Crickets backing Everlys - when?

[RayL]

Here's a cropped screen grab from the Rock'n'Roll America Part 2 programme on BBC4 July 10th.

Everlys Crickets_1.bmp

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It's from the section about the Everly Brothers, but look who they have as a backing band - that's Joe B Maudlin on bass, jerry Allison on drums and Sonny Curtis on guitar - in other words, The Crickets.

The particular TV performance has them being introduced by Alma Cogan. If the intro and the performance are indeed from the same UK show, when would that have been? Obviously early '60s, but why were The Crickets (still a big name in the UK) acting as an anonymous backing band for The Everlys?

[John Boyd]

Hello Ray,
Greetings from NZ.
The Everly Brothers headlined a package tour of the UK in 1960 which also featured The Crickets.
I presume this TV show was recorded at that time. There is a video clip available on the internet which
has them singing Bird Dog and Till Kissed You.
Cheers,
JB

[JimN]

I agree with John.

The line-up of The Crickets is always a good clue, and this line-up (plus one) toured the UK in 1962 (Don't Ever Change).

The fact that Alma Cogan did the introduction is proof, were it needed, that this was a UK television programme, and it was probably the BBC (none of the mainstream ITV companies of the day, with the exception of ABC, had enough real interest in pop music to run this programme, and Alma was always a BBC person in any case. True, later, Rediffusion did RSG, and ABC did TYLS from 1961-1966, but pop music spectaculars? Nah...

What surprised me even more was the footage of Buddy and The Crickets (well, two of 'em) on what has to be the BBC's "Off The Record" programme in 1958. I had no idea that any of that programme survived.

[JimN]

Just watching the Memphis sequence in the first episode. Intrigued by the use of Canteloube's Songs Of The Auvergne as the background music!

[Twang46]

Interesting backstage tour pic from 1958
The Everly's are seated center with backs to the camera

Dick.

[John Boyd]

It's the Kiwi again !
Check out this link for the video clip of the songs I mentioned earlier.

http://www.bpfallon.com/2014/01/bp-fall ... -brothers/

The picture quality isn't great (it's from a telerecording or 'kine') but the harmonies are as always, sublime.
Cheers,
JB

[cockroach]

From what I have read, and video and photos I've seen, Buddy and the Crickets were good mates with the Everly Brothers, with whom they often toured.

On a number of occasions, when the Everlys were short of a backing group, Buddy evidently said- no problem, we'll play with you guys, or words to that effect!

Most of the classic '50's rock greats evidently knew each other well and toured and raised hell together on tour!

Personally, The Everlys being backed by The Crickets is what I consider a REAL supergroup!

[RayL]

Thanks for all your (very swift) replies.

The 'Interesting backstage tour pic from 1958' is fascinating. If Don and Phil have their backs to the camera and Jerry and Buddy are next to the Cola machine and Duane is on the extreme right, who is the guy seated in the centre wearing glasses? Al Casey?

[Allclaphands]

image.jpg (19.64 KiB) Viewed 11900 times

Thanks for all your (very swift) replies.

The 'Interesting backstage tour pic from 1958' is fascinating. If Don and Phil have their backs to the camera and Jerry and Buddy are next to the Cola machine and Duane is on the extreme right, who is the guy seated in the centre wearing glasses? Al Casey?

It's Niki Sullivan
Niki Sullivan was an American rock and roll guitar player, born in South Gate, California. He was one of the three original members of Buddy Holly's backing band, The Crickets.

Thanks to Twang46 (Dick) for posting the backstage tour picture.
Pete

[RayL]

It's Niki Sullivan Pete

Sorry, Pete, not convinced. Here's a different shot of Al Casey. There are a lot of similarities.

Al Casey.JPG

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In addition, Niki Sullivan left The Crickets at the end of 1957, so it is unlikely that he would be backstage with them in 1958. By contrast, Al was a member of The Rebels so with Duane there it is not unreasonable to expect Al to be there.