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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZFREDDIE and the DREAMERSUK beat group formed in Manchester in 1959: former milkman Freddie Garrity (b 14 November 1940; d 19 May 2006: obits said he was 69) with Derek Quinn (b 24 May 1942), lead guitar; Roy Crewsdon (b 29 May 1941), rhythm guitar; Bernie Dwyer (b 11 September 1940), drums; Pete Birrell (b 9 May 1941), bass. Garrity had surfed on the skiffle fad with his brother Derek in the Red Sox, then the Kingfishers, who were renamed as Freddie's antics took over: an unlikely pop star, he played it for laughs while group sent up syncopated moves à la the Shadows behind him. They auditioned for BBC children's TV, and after an appearance EMI/Columbia signed them. They had five Top 5 UK hits '63-4: 'If You Gotta Make A Fool Of Somebody' (no. 3 first single), 'I'm Telling You Now' (co-written by Garrity and Gerry and the Pacemakers' songsmith Mitch Murray; no. 1 USA two years later), 'You Were Made For Me' (by Murray), 'I Understand' (cover of a ten-year-old Four Tunes song). The group appeared in films What A Crazy World and Every Day's A Holiday '63-4; toured the USA and profited from the British Invasion with two labels issuing their stuff (a USA-only hit was dance number 'Do The Freddie'). The hits ran out in 65 and the group split in the early '70s. Garrity and Birrell starred in children's TV series Little Big Time; Garrity worked cabaret circuits with new lineups. |