50 years ago, on Saturday 16 June 1962 the Beatles were booked for an evening performance at the Cavern Club. Joining them on stage were the Tony Smith's Jazzmen, who were often booked at the Cavern as can be seen from the flyer at the top.
The Tony Smith's Jazzmen included Tony Smith, John Featherstone (piano), Moe Green (drums) and Joe Silmon. When Tony left the band, they continued under the name Joe Silmon's Dixielanders.
Update: Joe Silmon, original member of the Tony smith's Jazzmen sent us some more info. Thanks Joe!
May I add the names missing from "Tony Smith's Jazzmen", a 7-piece band which, as rightly stated above, became "Joe Silmon's Dixielanders" not by my choice, in late Summer 1962.
The missing men: the late George Ratcliffe (trombone);the late Bob Ascough (banjo); Bob Leaver (double bass). One sweaty night (the night that "those famous Boys" came back from the Star Club, Hamburg), the cellar really packed, "heaving", hot and very humid, Bob (half-fainted) fell all the way down the steps into the 'original' cellar, with his bass. Both survived, thank goodness, as it was just before the gig!!!
Moe Green turned professional sometime through 1962 and was replaced by the time it became "Joe S... D...", by Mike Carnie. John Featherstone died many years ago. Tony Smith played great trumpet and was an excellent leader, for the past 50-60 years in a variety of first-class Jazz bands. He only retired about 2 months ago. When Tony left, Ian Royle, Geoff Wilde and Barry Dixon all deputised on a rota system at the Cavern. Between Tony's band and as "JSD", we appeared there at least 25 times between 1961 and 1962.
See also F. Lopez Chaurri's excellent book: "Beatles 62 - Year of Change" (when someone translates it into English). It's in Spanish. Fernando gives equal weight to Jazzers as to all the Beat,Rock and Blues groups with whom we all shared a tiny stage and dressing room.
Thank you for remembering us all.
Joseph A A Silmon-Monerri ("Joe Silmon" - now an author)
Copyright info for the poster
- It's a low resolution copy of an advertising poster.
- It doesn't limit the copyright owner's rights to sell the poster in any way.
- Because of the low resolution, copies could not be used to make illegal copies of the poster.
- The image is itself a subject of discussion in the article or used in the infobox.
- The image is significant because it was used to promote a performance that has not been well documented.
May I add the names missing from "Tony Smith's Jazzmen", a 7-piece band which, as rightly stated above, became "Joe Silmon's Dixielanders" not by my choice, in late Summer 1962. The missing men: the late George Ratcliffe (trombone);the late Bob Ascough (banjo); Bob Leaver (double bass). One sweaty night (the night that "those famous Boys" came back from the Star Club, Hamburg), the cellar really packed, "heaving", hot and very humid, Bob (half-fainted) fell all the way down the steps into the 'original' cellar, with his bass. Both survived, thank goodness, as it was just before the gig!!! Moe Green turned professional sometime through 1962 and was replaced by the time it became "Joe S... D...", by Mike Carnie. John Featherstone died many years ago. Tony Smith played great trumpet and was an excellent leader, for the past 50-60 years in a variety of first-class Jazz bands. He only retired about 2 months ago. When Tony left, Ian Royle, Geoff Wilde and Barry Dixon all deputised on a rota system at the Cavern. Between Tony's band and as "JSD", we appeared there at least 25 times between 1961 and 1962. See also F. Lopez Chaurri's excellent book: "Beatles 62 - Year of Change" (when someone translates it into English). It's in Spanish. Fernando gives equal weight to Jazzers as to all the Beat,Rock and Blues groups with whom we all shared a tiny stage and dressing room.
ReplyDeleteThank you for remembering us all.
Joseph A A Silmon-Monerri ("Joe Silmon" - now an author)
Is Tony Smith still alive?
ReplyDeleteIs Tony Smith still alive?
ReplyDelete