Nero Musical Frrnrems-March13, 1959. IN THIS ISSUE: LONNIE JOHNNIE EXTRA 4 -PAGE SUPPLEMENT ON DONEGAN RAY No.635 EVERY FRIDAY1.1:1('E6d. March13,1959 Registered at the G.R.0 as a Newspaper JANE MORGAN'S IFI COULD LIVE MY MAX LIFE AGAIN BYGRAVES BILLY FURY'S THE MUSICAL BARRY SISTERS Napoli Napoli MAYBE LITTLE TOMORROW BOY BLUE EXPRESS F 11119 15,78 THE PETER. MAURICE MUSIC CO. LTD. 21 Denmark Street, London, W.C.2 TEM 3856 WORLD'S LARGEST SALE-ABC certified figures TOP' RANK TOP RANK is the label to watch ! TOP RANK presents thetops in pops from the big namesand the new names. This week two exciting newcomers bring you two great couplings. America'sSHEILA BUXTON queen of the big THIS WEEK'S beat, Dotty Fred- New erick, with some swinging rock... Releases And Tony Hatch playing some really DOTTY FREDERICK stylish piano with RICKY coupled with JUST WAIT JAR 106 (45 & 78) smooth instrumental backingand first rate arrangements. A n d LOOK OUTforthe first issues by TOP RANK'S outstanding contract stars -SHEI LA BUXTON, JOHNNY DANKWORTH, DICKIE HENDERSON, and many more-in yourshopJOHNNYDANKWORTH soon. There'll be singles aplenty and a terrific pro- grammeofgreatEPsand LPs from British and American artistesinallcategories. Yes-TOP RANK is the label to watch! TONY HATCH CHICK coupled with SIDE SADDLE JAR 107 (45 & 78) HARRY SIMEONE'SCHORALE THE KNIGHTSBRIDGE BRASS The Little Drummer Boy lo Sono 11 Vento (For you my lover) BALLAD Die Lorelei JAR101 (45 & 78) Italian Blu JAR 104 (45 & 78) THE BELL NOTES AN OUTSTANDING PROGRAMME OF I've Had it BRITISH AND AMERICAN E.P. and L.P. ROCK Be Mine JAR 102 (45 & 78) RECORDINGS -WATCH FOR DETAILS DICKIE HENDERSON 2 NEW MUSICAL EXPRESS Friday. March 13, 1959 HARRY SIMEONE'S 'DIFFERENT' SOUND PROMOTES Oh Boy THERE is no doubt that the Top Rank disc concern is rapidly developing into a major force in the recording industry. And when they have fully established themselves NEW LABEL TO MAJOR FORCE as one of this country's major recording companies, as the first time ever that a new British recordlabel has appeared inthe IT'S seems inevitable, they will surely regard the foundation Top Twenty with its very first fecord release. Although a newcomer to the record lists, Harry Simeone has been stone of their success as...Harry Simeone. a musical hackroom-boy for many years, having been stall arranger Why should this hitherto -unknown artist create such an impact to the Columbia Broadcasting System, Fred Waring and the Pennsyl- Well, of course, we mustn't ignore the vanians, and Paramount Pictures -in that order. MARVELVIS. upon the British public? He comes from Newark in New Jersey, which is also the birthplace fact that, this being the first release, Top Rank launched an in- of Connie Francis -though Harry would be the first to admit that their tensive publicity campaign on Harry's "Little Drummer Boydisc. childhood days did not coincide. To he exact, Harry was horn in 1911! What's more, it had the advantage (with which all issues on this label are blessed) of being played in all Rank cinemas throughout the country. The Pennsylvanians But this alone was not sufficient. The record itself had to he saleable. After graduating from the Julliard School of Music, he immediately And that's precisely what it turned out to he. Because " Little Drummer joined CBS, and remained there until bandleader Fred Waring recog- Boy " has adifferent sound -a strangelyhaunting and captivating nised the worth ofhis arrangements in1939, and took him onto his charm, strong enough evento shake theStates out of theirover- permanent staff. whelming rock mentality. Many of the Waring records issued in this country. during the 1939- 45 period flowed- from Harry's pen. He has also composed several THE numbers, althoughI can only trace one on record inthis country - called " Drugstore Cowboy." itis included on Fred Waring's " For Strong competition Listening Only " Brunswick L.P. AcrosstheAtlantic,the Simeone discroseto No. 13 inthe When he moved to Paramount, he worked in conjunction with the " Billboard " charts, and a few weeks later attained a similar position late Victor Young. on such pictures as " Here Come The Waves," over here. Further proof to the contention that Britain is more melody - HARRY SIMEONE " The Affairs Of Susan,"- and the Bing Crosby -Bob Hope "Road" conscious than America is the fact that two other versions of the song series. have found their way into the NME Charts. For the past seven years, Harry has been both arranger and con- The Beverley Sisters' version has just topped Simeone's in popular ductor for a popular weekly American TV show, called " The Firestone appeal, which is not surprising when one considers the affection in Hour." This keeps him well occupied, though he does also manage to LUCK which the singing sisters are held here. arrange for various other radio and TV shows. Despite that, the achievement of Harry Simeone in reaching No. 13 JOHNNIE And although his name is completely new on the British scene, the in Britainisreally amazing -more so, when one realises that thisis very fact that over seven million copies of his own compositions and arrangements have been sold in America shows that he is by no means a novice. If he maintains the standard of his present hit, the " Little Drummer RACODIANT Boy " could be the forerunner of a whole procession of Harry Simeone hit recordings. BOYISH Johnnie R a y RING breezed onto the Londonpassionate summing up of the many complete without his " Little White stage again on Monday andfacets of his emotion. Johnnie gave Cloud That Cried " and " Cry "- ithisalland madeitpowerful and they came next, Johnnie sitting for the seventh time completelylistening. Next, more drama in " With down at the piano for the first time WITH won over his audience. These Hands," and his twelfth song during these numbers. It happened at London's Palacespeeded up the pace with Up Above Hisfinalnumber was,again as Theatre, where Johnnie is playingMy Head." usual," Going To Walk And Talk Johnnie, as ever, paid a handsomeWith My Lord," the jubilee revival for a fortnight. Although mid -acttribute to the orchestra -this time onnumber working tipto an exciting THE screams weremissing,theRaythe stage with him and conducted byclimax. favourite tunes were still there-HaroldCollins.Another round of Johnnie is still the great showman, for Johnnie has only added twoapplausewenttoHermanKapp,usinghislean,eleganthands,his new numberstohisrepertoireJohnnie's MD, who plays drums forboyishfigure,hisunsteady legsto sincelastwe saw himinthehim byspecialpermissionofthemaximum effect. Flowers were strewn capital. Musicians' Union.Kappy, as he isat his feet from front row girls and But no matter. The fansstillcalled, beat out a mean rhythm andfive girls in a box, who threw neck- applauded loudly for the now well -set the tempo for the orchestra andlaces of pink blooms down to him. tried repertoire. Johnnie alike. Johnnielaughed andmurmured: ELVIS He opened with" Who's Sorry No Ray performances would be" This is a flower show " I A.E. Now ?," a lively choice and a nice compliment to the outgoing starat the Palace -Connie Francis. " Shake A Hand "is an old favourite and SUNDAY AFTN. Royal Festival (Week commencing March 16) the fast-tempoed gospel song created DAVID WHITFIELD, ALMA COGAN much excitement and got the crowd P1'TULA CLARK. ROY CASTLE Glasgow Empire. in the mood for the next effort by MARCH29at3 Hall MAT 3191) Southampton Gaumont. MURRAY CAMPBELL, the slimJohnnie-" WalkingMy PRESLEYMICHAEL HOLLIDAY AUI)REY JEANS, TINO VALDI Belfast Opera House. Finsbury Park Empire. Baby Back Home," another Ray old MARINO MARINI QUARTET, timer. JOAN REGAN ORESTE KIRKOP New to his act is "It's All In The SEMPRINI Shrewsbury Granada. Leeds Empire. Game," sung with great sincerity and AND JACKIE DENNIS CONNIE FRANCIS, FRANK WEIR Liverpool Empire. power, and a big new winner for him. London Metropolitan. hand -clapper," Yes To- PHOTO TOMMY STEELE, YANA CHARLIE DRAKE, Nextthe London Coliseum EDMUND HOCKRIDGE, yight , Josephine,"followedbyhis GEORGE MELACHRINO BILLY DANIELS BERNARD BRESSLAW evergreen " Walking In The Rain." & HIS ORCHESTRA featuring THE MELACHRINO STRINGS Manchester Hippodrome. London Palladium. Changingthemood,hewent IN APROGRAMME OF WELL -LOVED FAVOURITES INCLUDING RUBY MURRAY, GARY MILLER TONI MILLI, TRACY SISTERS gaywith "SomebodyStole My BirminghamHippodrome. Chiswick Empire. Gal," and then probably his most THE WARSAW CONCERTO dramatic number-" All The Way." Concert Management WILFRID VAN WYCK LTD. It was evident by thistimethat 5/-, 7/6, 10/-,12/6. Now on sale,Festival Hall and all Agents. Johnnie works as hard as ever and YOU CAN'T the perspiration was dripping off his face. He still wore that strained ex- * VOCAL DIRECTORY * SUNDAY WEDNESDAY pression at -times, changingitina 6 Beaver Club; 6.15 Serenade; 6.45 6 Non -Stop Pops; 6.30 Wednesday'stwinkling to oneaot'boyish hallpihess. 1.11E****** * , BUY IT Accordion Time; 7 Juke Box; 7.30 TheRequests; S Liberace; 8.30 First Time He still fumbled for words, and Round; 9 Embassy Double Top; 9.15 once or twice lost the beat. King Brothers Show; 7.45 Teddy John-I Remember When; 9.45 Favourites Old son and Pearl Carr; 8 Frank Sinatra;and New; 10 Pete Murray; 11 Back To A new number to Johnnie's pro- KEYNOTES I * 8.30 Take Your Pick; 9 Ward Sister; gramme camenext-" Love," the STARGAZERSZERS I ANYWHERE 9.30 This I Believe; 10 Record Rendez-The Bible; 11.30 The Hour Of Decision. vous;10.30 Woodbine Quiz Time;11THURSDAY Top Twenty. 6 Non -Stop Pops;6.30Thursday's Requests;7.45RecordHop; 8The Bristol Club; 8.30 Lucky Number; ALMA COGAN 1DAVID WHITFIELD 11111 it's MONDAY Song Parade; 9.15 This Week's Top c/o SIDNEY GRACE e/o LEW &1.EsimeGRADE 6 Non -StopPops;6.30Monday'sDiscs; 9.45 George Gershwin; 10It's 235, Regent Street, W.I.