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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 ZSWINGING BLUE JEANSBeat group formed '57 in Liverpool as skifflers the Bluegenes: guitarist Ray Ennis (b 26 May '42), Les Braid (b 15 Sep. '41) on bass, Norman Kuhlke (b 17 June '42) on drums, Paul Moss on banjo replaced '60 by Ralph Ellis (b 8 March '42). Played in Hamburg and at the Cavern, where their guest nights billed the Searchers, Beatles, Gerry And The Pacemakers etc. They had hits on HMV of which biggest was cover of USA hit "Hippy Hippy Shake' (no. 2 '64), but like many contemporaries they suffered from lack of original material and (fans say) never adequately captured their live act on record. They continued into the '80s as a cabaret act, Braid moving to organ to make room for Mike Gregory on bass '67, Ellis replaced by Terry Sylvester '68 (both newcomers ex-Escorts), Gregory replaced '70 by Billy Kinsley (ex- Merseybeats); Sylvester went on to Manchester's Hollies and further changes ensued, Braid and Ennis enduring. |