In our 2021 August issue of the Beat... Our featured artist this month is none other than the celebrated 50's singer and all-round entertainer Dickie Valentine who makes our front cover. Plus we have articles on Merrill Osmond, The Manfreds, Peter, Paul & Mary,...
In our 2021 July issue of the Beat... Our featured artist this month is none other than Anita Harris who makes the front cover with Ian Woolley's exclusive in-depth interview with the showbiz legend on her life and career to date. Plus we have great articles on...
by Ron Tennant Singer Crispian St.Peters played The Pied Piper with his own tune... Flirting with fame Crispian St. Peters was born Robin Peter Smith on April 5, 1939, in Swanley, Kent. The first phase of his career actually came to an end when he was called up for...
The country star was an original teen pop song chart-topper Even to this day his music influences country and pop culture to a considerable degree. Martin David Robinson was born in Glendale Phoenix, Arizona, on September 26, 1925, and was one of the most popular and...
By Jane Quinn Land of Heroes, By Ray Cooper IF Leonard Cohen and Jacqueline du Pré had produced a child, they would have named him Ray Cooper. He is an extraordinary poet, cellist, storyteller, songwriter, multi Instrumentalist, plus vocalist; and he throws all of...
Tina is to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame... TINA TURNER said she is “absolutely thrilled to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame among such amazing artists! Thank you for all your continued love and support over the years! Love, Tina.”...
A look back at the life of dazzling Bobby Darin... Darin was an American singer, a songwriter, and instrumentalist with vocals — guitar - piano - drums - harmonica, and xylophone – and he performed jazz, traditional pop, rock and roll, folk, swing, country, big band,...
By Pat Murphy A look back to those records that aimed high in 1961... I’ve written before about my youthful propensity to often get it wrong about the chart prospects of various records. The year 1959 was a particular example (see July 2019 issue). Alas, things didn’t...
By Martin Hutchinson Monkees business brings Mick on the road One of The Monkees’ strengths was the voice of drummer Micky Dolenz, and although most people think Davy Jones was the band’s lead singer, Micky sang lead on five of their eight Top Thirty hits. After the...
By Derek Mead The group was originally called the Troglodytes but no one lived in a cave so they sensibly reduced the name and became an English garage rock band, later pop-rock and proto-punk. Formed in Andover, Hampshire where they lived and worked as skilled...
By Ian Woolley At 64 years old, you could forgive Paul Young for wanting to take it easy, but far from it. He’s having too much fun with his Tex-Mex band... From his early life, Paul Young's musical influences would bring him the fame his soulful voice demanded. A...
By Jane Quinn Hans talks about being a world citizen, grandfathers, and tears... Hans Theessink is a Dutch guitarist, mandolinist, singer and songwriter living in Vienna and has been called one of the fiercest acoustic players in Europe who has played with the best...
In our 2021 June issue of the Beat... The Paul Young interview with Ian Woolley in an exclusive interview about his life and career to date plus performing with his Tex-Mex band Los Pacamenos. We also have articles on Rod Stewart, Ronnie Wood (by Ron Tennant), Marty...
What's in our 2021 May issue... A special two-page tribute to former Bay City Rollers' lead singer Les McKeown. In one of Les's last ever interviews, the Roller frontman talks about his band with Ian Woolley when he performed at the Regent Centre Theatre in Dorset on...
Former Bay City Rollers frontman Les McKeown has died... OBITUARY by Ian Woolley Bay City Rollers were one of the most successful pop bands in history. Along with their lead singer Les McKeown, their posters adorned many teenage girls (and boys) bedroom walls during...
Bat out of hell music composer and songwriter Jim Steinman has died... OBITUARY by Ian Woolley Famed for working with some of the biggest names in the music business during the '80s. Steinman produced, wrote, and composed some of the biggest hits of the decade but he...
One of the UK's most gifted songwriters, Barry Mason has died... OBITUARY by Ian Woolley With over 11,000 songs during his long and successful career, Barry Mason wrote for some of the biggest names in the pop business. Most notably with his songwriting partner Les...
In our 2021 April issue... We have exclusive interviews with Beach Boy Al Jardine, Eddy Grant, and Gary Puckett. In the first of our three exclusive interviews, Ian Woolley chats with Al Jardine, who is a member of one of the most successful 60's bands ever. The Beach...
By Derek Mead A look back at one of the famous soul singers, the Drifter's Ben E.King... BEN E KING DOO-WOP SOUL R&B THE DRIFTERS 1959-1962 SOLO CAREER BENJAMIN EARL NELSON (or King) was born on September 28, 1938, in North Carolina, moving to Harlem New York in...
By Katie Davis The Four Seasons lead singer didn't have life easy... Legend is one of those terms all too often overused. There can be little argument it is a word that ought to be reserved to describe very few. When it comes to singers, one who, without doubt, falls...
By Ron Tennant A look back at the career of Wayne Fontana... That unusual English male pop singer who started to become famous in the 1960s was called Wayne Fontana: but he was born on October 28, 1945, christened Glyn Geoffrey Ellis, in the Manchester area,...
Songwriter Trevor Peacock has died... OBITUARY by Ian Woolley Most people today remember him as the character Jim Trott in The Vicar Of Dibley but Trevor was also a successful songwriter in his own right before his acting career really took off. Our tribute is for the...
By David Parker They are getting excited now they hear of a gradual return to performance level – and that's only our stars of the 60s Chris Moule reported P J Proby was like a teenager again at the age of 80-plus. Chris wrote: "Theatres are preparing to re-open! The...
By Jane Quinn Jackie talks songwriting, martial arts and the cherished letter from screen legend Bette Davis... Share a cuppa tea with Jackie DeShannon as she chats about Bruce Lee, Secrets, and Isla! our paths first crossed on September 3, 1964. Jackie DeShannon...