Joey`s Song

[Derek Mowbray]

If you see an advert on television advertising Sellotape,you will hear an instrumental called Joey`s Song played in the background .This was recorded in 1958 by Bill Haley and his Comets and featured Franny Beecher on lead guitar a very much underated guitarist not cited as an early influence of other present day guitar heroes. He was still playing with the Original Comets into his eighties ,not sure if he is still alive or still playing . Check out the album Strictly Instrumental to here some great guitar playing.

[RayL]

Frank Beecher - a great guitar player, and a modest man.

Here is his autograph, given to me in 1993 when he toured the UK with Bill Haley's Comets (Frank is top left in the picture). Note how he signs himself 'Franny Beecher Guitar', making no assumption that people would know that he was a famous guitar player.

Frank Beecher.JPG

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I believe that Frank is still enjoying his retirement.

Incidentally, that show also featured The Rapiers, Charlie Gracie and Freddie 'Fingers' Lee - quite a lineup!

Ray

[Derek Mowbray]

Thank you for your reply Ray, one of the biggest regrets of my life is that I never got to see Bill Haley or The Comets performing live. As a twelve year old schoolboy living in London in 1957 I was on my way home from school and as I passed over the railway line I peered over the bridge and saw The Bill Haley Special heading towards Waterloo Station ,I was far too young to go to any of his concerts. Looking on U tube I saw a clip of Franny and another former Comet Johnny Kay jamming together ,they were in the Comets together for a while before Franny left The Comets for family reasons,he will be 89 years old now and I don`t blame him for retiring .I think his tune Goofing Around must go down as one of the finest guitar instrumentals of all time