Middle of Nowhere --- Philips BF 1418
L.P. Ev’rything’s Coming up Dusty --- Philips SRBL 102
Won’t Be Long
La Bamba
If It Don’t work Out
I Can’t Hear you no more
Packin’ Up
1966
Little By Little --- Philips BF 1466
Every Ounce of Strength --- Philips BF 1482
Go Ahead On --- Philips BF 1510
1967
Take me for a Little While --- Philips SBL 7737
Other Tracks:
Needle in a Haystack --- (Something Special CD)
Heartbeat --- (Pearls & Rarities CD)
Other tracks recorded for radio and television have been released on other CD's.
Record Mirror, April 9, 1966
Conway Twitty
Conway Twitty , born Harold Lloyd Jenkins, was an American country music artist. He also had success in early rock and roll, R&B, and pop music. He held the record for the most number one singles of any act with 55 No. 1 Billboard country hits until George Strait broke the record in 2006...
, Johnny Preston
Johnny Preston
Johnny Preston was an American pop music singer, who was best known for his international number one hit in 1960, "Running Bear".-Life and career:...
and Freddy Cannon
Freddy Cannon
Frederick Anthony Picariello Jr. , known as Freddy Cannon, is an American rock and roll singer, whose biggest international hits included "Tallahassee Lassie", "Way Down Yonder In New Orleans", and "Palisades Park".-Biography:...
tour of Great Britain. The Echoes were originally made up from “The Spacemen skiffle group” which were Joe Browns skiffle group. Joe was a regular on Boy Meets Girls
Boy Meets Girls
Boy Meets Girls was a UK popular music TV show which was launched in September 1959 replacing the earlier show Oh Boy!.The show was presented and produced by Jack Good. Marty Wilde was the principal resident male artist and The Vernons Girls were the female residents. Joe Brown made regular...
a television show with Marty Wilde
Marty Wilde
Marty Wilde is an English singer and songwriter. He was among the first generation of British pop stars to emulate American rock and roll, and is the father of pop singers Ricky Wilde, Kim Wilde and Roxanne Wilde.-Career:Wilde was performing under the name Reg Patterson at London's Condor Club in...
. The Spacemen had no other work while Joe was contracted to do the show so they were able to do this tour with Chris Wayne as "The Echoes". Original line up was: Chris Wayne (vocals), Tony Oakman (rhythm guitar), George Staff (rhythm guitar), Peter Oakman (bass), Bert Crome (drums). As Joe Brown
Joe Brown (singer)
Joe Brown, MBE is an English entertainer.He has worked as a rock and roll singer and guitarist for more than five decades. He was a stage and television performer in the late 1950s and a UK recording star in the early 1960s...
was usually the lead guitarist another one had to be found for the tour and he was Dave Burns (lead guitar). After the tour The Echoes disbanded with Tony Oakman, George Staff,Peter Oakman, Bert Crome returning to Joe Brown as his group The Bruvvers. Later Peter Oakman would go on to play bass for Lonnie Donegan
Lonnie Donegan
Anthony James "Lonnie" Donegan MBE was a skiffle musician, with more than 20 UK Top 30 hits to his name. He is known as the "King of Skiffle" and is often cited as a large influence on the generation of British musicians who became famous in the 1960s...
which he did until Lonnie’s death. Chris Wayne continued to work solo, Dave Burns went to work with Wee Willie Harris
Wee Willie Harris
Wee Willie Harris is a British rock and roll singer. He is best known for his energetic stage shows and TV performances since the 1950s, when he was known as "Britain's wild man of rock 'n' roll".-Life and career:Working a job as a pudding mixer at Peek Freans' London bakery, Harris turned...
in Italy.
(1961)
Chris Wayne had another tour this time with Gene Vincent
Gene Vincent
Vincent Eugene Craddock , known as Gene Vincent, was an American musician who pioneered the styles of rock and roll and rockabilly. His 1956 top ten hit with his Blue Caps, "Be-Bop-A-Lula", is considered a significant early example of rockabilly...
so he decided to reform The Echoes. Chris had a drummer Laurie Jay but needed guitar, piano and bass. The Dynamos agreed to do this tour as The Echoes as they had recently parted from Sonny Stewart. The Dynamos became The Echoes to accompany Gene Vincent
Gene Vincent
Vincent Eugene Craddock , known as Gene Vincent, was an American musician who pioneered the styles of rock and roll and rockabilly. His 1956 top ten hit with his Blue Caps, "Be-Bop-A-Lula", is considered a significant early example of rockabilly...
when he visited Britain at the beginning of 1961. The line up of this group was Laurie Jay (drums), Tony Collins (guitar), Les Smith (piano) and Douggie Reece (bass). During this tour Tony Collins had a car accident and was unable to continue. For the remainder of the tour he was replaced by Big Jim Sullivan
Big Jim Sullivan
Big Jim Sullivan is an English musician, whose career started in 1959. He is best known as a session guitarist. In the 1960s and 1970s, Sullivan was one of the most "in-demand" studio musicians in the UK, and performed in more than one thousand charting singles over his career...
(originally from Marty Wilde's Wildcats and later Musical Director for Tom Jones
Tom Jones (singer)
Sir Thomas John Woodward, OBE , known by his stage name Tom Jones, is a Welsh singer.Since the mid 1960s, Jones has sung many styles of popular music – pop, rock, R&B, show tunes, country, dance, techno, soul and gospel – and sold over 100 million records...
) on guitar. After such a successful tour it was decided to continue The Echoes, as with their ability to stand alone as a band and to also play for other artists, plenty of work including touring was assured. Les Smith (piano) left the group after the tour to continue his career as an architect. His replacement was Ian Hines (piano), and brother of Frazer Hines
Frazer Hines
Frazer Hines is an English actor best known for his roles as Jamie McCrimmon in Doctor Who and Joe Sugden in Emmerdale. Hines was born in Horsforth, a civil parish of Leeds.-Acting career:...
who played Jamie in the Doctor Who
Doctor Who
Doctor Who is a British science fiction television programme produced by the BBC. The programme depicts the adventures of a time-travelling humanoid alien known as the Doctor who explores the universe in a sentient time machine called the TARDIS that flies through time and space, whose exterior...
television series. Tony Collins (guitar) was unable to continue due to the car accident so interim guitarists Billy Kye and Vic Briggs
Vic Briggs
Victor Harvey Briggs III is a former blues and rock musician, best known as the lead guitarist with Eric Burdon and The Animals during the 1966-1968 period...
were used until a permanent guitarist could be found. This was Dave Burns who had just returned from Italy and was also a founder member of the original group. Ian Hines (piano) went to work in Hamburg and was replaced in 1961 by Perry Ford a very talented musician/singer/songwriter. Perry left in early 1962 to pursue his own career. He would have his own hits a few years later with a group called The Ivy League
The Ivy League (band)
The Ivy League are an English vocal trio, created in 1964, who enjoyed two Top 10 hit singles in the UK Singles Chart in 1965. The group's sound was characterised by rich, three-part vocal harmonies.-Career:...
. Records: "Funny How Love Can Be" and "Tossing and Turning". Ian Hines returned from Hamburg and came back into the group.
(1962)
The Echoes had one last show to do on The Jerry Lee Lewis
Jerry Lee Lewis
Jerry Lee Lewis is an American rock and roll and country music singer-songwriter and pianist. An early pioneer of rock and roll music, Lewis's career faltered after he married his young cousin, and he afterwards made a career extension to country and western music. He is known by the nickname 'The...
tour at The Tower Ballroom New Brighton playing for Jerry Lee Lewis
Jerry Lee Lewis
Jerry Lee Lewis is an American rock and roll and country music singer-songwriter and pianist. An early pioneer of rock and roll music, Lewis's career faltered after he married his young cousin, and he afterwards made a career extension to country and western music. He is known by the nickname 'The...
, when Laurie Jay left the group. A drummer was needed that night so a local drummer was brought in and he was Ringo Starr
Ringo Starr
Richard Starkey, MBE better known by his stage name Ringo Starr, is an English musician and actor who gained worldwide fame as the drummer for The Beatles. When the band formed in 1960, Starr was a member of another Liverpool band, Rory Storm and the Hurricanes. He became The Beatles' drummer in...
who had just returned from Hamburg playing for Rory Storm
Rory Storm
Rory Storm was an English singer and musician. Born Alan Caldwell in Liverpool, Storm was the singer and leader of Rory Storm and The Hurricanes, a Liverpudlian band who were contemporaries of The Beatles in the late 1950s, and early 1960s...
and The Hurricanes. Laurie Jay went into management and was to later become the manager for Billy Ocean
Billy Ocean
Billy Ocean is a Trinidad-born English Grammy Award winning popular music performer who had a string of rhythm and blues international pop hits in the 1970s and 1980s. He was the most popular British-based R&B singer / songwriter of the early to mid-1980s...
and Shirley Bassey
Shirley Bassey
Dame Shirley Bassey, DBE , is a Welsh singer. She found fame in the late 1950s and was "one of the most popular female vocalists in Britain during the last half of the 20th century"...
. On returning to London Tommy Frost then became The Echoes new drummer. After this tour Ian Hines also left for Hamburg again, and was replaced by Ray Murray on keyboards.
(May 1962)
The Echoes line up at this time was now: Tommy Frost (drums), Dave Burns (guitar), Ray Murray (keyboards), and Douggie Reece (bass).
(September 1963)
After 18 months of heavy work, recording and a summer season (1962) on the Isle of Mann and another in Jersey (1963) some of the band members decided to pursue their own dreams. Dave Burns went on to form a duo with his wife. Tommy Frost decided to stay in Jersey for a while. Pete Clifford from the Jesters took Dave Burns place on guitar. Shortly after the group returned to London Ray Murray left to go back to Scotland.
Audition Dusty Springfield
Dusty Springfield
Mary Isobel Catherine Bernadette O'BrienSources use both Isabel and Isobel as the spelling of her second name. OBE , known professionally as Dusty Springfield and dubbed The White Queen of Soul, was a British pop singer whose career extended from the late 1950s to the 1990s...
:-
The audition to play for Dusty was with Douggie Reece (bass), Micky Garrett (organ), Martin Gibbs (stand in drummer for Tommy Frost) and Pete Clifford (lead guitar). After the audition Tommy Frost was replaced by Bob Wackett on drums.
In 1963 DUSTY’S FIRST ECHOES WERE:
Douggie Reece (bass), Micky Garrett (keyboards), Bob Wackett(drums), Pete Clifford (guitar) Throughout 1964 many shows were done with Dusty including the tour of Australia with Gerry Marsden
Gerry Marsden
Gerard "Gerry" Marsden is an English musician and television personality, best known for being leader of the British band Gerry & the Pacemakers.-Biography:...
and The Pacemakers
Gerry & the Pacemakers
Gerry and the Pacemakers were a British beat music group prominent during the 1960s. In common with The Beatles, they came from Liverpool, were managed by Brian Epstein and recorded by George Martin. They are most remembered for being the first act to reach number one in the UK Singles Chart with...
, Gene Pitney
Gene Pitney
Eugene Francis Alan Pitney, known as Gene Pitney , was an American singer-songwriter, musician and sound engineer. Through the mid-1960s, he enjoyed success as a recording artist on both sides of the Atlantic and was among the group of early 1960s American acts who continued to enjoy hits after the...
, Brian Poole and The Tremeloes
The Tremeloes
The Tremeloes are an English beat group founded in 1958 in Dagenham, Essex, and still active today.-Career:They formed as Brian Poole and the Tremoloes influenced by Buddy Holly and The Crickets...
. As well as a tour of America this time with The Searchers
The Searchers (band)
The Searchers are an English beat group, who emerged as part of the 1960s Merseybeat scene along with The Beatles, The Fourmost, The Merseybeats, The Swinging Blue Jeans, and Gerry & The Pacemakers....
and Eden Kane
Eden Kane
Eden Kane is an early 1960s British pop singer.-Life and career:Like Cliff Richard, Pete Best, and Engelbert Humperdinck, Eden Kane was born in India, but returned to Britain as a child...
. Bob Wackett stayed with The Echoes until just before The South African tour December 1964 with Dusty Springfield. His replacement was Johnny Dryden.
(1965)
Both Pete Clifford (guitar), Micky Garrett (keyboards) left to form their own group in early 1965. Clifford subsequently played with The 004, Floribunda Rose and The Bats. Their replacements were Vic Briggs
Vic Briggs
Victor Harvey Briggs III is a former blues and rock musician, best known as the lead guitarist with Eric Burdon and The Animals during the 1966-1968 period...
(guitar) and Jimmy O’Brien (keyboards).
Dusty wanted to add a front line and more rhythm section to the group, so the line-up became Ian Harper (Trumpet 1), Derek Andrews (Trumpet 2), Derek Wadsworth
Derek Wadsworth
Derek Wadsworth was a British jazz trombonist, session musician, composer and arranger....
(Trombone), Tony Scott (Percussion), Vic Briggs
Vic Briggs
Victor Harvey Briggs III is a former blues and rock musician, best known as the lead guitarist with Eric Burdon and The Animals during the 1966-1968 period...
(guitar), Jimmy O’Brien (keyboards), Johnny Dryden (drums), Douggie Reece (bass). All the backing vocals were done by the group at this time. Later Dusty would get a female vocal group for most of the big shows. These singers included Madeline Bell
Madeline Bell
Madeline Bell is an American soul singer, who became famous as a performer in the United Kingdom during the 1960s, having arrived from the US in the gospel show Black Nativity in 1962, with vocal group The Bradford Singers.-Career:She worked as a session singer, most notably backing for Dusty...
, Kiki Dee
Kiki Dee
Kiki Dee is an English singer with a career spanning more than 40 years....
, Lesley Duncan
Lesley Duncan
Lesley Duncan was an English singer-songwriter, best known for her work during the 1970s. She received a lot of airplay on British radio stations such as BBC Radio 1 and BBC Radio 2, but never achieved great commercial success.Duncan was born in Stockton-on-Tees...
, Kay Garner, plus many others. In 1965 Peter Wolf
Peter Wolf
Peter Wolf is an American Rhythm and Blues, Soul and Rock and Roll musician, best known as the lead vocalist for the J. Geils Band from 1967 to 1983; and for a successful musical solo career to date with writing partner Will Jennings.- Life and career :Wolf was born in the Bronx, New York...
replaced Johnny Dryden on drums, and in 1966 Gary Boyle replaced Vic Briggs
Vic Briggs
Victor Harvey Briggs III is a former blues and rock musician, best known as the lead guitarist with Eric Burdon and The Animals during the 1966-1968 period...
who left to join 'The Steam Packet'.
(1966)
Gary Boyle (guitar), Jimmy O’Brien (keyboards), Peter Wolf (drums), Douggie Reece (bass). Still retaining the brass section, percussion and vocal group. Jimmy O’Brien (keyboards) was replaced by Mike O’Neil, formerly Nero from the group 'Nero and the Gladiators'. Mike O’Neil only stayed a short time then Ivan Chandler became the new keyboard player. Gary Boyle left The Echoes and took Vic Briggs position in The Steam Packet when he joined The Animals
The Animals
The Animals were an English music group of the 1960s formed in Newcastle upon Tyne during the early part of the decade, and later relocated to London...
. Stuart Taylor became The Echoes guitarist.
(1967)
Stuart Taylor (guitarist), Ivan Chandler (keyboards), Peter Wolf (drums), Douggie Reece (bass). Still with the brass section, percussion and vocal group.
(1968)
Ivan Chandler (keyboards) was replaced by Chris Sparrow for a short time, then Chris was replaced by Don Shinn on (keyboards). Ivan Chandler subsequently joined Oedipus Complex and Daddy Longlegs, and was to become a very active music producer in England. Chris Sparrow recorded the lead vocal on “Searching for you Baby” while he was with the band. Stuart Taylor left and Paul Hodgson joined the band. Paul Hodgson (guitarist), Don Shinn (keyboards), Peter Wolf (drums), Douggie Reece (bass). Brass section, percussion and vocal group.
(1969/70)
Peter Wolf (drums) left to play in the band for “Hair
Hair
Hair is a filamentous biomaterial, that grows from follicles found in the dermis. Found exclusively in mammals, hair is one of the defining characteristics of the mammalian class....
”. Don Burrell then became the last drummer with the Echoes. Don Shinn (keyboards) left and was replaced by Brian Bennett. Paul Hodgson (guitarist), Brian Bennett (keyboards), Don Burrell (drums), Douggie Reece (bass). Brass section, percussion and vocal group. Paul Hodgson (guitarist) then left to join Peter Wolf in The Hair Band. Brian Bennett (keyboards) became musical director for the “Hair” touring company.
(1970/71)
Rod Stone (guitar), Tweed Harris (keyboards) both from an Australian group “The Groove (band)
The Groove (band)
Formed in mid 1967, The Groove are considered to be Australia's first "supergroup" in that all members had considerable experience behind them in a number of successful bands...
” Don Burrell (drums), Douggie Reece (bass). Later in the year THE ECHOES disbanded.
In 1971 Douggie Reece married Wendy Cook from the Australian top female vocal group Marcie and The Cookies
Marcie and The Cookies
Marcie & The Cookies were an Australian musical ensemble, made up of Marcie Jones and the three Cook sisters. The all girl, vocal only group, were a rarity in Australia’s “mod” music scene of the 1960s, dominated as it was by all male rock bands and solo artists.-Personnel:* Marcie Jones *...
. They went to live in Melbourne Australia and Douggie went on to become a prolific music producer and arranger and has for many years played in The Burlington Lodge Group.
During the period 1959 - 1971 The Echoes toured extensively throughout the United Kingdom and the rest of the World playing for various artists also doing the backing on many recordings. The Echoes recorded seven singles in their own right from 1962 - 1968. Some of the artists with whom The Echoes played: Bobby Allen, The Allisons, The Bachelors
The Bachelors
The Bachelors are a popular music group, originating from Dublin, Ireland.-Career:The founding members of the group were Conleth Cluskey , Declan Cluskey , and John Stokes...
, Madeline Bell
Madeline Bell
Madeline Bell is an American soul singer, who became famous as a performer in the United Kingdom during the 1960s, having arrived from the US in the gospel show Black Nativity in 1962, with vocal group The Bradford Singers.-Career:She worked as a session singer, most notably backing for Dusty...
, Peppi Borza, Tommy Bruce
Tommy Bruce
Tommy Bruce was an English rock 'n' roll singer who had most success in the early 1960s.-Life and career:He was born Thomas Charles Bruce, in Stepney, London...
, Freddy Cannon
Freddy Cannon
Frederick Anthony Picariello Jr. , known as Freddy Cannon, is an American rock and roll singer, whose biggest international hits included "Tallahassee Lassie", "Way Down Yonder In New Orleans", and "Palisades Park".-Biography:...
, The Caravelles
The Caravelles
The Caravelles, Lois Wilkinson and Andrea Simpson , were a British duo girl band, best known for their 1963 hit single, "You Don't Have to Be a Baby to Cry"....
, The Chantelles, Michael Cox
Michael Cox
Michael Cox may refer to:* Michael Cox , Professor of International Relations at the London School of Economics* Michael Cox , Irish Palmarian Archbishop...
, Rolly Daniels, Kiki Dee
Kiki Dee
Kiki Dee is an English singer with a career spanning more than 40 years....
, Terry Dean, Vince Eager
Vince Eager
Vince Eager is a British pop singer.As a teenager, he formed the Harmonica Vagabonds, later the Vagabonds Skiffle Group, with Roy Clark, Mick Fretwell, and bassist Brian Locking. The group reached the final round of a televised "World Skiffle Championship", and were offered a residency at the 2...
, Dick Emery
Dick Emery
Richard Gilbert "Dick" Emery was an English comedian and actor. Beginning on radio in the 1950s, an eponymous television series ran from 1963 to 1981. He was the brother of Ann Emery.-Life and career:...
, The Four Seasons
The Four Seasons (group)
The Four Seasons are an American rock and pop band who became internationally successful in the mid-1960s. The Vocal Group Hall of Fame has stated that the group was the most popular rock band before The Beatles...
, Johnny Gentle
Johnny Gentle
Johnny Gentle is the stage name of John Askew . He was a British pop singer who is now best remembered for having briefly toured Scotland with the Silver Beetles - later known simply as The Beatles - as his backing group in 1960....
, Julie Grant, Rolf Harris
Rolf Harris
Rolf Harris, CBE, AM is an Australian musician, singer-songwriter, composer, painter and television personality.Born in Perth, Western Australia, Harris was a champion swimmer before studying art. He moved to England in 1952, where he started to appear on television programmes on which he drew the...
, Frankie Howard, Eden Kane
Eden Kane
Eden Kane is an early 1960s British pop singer.-Life and career:Like Cliff Richard, Pete Best, and Engelbert Humperdinck, Eden Kane was born in India, but returned to Britain as a child...
, Jerry Lee Lewis
Jerry Lee Lewis
Jerry Lee Lewis is an American rock and roll and country music singer-songwriter and pianist. An early pioneer of rock and roll music, Lewis's career faltered after he married his young cousin, and he afterwards made a career extension to country and western music. He is known by the nickname 'The...
, Lulu
Lulu (singer)
Lulu Kennedy-Cairns, OBE , best known by her stage name Lulu, is a Scottish singer, actress, and television personality who has been successful in the entertainment business from the 1960s through to the present day...
, Susan Maughan
Susan Maughan
Susan Maughan is an English singer who released successful singles in the 1960s.-Career:...
, The Monkees
The Monkees
The Monkees are an American pop rock group. Assembled in Los Angeles in 1966 by Robert "Bob" Rafelson and Bert Schneider for the American television series The Monkees, which aired from 1966 to 1968, the musical acting quartet was composed of Americans Micky Dolenz, Michael Nesmith and Peter Tork,...
, Matt Monro
Matt Monro
Matt Monro was an English singer who became one of the most popular entertainers on the international music scene during the 1960s...
, The Mudlarks
The Mudlarks
The Mudlarks were an English pop vocal group of the late 1950s and early 1960s. They had two Top 10 UK hit singles in 1958.-Career:They were a family group from Luton, Bedfordshire, originally comprising Jeff Mudd , Fred Mudd , and Mary Mudd...
, Des O'Connor
Des O'Connor
Des O'Connor, CBE is an English comedian and singer. A former talkshow host, he was the presenter of the long-running Channel 4 gameshow Countdown for two years...
, Roy Orbison
Roy Orbison
Roy Kelton Orbison was an American singer-songwriter, well known for his distinctive, powerful voice, complex compositions, and dark emotional ballads. Orbison grew up in Texas and began singing in a rockabilly/country & western band in high school until he was signed by Sun Records in Memphis...
, Paper Dolls, Gene Pitney
Gene Pitney
Eugene Francis Alan Pitney, known as Gene Pitney , was an American singer-songwriter, musician and sound engineer. Through the mid-1960s, he enjoyed success as a recording artist on both sides of the Atlantic and was among the group of early 1960s American acts who continued to enjoy hits after the...
, Duffy Power
Duffy Power
Duffy Power is an English blues and rock and roll singer, who achieved some success in the 1960s and has performed and recorded intermittently since then.-Career:...
, Johnny Preston
Johnny Preston
Johnny Preston was an American pop music singer, who was best known for his international number one hit in 1960, "Running Bear".-Life and career:...
, Mike Preston
Michael Preston
Michael Preston is an international film and television actor, sometimes credited as Mike Preston.-Career:...
, Joan Regan
Joan Regan
Joan Regan is a traditional pop music singer from the UK, popular during the 1950s and early 1960s.-Biography:...
, Danny Rivers, John Rowles
John Rowles
John Edward Rowles OBE is a New Zealand singer. He was most popular in the 1970s and early 1980s, and most famous for his song Cheryl Moana Marie, which he had written about his kid sister back home in New Zealand.Rowles is part Māori. His father, Eddie Hohapata Rowles, played for the 1938 Māori...
, Paul
Paul Ryan (singer)
Paul Ryan was an English singer, songwriter and record producer.Born in Leeds, West Yorkshire, Paul and his twin brother Barry were the sons of singer Marion Ryan, and had some success as a singing duo during the 1960s, known simply as "Paul & Barry Ryan"...
and Barry Ryan
Barry Ryan (singer)
Barry Ryan was an English pop singer. He is currently a photographer.The son of pop singer Marion Ryan, Ryan and his twin brother Paul began to perform at the age of 16...
, Terry Scott
Terry Scott
Owen John "Terry" Scott was an English actor and comedian who appeared in seven Carry On films. He also appeared in BBC1's popular domestic sitcom Terry and June with June Whitfield...
, Screaming Lord Sutch
Screaming Lord Sutch
David Edward Sutch , also known as "Screaming Lord Sutch, 3rd Earl of Harrow", or simply "Screaming Lord Sutch", was a musician from the United Kingdom...
, Helen Shapiro
Helen Shapiro
Helen Kate Shapiro is an English singer and actress. She is best known for her 1960s UK chart toppers, "You Don't Know" and "Walkin' Back to Happiness".-Early life:...
, Dee Dee Sharp
Dee Dee Sharp
Dee Dee Sharp is an American R&B singer, who began her career recording as a backing vocalist in 1961.-Career:...
, Anne Shelton, Dusty Springfield
Dusty Springfield
Mary Isobel Catherine Bernadette O'BrienSources use both Isabel and Isobel as the spelling of her second name. OBE , known professionally as Dusty Springfield and dubbed The White Queen of Soul, was a British pop singer whose career extended from the late 1950s to the 1990s...
, Cat Stevens
Cat Stevens
Yusuf Islam , commonly known by his former stage name Cat Stevens, is an English singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, educator, philanthropist, and prominent convert to Islam....
, Vince Taylor
Vince Taylor
Vince Taylor was a British rock and roll singer. As the frontman for The Playboys, Taylor was successful primarily in France and the Continent during the late 1950s and early 1960s, afterwards falling into obscurity amidst personal problems and drug abuse.-Early life:Born Brian Maurice Holden,...
, Norma Tanega
Norma Tanega
Norma Cecilia Tanega was an American folk/pop singer. She was a camp counselor in the Catskills when she signed to New Voice Records in 1966. Her debut single, "Walkin' My Cat Named Dog", reached #22 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart, but she never came close to charting there again. She retains...
, Conway Twitty
Conway Twitty
Conway Twitty , born Harold Lloyd Jenkins, was an American country music artist. He also had success in early rock and roll, R&B, and pop music. He held the record for the most number one singles of any act with 55 No. 1 Billboard country hits until George Strait broke the record in 2006...
, Ricky Valance
Ricky Valance
Ricky Valance is a Welsh singer. He is best known for the number one single, "Tell Laura I Love Her", which sold over a million copies in 1960.-Life and career:...
, Bobby Vee
Bobby Vee
Robert Thomas Velline , known as Bobby Vee, is an American pop music singer. According to Billboard magazine, Vee has had 38 Hot 100 chart hits, 10 of which hit the Top 20.-Career:...
, Gene Vincent
Gene Vincent
Vincent Eugene Craddock , known as Gene Vincent, was an American musician who pioneered the styles of rock and roll and rockabilly. His 1956 top ten hit with his Blue Caps, "Be-Bop-A-Lula", is considered a significant early example of rockabilly...
, Bert Weedon
Bert Weedon
Herbert Maurice William 'Bert' Weedon OBE is an English guitarist and composer whose style of guitar playing was popular and influential during the 1950s and 1960s. He was born in Burges Road, East Ham, Essex, now Greater London....
, David Whitfield
David Whitfield
David Whitfield was a popular British male tenor vocalist. This operatic-style tenor had a formidable and predominantly female fan base in the 1950s.-Life and career:...
and Mark Wynter
Mark Wynter
Mark Wynter is an English actor and former singer, who had four Top 20 singles in the 1960s, including "Venus in Blue Jeans" and "Go Away Little Girl"...
.
The Echoes performed on the same bill as virtually every major act in Great Britain in this era.
Discography
1962.Cloak & Dagger/Sounds Like Winter. --- Fontana 267254 TF.
1963.
The Happy Whistler/Sticks & Stones. --- Fontana TF 392.
Marchin’ Thru/The Jog. --- Fontana TF 415.
1964.
My Little Girl/More. --- Fontana TF 439
Don’t you Believe Them/Over You. --- Philips BF
1966.
Got to Run/Thanks a lot. --- Philips BF 1480
1967.
Stick to me Like Glue. (Not Released)
1968.
Searching for you Baby/Listen to me Baby --- Philips BF 1683
Other Artists:
Bert Weedon
Bert Weedon
Herbert Maurice William 'Bert' Weedon OBE is an English guitarist and composer whose style of guitar playing was popular and influential during the 1950s and 1960s. He was born in Burges Road, East Ham, Essex, now Greater London....
1961
China Doll/Red Guitar --- H.M.V. Pop 946.
1962
Bobby Allen
Your Cheating Heart/I’ll Forget About You. --- Fontana 267252 TF
1963
Bert Weedon
Bert Weedon
Herbert Maurice William 'Bert' Weedon OBE is an English guitarist and composer whose style of guitar playing was popular and influential during the 1950s and 1960s. He was born in Burges Road, East Ham, Essex, now Greater London....
Night Cry/Charlie Boy --- H.M.V. Pop 1141
Bobby Allen
Bobby Allen
Robert Paul Allen is an American professional ice hockey defenceman who played in the National Hockey League for the Edmonton Oilers and the Boston Bruins.-Playing career:...
Here Comes the Bride/Nothing's Impossible --- Fontana TF 401
Wendy Walker
Window Shopping/ There Ain't a Boy in the World. --- Decca F-11573
Boys will be Boys/ Casanova ---Decca F-11671
The Triffids
Lookin’ Around/ She’s no Longer your Girl --- Columbia DB 7084
Frazer Hines
Frazer Hines
Frazer Hines is an English actor best known for his roles as Jamie McCrimmon in Doctor Who and Joe Sugden in Emmerdale. Hines was born in Horsforth, a civil parish of Leeds.-Acting career:...
Wallaby Sue --- Planet MPA 555
Dusty Springfield
Dusty Springfield
Mary Isobel Catherine Bernadette O'BrienSources use both Isabel and Isobel as the spelling of her second name. OBE , known professionally as Dusty Springfield and dubbed The White Queen of Soul, was a British pop singer whose career extended from the late 1950s to the 1990s...
1964
Can I Get a Witness --- Philips BF 12564
1965
Middle of Nowhere --- Philips BF 1418
L.P. Ev’rything’s Coming up Dusty --- Philips SRBL 102
Won’t Be Long
La Bamba
If It Don’t work Out
I Can’t Hear you no more
Packin’ Up
1966
Little By Little --- Philips BF 1466
Every Ounce of Strength --- Philips BF 1482
Go Ahead On --- Philips BF 1510
1967
Take me for a Little While --- Philips SBL 7737
Other Tracks:
Needle in a Haystack --- (Something Special CD)
Heartbeat --- (Pearls & Rarities CD)
Other tracks recorded for radio and television have been released on other CD's.
External links
- Griffiths, David. "Here's how a group gets to back a top singer ...",
Record Mirror, April 9, 1966