The ShadowMusic Web Community

For Christmas, I was given a great cd called Those Hofner Players. One or two of the names
brought back memories of a programme broadcast on BBC radio probably late fifties
called 'Guitar Club' I was lucky enough to get audience tickets for one show although the memory has faded after all those years.
I was wondering if anyone else remembers it.

Hi. I've got an old Guitar Club EP somewhere, featuring - if memory serves! - Ken Sykora and Ike Isaacs. Cover photo of Ken smoking a pipe! Quite primitive compared to Barney Kessel, Johnny Smith etc. from America - but rather nice, nonetheless.

The first time I ever encountered the name of Ken Sykora was about 55 years ago, as the sleeve note author for a Django Reinhardt LP.

I'd known of Ike Isaacs a few years longer than that. He used to have a Light Programme radio show with Val Doonican and he had written The Rumble for The Shadows. His little band even played The Rumble on that show.

I remember seeing Ken Sykora on TV playing jazz guitar. No recollection of the programme nor what he played. I was struck by the guitar and by his name, like Kia Ora but not. That was a very long time ago.

Years later when I lived in Glasgow he did a regular music and chat programme on Radio Clyde. He was rather good at it.

Thanks for all your posts. Brings back memories. I did attend a live recording of the broadcast. however, it being almost seventy years ago the memories are
somewhat faded. I did have the two recordings and as I remember the discs looked like 45rpm but played at a different speed. They were almost saucer-like in thickness and the catchy guitar club theme was included, I'm not sure now whether it was Ike or Ken that played it. It was indeed a wonderful experience for a young guitarist struggling with the chords on an acoustic guitar with dreadfully high action. ( My first guitar from Bell Music Surbiton Surrey, on the drip ) Inspired by the advert to play the guitar in a day. Wonder if that was the inspiration for Bert's book.
Thanks again for your interesting posts

Norman

Here's some detail of the three Ken Sykora Guitar Club EPs, issued in 1957 by Saga Records, from the 45cat site...

https://www.45cat.com/record/esag7001

https://www.45cat.com/record/esag7002

https://www.45cat.com/record/esag7003

Bill

Just found: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLNBdutoYm-VYvqlcrnHuyuHkp5XMwP6UE

brilliant, ta Jim