JON DEREK...The Legendary British Country Music Singer
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JON DEREK Mark Derek pays tribute to his father - one of British country music’s pioneers and best known individuals - Jon Derek, who sadly passed away in October this year, aged 70. Diagnosed with lung cancer just months before, Jon failed to recover from an operation to remove a tumour on one his lungs. All photos supplied by Mark Derek and credited where known This page clockwise from top left: Johnny And The Hayriders (Jim Reeves Tour 1963 - Brize Norton) Country Fever (1969) Jamie, Jon & Jerry (1967) Courtesy of “Jon and I had a great friendship and I think the music speaks Decca Jon Derek (1991) for itself. His talent certainly stood out - he was the real deal.” Slim Whitman & Jon Derek (on tour 1976) ALBERT LEE Mark says, “Tributes poured in from a Club hosted by Brian Matthew - and Carl Perkins and Hank Locklin. television appearances and radio number of friends, fans and associates Jon Derek became the first British The band had secured a contract broadcasts. all over the world when the news country music artist to perform in in London with pub chain Fullers, The following year Jerry Hogan broke of my father’s passing. It soon stereo for the BBC in 1962. playing a circuit of weekly venues decided to take a break from gigging became apparent just how greatly The popularity of this band made consisting of The Clarendon in to return to university and it was then admired, loved and respected he was. Jon give up any original ambitions Hammersmith, The Nashville Rooms that Jon Derek and Albert Lee went Let’s look back on an illustrious career of becoming an architect, for he in Kensington, The Red Cow in on to form Country Fever in 1968 - that spanned six decades and one in went on to join the Jim Reeves Brentford and The Red Lion in the original line-up consisting of Jon which influenced so many other artists tour in 1963, and then turned ‘Pro’ Greenford. Derek, Albert Lee, Pat Donaldson along the way.” in 1964. After signing with a top Chas Hodges and Dave Peacock and Jed Kelly. Jon was the driving Where did it all begin? Jon always impresario, they were now known as would invariably turn up to see them. force behind the band as he had the claimed in his childhood days in The Flintlocks and in 1966 released a It was in fact Chas & Dave who told a contacts and secured the work. Wiltshire where his parents moved single on Decca Records... a Lennon/ certain guitarist friend to, “come down In 1969 they were invited to join the to from their home in Harlech, North McCartney composition entitled and see ’em, Albert - they’re a good RCA tour with Chet Atkins, George Wales. Both his mother and father What Goes On, recorded in the style country band!” It wasn’t long before Hamilton IV, Skeeter Davis, Connie loved the early music of Gene Autrey, of Buck Owens. After hearing this they acquired the talents of Albert Smith, Nat Stuckey and Bobby Jimmie Rodgers and Hank Williams. song, Chet Atkins personally invited Lee who would often sit in whenever Bare which included a UK date at the Jon was at college during the Skiffle them to his Starday Sound Studios he could. Royal Albert Hall and appearances in appearances which also included Their busy schedule continued, period of the mid-fifties and it was in Nashville, Tennessee, where they Albert was recently quoted to have Germany, Holland, Denmark, Finland, backing Don Gibson, and later that backing further star names in the years then that he learned to play guitar and recorded three tracks. Their manager, said, “I had always loved Country Sweden and Norway. As well as year, they supported Slim Whitman that followed such as Johnny Cash, vocalise with his friends in a college Don Arden (who at the time also Music from my early days but it was having their own spot on the show, on a nationwide tour. Charley Pride, Anne Murray, Del group called the Kool Kats. After managed the Small Faces and the a revelation to discover Jamie, Jon they also backed Connie Smith and Another album release, A New Reeves, and Wanda Jackson, plus winning a Radio Luxembourg talent Nashville Teens), was trying to & Jerry playing in Hammersmith in Nat Stuckey. Dimension, came just months after extensive tours with Jerry Lee Lewis, show, Jon met up with Jerry Hogan turn them into another Bachelors 1966. Here was Jon doing what I The same year they also embarked Albert Lee left the band to concentrate George Hamilton IV and Marvin and Gordon Huntley and in 1958 and decided to change their name to wanted to do.” on tours with Rose Maddox, Jody on ever-increasing demands for studio Rainwater (with whom they recorded they formed The Black Stetson Boys, Jamie, Jon & Jerry (Jamie Gunn, When bass player Jamie Gunn Miller, Hank Locklin and Guy session work. A never ending change an album in 1972 entitled Marvin which later became Johnny And Jon Derek & Jerry Hogan). decided to leave the group to pursue Mitchell. of top talented musicians continued Rainwater Gets Country Fever). The Hayriders. They were mainly They went on to record three more a solo career, so as not to let agents In 1970, they recorded two albums; to pass through this legendary Country Fever became the most playing American Air Force bases but singles for Decca in 1967 (one of and promoters down, The Jon Derek Mountain Music Jamboree and the group including Roger Dean, Pete sought-after group on the British they also broadcasted regularly for the which was produced by the legendary Band was put together for a short highly acclaimed Listen To The Oakman, Malcolm Hammerston, country music scene. They could BBC in such network programmes as Dick Rowe) and they toured with while, mainly to work as backing Country Fever. They also made Adrian Legg, Graham Walker, Rod often be heard on BBC Radio in such Easy Beat’Country Time and Saturday such artists as Clodagh Rodgers, musicians for Clodagh Rodgers on their first of many Wembley Festival Clarke and Brian Golbey. programmes as Country Meets Folk, 58 COUNTRY MUSIC PEOPLE - DECEMBER 2011 DECEMBER 2011 - COUNTRY MUSIC PEOPLE 59 Clockwise from top left: Jon Derek (1989) Photo: Roger Sealy Marty Robbins & Jon Derek (Wembley 1981) Photo: Graham Barker The Terry Wogan Show, Country George Hamilton IV & Jon Derek (1972) Style and The Jimmy Young Show Photo: Gill Wilkins and television appearances included Walk Right In, Colour Me Pop, Late brought Jon some overseas success Night Line-Up, Sing Country and The - both songs reached No.1 in the George Hamilton IV Show. Maltese charts! Even Don Williams Then, in 1974, Jon decided the apparently told Jon what a great job time was right for him to go solo. he had made of his song Rivers when This proved to be the right decision they were sat together on a flight to as he began to get the recognition some European destination just after a he so richly deserved. Occasionally ‘Wembley Festival.’ Country Fever would reassemble Jon later reformed Country Fever if the money was right or if a major and throughout the 1980s they show or tour was involved. remained one of the most popular and Jon found himself busier than hardest working bands on the club and ever over the next few years making festival circuit. Tours with good friend countless personal appearances at Marvin Rainwater were a common venues up and down the British occurrence and they also backed Hank reasons for making this decision. He Isles. He also recorded a further four Locklin on another visit to the UK, as would leave a lasting legacy though albums, Songs I Have Written… well as Barbara Fairchild. - his pedigree was second to none, With A Little Help From My Friends, Furthermore, his 1981 self-penned having won a number of awards over The Country Music Trail and two single release, Hey Duke You Got the years and shared the stage with live albums, one for Decca Records True Grit (written as a tribute to a plethora of superstars, Jon played and another with Sir Jimmy Saville John Wayne) was very well-received just about every theatre in the UK recorded at the famous Broadmoor and his 1984 release, Goin’ Back including two appearances at the Hospital. Furthermore, he toured (celebrating Jon’s 21st anniversary Royal Albert Hall, five at the London once again with Marvin Rainwater as a professional artist) became the Palladium and numerous appearances and, in 1976 with Slim Whitman on a fastest selling British country music at the Wembley International Festivals gruelling 32-date UK tour. album of its time and included the six of Country Music. He also toured 1977 was a real turning point for tracks recorded some years earlier in Europe on several occasions. Stir in Jon. He collaborated with Decca the Decca studios. a string of major album and single Records once again and recorded In 1991 and, after 33 years on releases and it’s no wonder why Jon six tracks for them, two of which the road, Jon decided to semi-retire Derek will always be regarded as were released on a double A-sided from live performing stating that he probably the hottest singing property single - Till The Rivers All Run Dry would only be available for selected that Britain has ever produced in the and Makin’ Believe. The popularity dates from now on. This came as a realms of country music.