The Dolphin Bar

2011-07-19T14:32:00.000-07:00

I just came across the very first "South River Country", a rag reporting on the country music scene of London during the early 1970's. Contributing writers.. Ian Franks.. editor, Mick Shepherd and Bill Neille.
Some of the popular bands in London at that time, were "The Colin Hindmarsh Trio, The Kingpins, The Jonny Young Four and of course, The Country Pie". It's sad that Jimmy Rose passed away in February of this year. He is missed.

2011-03-26T16:27:00.000-07:00

I'm appearing at a house concert in Austin, Texas on Wednesday, April, 13th at the house of Daren Appelt. After appearing over most of the country and also Europe, this is my premier appearance in Austin, the musical capital of the world. Come on out and join me.
Here is Daren's info:
Daren Appelt
3800 Mia Tia Circle
Austin, TX 78731
512-346-6944

CD's by Philip John Brooks

2011-01-20T10:28:00.000-08:00

My music is available from CD Baby. The music of Philip John Brooks

Check it out. You can listen before you buy. Thanks.

Phil Brooks at the Iron Horse Saloon, Alliance, Nebraska.

2011-01-19T16:13:00.000-08:00

During the late 70's and early 80's I performed at the Iron Horse Saloon in Alliance, Nebraska. I recently came across a video that was made of me performing there around 1981. The quality isn't so great since it was recorded on VHS, but it does show the Iron Horse during it's heyday.
Phil Brooks at the Iron Horse, Alliance, Nebraska
Check it out.

Performing in Texas

2010-05-16T11:15:00.000-07:00

Another busy week coming up.
Wednesday, May 19th The Ranch Steakhouse in Cedar Hill, Texas
Thursday, May 20th The Ranch Steakhouse in Cedar Hill, Texas
Friday, May 21st Private party in DeSoto, Texas
Saturday, May 22nd Willie Nelson's Blue Skies Cafe, Carl's Corner,Texas

The New Studio.

2010-01-18T19:14:00.000-08:00

I'm in the process of setting up my new studio. The Audio desk arrived today.
I'm hoping to record my guitars and vocals at home, then take the files to Nashville to add the other musicians. mix and then master the next album.

Dancing Through Time

2010-01-05T06:35:00.000-08:00

My fourth solo album is finally here. It contains two duets with Gabrielle Louise, a new version of "Country Girl" first recorded in 1971, "Harbour Town" written in 1987, plus a bunch of brand new songs. Once more I went back to Omnisound Studios in Nashville and and would like to thank Steve Tveit and Stoker White for their help. Also thanks to musicians Dennis Wage, Dow Tomlin and Wayne Killius.
Dancing Through Time is now available from CDBaby. Please click on the title to listen to the tracks.

Willie's Place, Carl's Corner, Texas.

2009-03-10T17:34:00.000-07:00

On April, 3rd and 4th I'm appearing at Willie Nelson's new venue at Carl's Corner, Texas.
It's located on I-35 east, around 45 miles south of Dallas. If you're in the area, please stop by. Starting time is around 6:00PM.

Look for Willie's Place on the west side of I-35 east.

Land Rover

2008-10-28T20:22:00.000-07:00

I just recorded a video of a song about my prized 1961 Land Rover series two. Click on the title of this posting and it will send you to the site.
Fall is here in northeast Georgia and the leaves are beautiful.
Hope everyone is well. I'm hoping to get home soon, Philip

The Builders of Marsh Mill

2008-08-28T10:07:00.000-07:00

I had a post a while back about Marsh Mill in Thornton that featured a photograph taken by Pete Skinner of Blackpool. Last week I recorded a video using my song about Marsh Mill. It's on "youtube" and can be accessed by clicking on the title of this post. Please check it out, Philip

P.S. Thanks to Tamara and Pat for all your encouragement.

England Trip

2008-08-11T08:24:00.000-07:00

Just recently I was contacted by cousins from New Zealand and Scotland and suddenly I feel the need to spend some time in England. I have friends to see in Cleveleys, Fleetwood and Blackpool. I have an uncle in Lowestoft, plus my brother and sister and their families. I may also take a trip to New Zealand, something I had always planned to do but never followed up on.
In the meantime I am staying busy with quite a few new venues in my schedule.
You can access my website by clicking on the link. My bookings are listed under
"upcoming".

www.philipjohnbrooks.com

The Dolphin Bar

2008-08-10T15:14:00.000-07:00

I have just posted a video of the song "The Dolphin Bar" on you tube. You can access it by tapping on the title of this posting.

Canyon Road

2008-04-10T15:32:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone in the Fylde and other parts of the U.K. Well at last the new album is here. This is the second New Mexico album and features some of my favourite musicians including Glen Duncan fiddle, Charlie McCoy harmonica, Dennis Wage piano, Dow Tomlin bass, Wayne Killius drums, and Scotty Sanders on steel guitar. It includes songs about the D.H. Lawrence ranch in Taos and a song about Edward Abbey and how his friends handled his demise. This album was recorded at Omnisound Studios in Nashville, Tennessee. It will soon be available from CDbaby, I-tunes, and a host of other web music sites.

Tap on the title of this blog to see the "Canyon Road" video.

I am working on a second English folk album and have about half of the songs written. Hopefully before the end of the year I will have it ready. More soon......

A Very Happy New Year to all

2007-12-31T20:52:00.000-08:00

I want to wish all my friends and family in England a Happy and Prosperous New Year. I keep trying to come over for a visit but scheduling always seems to get in the way. On January, 1st I'm going to Nashville to record the next album.

A BIG HELLO to Jimmy and Sandy, also to Bill Robinson from the Dolphin Bar. We had some great times there, especially at Christmas and New Year. Hope to see you all soon....

Omnisound Studios, Nashville, Tennessee

2007-11-29T18:29:00.000-08:00

Recently I have spent a lot of my time writing new songs and have a bunch completed. My next recording project will occur during the first part of January, 2008. I will be going to Omnisound studios in Nashville, Tennesse to record my second album of southwest songs. All this is very exciting because I have had one of my recordings (The St. James hotel) included in a compilation CD released on the 13th, November, 2007 on Revolution Records in Taos, New Mexico. The album title is "Songs of New Mexico"
The project after this will be a beach music album that will include songs of Savannah and Hilton Head, South Carolina.
While all this writing has been going on I have completed about six songs that will, sometime in the future make up part of a new English folk album.
I wish all my friends in England a great holiday season and hope to see you sometime in the new year.

Dene Hunter of the Trackers

2007-09-12T14:32:00.000-07:00

You may remember I wrote about Dene Hunter about 18 months ago. This week I was contacted by Roger Slee from New Zealand. Roger is also known as Dene Hunter. Yes he emigrated to N.Z. in the early sixties, did some recording and performed for several years before retiring from the music business. I remember the performances at the Queens Theatre (above the Dolphin Bar) quite vividly. Roger, glad to know you're happy and well. Please keep in touch and if you have any photo's you'd like to post here, please send them to me. pjbrooks@alltel.net . Thanks, Philip

Old friends and aquaintances

2007-08-14T13:44:00.000-07:00

This past week was an exciting week that included talking with Jimmy Rose, Bill Robinson, who was the manager of the Dolphin Bar, also a surprise e-mail from a lady in Canada who used to work at the Dolphin until she emigrated early in 1969. Everyone agreed that they were really good times.

Marsh Mill Thornton-Cleveleys

2007-04-05T18:25:00.000-07:00

Marsh Mill in Thornton is a treasure. I remember looking up at the sails as I rode by it on my BSA bicycle peddling to Church Rd School. It has quite a history. Besides being a mill, it has also housed a tea room, a boy scout troop and a museum.
My song on the Fishermen of Fleetwood album tells part of the story of Marsh mill but there is also much more information available on the internet. If you find yourself in the Fylde, take the time to see the mill. You won't be disappointed.
I appreciate Pete Skinner of Blackpool allowing me to use his photograph. Thanks Pete, hope to see you in October.
www.philipjohnbrooks.com

Thornton Rugby Club, circa 1965

2007-03-29T10:57:00.000-07:00

This is the bluebeats taken after the show at the Thornton Rugby club, circa 1965.
Left to right...
Stewart Layton....drums,
Phil (me)... lead guitar,
Graham Snellgrove...bass guitar,
Harry Dunn... lead vocals and rhythm guitar. It was obviously a good night for we all look very tired. Check out the fancy powder blue suits with dark blue velvet collars.

The Red Falcon, trawler

2007-03-28T09:10:00.000-07:00

I was in my library and found a photograph of the Red Falcon trawler taken by Peter Horsley of Fleetwood. It was the subject of a song on my Fishermen of Fleetwood album. The photo is copyrighted so I can't post it here, but click on the following site for more info.

http://www.fleetwood-trawlers.connectfree.co.uk/falcon.html

I remember vividly the loss of the trawler because one of my neighbours in Broadwaters was a member of the crew. I was compelled to write this song and tell the story because of my family's connection with the sea. My father was from Lowestoft, another great fishing town, and when I was growing up we had many of his fishermen friends visit. We would play card games such as "rummy" and "cribbage" and I was always fascinated by the stories that were told of life at sea.
www.philipjohnbrooks.com

Fleetwood Pier 1950's

2007-03-26T15:00:00.000-07:00

I came across this photograph the other day. Here I am with my sister on the promenade near the entrance to Fleetwood Pier. This was taken several years before the catastrophic fire. I don't remember the year, but look at how the lady standing near the door is dressed. The Pier had hundreds of wooden slot machines and after the fire, kids would go under the pier to search for coins. There were plenty of the big pennies to be found. www.philipjohnbrooks.com

www.philipjohnbrooks.com The all new website

2007-03-15T11:00:00.000-07:00

I have finally enabled the new website. The address is the same www.philipjohnbrooks.com I think it is a great improvement. Check it out ... I want to thank you John for all your help and encouragement. Without you this would have been a long and tedious process. The best part of it all is that I can now update whenever I wish, so look out for updates and news.

Changes

2007-02-06T20:01:00.000-08:00

Hi, I hope you like the new look. Also, I have decided to add more of my years in England to this blog. It seemed like a good idea for the other blog is mostly about my time in America. Watch for photographs of Fleetwood, our summer season in Margate, times in London and maybe some of Broadwaters in Fleetwood. I'm also hoping for more stuff about the Dolphin Bar, so come on Tony, Jim, Pete or anyone else who has something of interest to say or show of our favourite watering hole...

Cleveleys

2006-12-08T08:53:00.000-08:00

In 1969 Jimmy and I did a summer season in Margate, Kent. It was at the Golden Garter Saloon. I remember staying up all night to watch Neil Armstrong walk on the moon. At the end of the season I briefly moved back to Cleveleys, to my old address almost on the seafront. My bedroom was the little window right above the front door. I soon decided to move to London. I never went back to live in Cleveleys, so this is the last place I stayed. The guesthouse was owned by Mrs Heaton and was just two doors down from where I had lived with my parents. Mrs Heaton's daughter and son-in-law had a place in London so I went to live with them. This was in East Dulwich. While here, I heard The Beatles Abbey Rd. album for the first time. I think this year marked the big turning point in my life for I found a job with the Detroits Irish Showband and eventually, a recording contract with Philips Fontana..

At the Dolphin Bar

2006-12-07T14:31:00.000-08:00

It's amazing how many times, when I'm looking for material, that I go back and look at the Dolphin Bar. There were many talented acts with so much original material. I can review that in my mind and sometimes it gives me great ideas of things I can do. Sometimes it's just little guitar tricks that I learned from people like Billy Street. Billy was one of those guitarists who had a way of making everything he did look great.

Speedak, Blackpool

2006-12-03T11:58:00.000-08:00

Here is another Speedak photograph. It was probably taken during the same session as the others. Jimmy is holding his Hofner or Hohner guitar. I don't remember which, but as you can see, it is highly customized. On the body of the guitar you will see the tooled leather. Jimmy did all his own work. This was probably done before the Telecaster owned by Waylon Jennings. On the neck Jimmy put his name. I think I remember him doing this with old pearl buttons that he located. I would have to ask to know for sure. Nevertheless, you can see he is incredibly talented. Sometimes he even made our stage clothes.
This photo is about 38 years old and I'm holding the same Gretsch Chet Atkins guitar that I played last night at the Beef Baron in Baldwin, Georgia. A guitar I have now owned for over 40 years. The sound it produces still amazes me.

Vox Conqueror amplifier

2006-11-12T17:53:00.000-08:00

This was taken in 1968 on the stage of the Dolphin Bar. Not long before, our equipment had been stolen in Sunderland, Co. Durham. My Vox AC.30 was among the articles missing. Jimmy and I drove down to Leeds in Yorkshire to replace it. I had been unable to find another AC.30 (I believe they stopped making them for a while) so I replaced it with this solid state Conqueror. It helped to form the sound of the Country Pie and although it was quite good, I've missed my old amp right up to the present time. In 1972 as I was leaving England, I sold the Conqueror to David Cox, a friend of mine from Hayes, Middlesex. When I first moved to the United States I used a Fender twin. It was a great amp but I'm very pleased to once more own a Vox.
You can see the corner of the Hammond organ behind me. Tommy Bates was the very accomplished player of that instrument.

Living in Bispham.

2006-10-15T16:30:00.000-07:00

During late 1966 and early 1967 my Mom and I lived in Bispham in the apartment on top of the bank. It stood on the seafront right on top of the cliffs. There was a flat roof and a ladder to climb up there. From the top you could look east and see the Pennines, north and see the Lake District, west and see the Isle of Man and south to North Wales. Of course you had to look around the tower. What fabulous views they were. Everyday I would ride the tram to go to work at the Dolphin Bar. I still remember those stiff breezes that would take a person's breath away. The air seemed so fresh. The windows were facing the Irish Sea were almost frosted from the force of the salt air against them. That was a long time ago now but those days will stay with me always.

Idle Working Men's Club

2006-03-16T11:39:00.000-08:00

Jimmy and I were very popular with the visitors from Yorkshire who would come to the Dolphin Bar on daytrips. It was only natural that we would go and visit them.
This is my favourite club name. Idle is a small place right next to Bradford and we always had a great time. After we had finished playing, we always went to the house of our friend David and listened to his collection of 78's. I remember "The river of no return" and "The wheel of fortune". If you click on the photo it should get larger.

2006-03-16T11:21:00.000-08:00

I just came across this poster. Amazing how I keep such fragile things for 38 years.
At some point I had written 1968 on it. I sometimes wonder what happened to all the entertainers I once knew. Maybe someone out there knows.

London 1971.

2006-03-12T19:29:00.000-08:00

This photo was taken in our friend Joan's flat in
Barnes, London. Joan was an assistant to the producer for the B.B.C. and managed to take us to see Andre Previn in rehearsal and show us the "Z-cars" set. She also worked on "All Creatures great and small" and "Doctor Who" just to name a few. I also saw my first synthesizer there. It was a monster in size and filled a large room. Jimmy and I had just recently recorded the Country Pie album "By Request". I believe that to be one of the very first albums recorded on "Philips" brand new 8-track machine at the Marble Arch Studio. Arthur Frewen was the producer. Gordon Loughton played bass and Tony Halligan was on drums. That was the Country Pie's lineup for most of it's existence.

Summer 1966

2006-02-05T07:50:00.000-08:00

The summer of 1966 was spent at the Dolphin Bar and was primarily the inspiration for my song of the same name.
One afternoon Jimmy and I were on the promenade and stopped by the upstairs entrance of the theatre. This was above the Dolphin and had become a little snack bar with a few machines in it. All I can remember about this photo is it seems like Eleanor Rigby was being played on the radio. Jimmy probably made the photo.

Last booking of the Country Pie.

2006-01-31T13:21:00.000-08:00

The last booking of the Country Pie was on Whit Sunday 21st, May 1972. It was at the Red Lion in Brentford. I think The Red Lion is now a McDonalds. Oh Well...
On the 22nd I started at the Union Tavern, just up the road from the Chelsea Barracks. We were always full of soldiers rotating in and out of Northern Ireland. I even saw one of our regulars on guard at the Tower of London. I remained at the Tavern, and around London until the 18th, September when I went up to Keighley Variety Club in Yorkshire to do a week's cabaret for Bill Robinson. He of course, was previously the manager of the Dolphin Bar. The very next week I left for Luxemburg and on to the U.S.A. Apart from brief trips and tours, I've been here ever since.

The Jimmy Rose Duo

2006-01-19T17:15:00.000-08:00

This a publicity photograph of Jimmy and I in the autumn of 1968. It was taken by Speedak in blackpool. I think this sitting was the last time we had photo's made.
This was also our last year of touring the north. I think this was also the year we went to see the Temperance Seven perform in Manchester. They are still my favourite band of the era. I can imagine them playing " At the Alvarado".

Jimmy Rose

2006-01-18T19:16:00.000-08:00

I guess I should tell you more about Jimmy Rose. Jimmy is originally from Birmingham. Sally Oak, I think. He started playing at the Dolphin Bar in 1962 and just kinda stayed. I met him soon after that and whenever the bluebeats had a night off I would go and play with Jimmy. We went to Manchester, Blackburn, Burnley and over into Yorkshire. I think it was then I realized that it was much more satisfying to play to listening audiences than to do teenage dances. This went on sporadically until we were offered the season at the Dolphin Bar in 1966. That was the start of the Jimmy Rose duo. We travelled and played all over England and Wales for the next three years intil 1969. At that time we were offered and accepted a summer season at the Golden Garter Saloon in Margate on the south coast. When that was over Jimmy went to London and I went back to Blackpool. We crossed paths again when he went home to Blackpool and I decided to move to London.
I soon got a job in the Detroits, An Irish showband headed by Pat Nolan and enjoyed a brief tour of Ireland. One night we worked in Wimbleden with Hank Locklin,(Please help me I'm falling). What a great voice that man had.
On another occasion we played at the Nashville room in West Kensington. I called Jimmy and told him about the place and suggested we try to get a weeks cabaret there and he agreed. I set it up and we were really well received. The agents name was Ted Poulton and when I asked if he would be willing to book us on the rest of the ciruit he said "yes", but we would need a bass player and a drummer. We found them in short order. Tony Halligan was the drummer and Dave Peacock was the bass player. Now you know the answer to the mystery of several postings back. Thus, the Country Pie was formed. It lasted until around may 1972. I have the exact date of the last booking in one of my diaries.
Soon after that I moved to the United States. Jimmy and I still keep in touch and talk regularly. Sometimes he vists me and sometimes I visit over there, a friendship that has lasted for about 43 years.
Jimmy still plays with a band in blackpool and like me couldn't stop even if he wanted. Jimmy Rose, a great voice and a great entertainer.

Relaxing before the show.

2006-01-09T15:23:00.002-08:00

This is Yvonne and me relaxing in the Dolphin before the show. Circa 1968.

A photo of Brian Rossi, the compere. I've had this card for a long time. I suppose I'm one of those people that tends to hang on to stuff. The internet makes it much easier to store things like photographs.

Now if it was only possible for it to store out of date musical equipment...

The Castle Casino Club

2006-01-01T13:20:00.000-08:00

Many nights after working in the Dolphin, Jimmy and I would go to perform at the Castle Casino Club on the promenade just north of Blackpool.
This photo was on new years eve, 1967, I believe. Jimmy is barely discernable because of the flash from the mirror at the back of the stage. I've no idea who the lady is at the right hand side.
The chef in the kitchen was Hungarian. He fled in the soviet invasion of 1956. I remember seeing him break the shells of four eggs at a time and drop the yokes in the pan without any shell. I was told the building was originally supposed to have been owned by a Frenchman who commited suicide by hanging himself from the balcony. I have no idea if that's true. If anyone can shed any light on that, please do.
In 1967 the club was owned by Jack Pie, a famous wrestler. He and brother, also a wrestler were their own bouncers. Only the foolish would cause any trouble.
Happy 2006.

Solo at the Dolphin

2005-12-22T18:34:00.000-08:00

I'm sure this is Christmas 1968. Hmmm, only 37 years ago.. Not such a long time really. It looks like everyone is having a good time. I see one of the Seeburg cabinets at stage right and also my Vox Conqueror amplifier.
I don't remember why I was there by myself, but I did have Brian Rossi playing the drums and Tommy Bates on the organ, which reminds me of several of Brian's favourite lines......... Tonight I'm sitting here about 3500 miles away, drinking a Newcastle Brown and thinking of the pints of mild I used to enjoy back then.
One night when Jimmy and I drove up I saw a little white mouse crouching and looking terrified right next to the wall. The headlights must have frozen it. I jumped out of the car, picked it up, put it in my top pocket and then went inside. A few minutes later I was talking with some girls when the little creature peeped out to take a look around. I still remember the screams and spilled drinks.. Very funny. It so happened it belonged to Bill Robinson's daughter and she was very relieved to get it back. I have so many fond memories of those days.

Dene Hunter

2005-12-22T08:55:00.000-08:00

I'm sure a lot of people will remember this group.
Dene Hunter is in the front. A good friend of mine is the third person back. Colin Hartley and I went to Church Road School together and we were in the same class.
I think Dene Hunter emigrated to Australia. I've no idea where Colin went. He was a great guitarist by the way. I remember the other two guys, but not their names. If anyone can help me out??

There's a hole in my bucket!!

2005-12-19T15:20:00.000-08:00

This was always a lot of fun. We would ask for a volunteer from the audience and then ask her to sing the female part of the song "there's a hole in my bucket"
Jimmy would sing the male part and I would tell the "volunteer" the wrong words to sing. It was different every time we did it and always quite hilarious. Everyone who ever helped out was great. Unfortunately I don't remember who this was on this occasion, but I think she had already caught on to what was happening.
Actually the funniest one of all was at the Red Lion in Brentford, near London. There our volunteer was a French girl who didn't speak English.

21st birthday

2005-12-18T19:19:00.000-08:00

Do I look embarrassed? Well I was. This was the lunchtime show on my 21st birthday. 1968. The guy in front is David, the head waiter.
I just noticed that Jimmy has a different guitar. I have no idea what kind it is. Does anyone recognise the make? Some of the songs that we performed then would be Rose Marie, Ghost riders, Greenback Dollar and a host of join in, comedy type songs. It's strange how some things we forget, while other things stay so vivid in our memories.

Photo's of the old Dolphin Bar sight.

2005-12-14T18:27:00.000-08:00

It really looks very different than I remember it but this is the new building on the promenade where the Dophin once stood. Progress I suppose..This photo was taken looking north towards Fleetwood. Not more than 50 yards to the left is the Irish Sea.
I can almost taste the salt just looking at these.

These photographs taken and sent courtesy of Pete Skinner of Clansfolk. That's the Penny Black Gig Mobile, illegally parked on the double yellows. What a fine choice in vehicles you have Pete. These pics were taken this very afternoon, wednesday.
Thank you for your contribution to the D.B. saga.

The Country Pie

2005-12-10T08:49:00.000-08:00

The Jimmy Rose Duo eventually became the Country Pie. This pic. was taken at the Red Cow in Hammersmith, London. It was just one venue of about seven or so, that we rotated through, a different place each night and sunday lunch.

Does anyone recognise the guy on bass? On drums is Tony Halligan, someone I met while playing with the Detroits showband. One night while we were playing at the Adam and Eve in Brentford Brian Rossi visited and performed with us. As you can see, back then all we would consider using was Vox amplifiers. If you look at my foot you will see one of the very first pedal boards. I made this one out of plywood and it controlled the volume, tone, Binson echo, wah wah, reverb and tremolo. The Gretsch, I still have and will never part with it. I bought it used in 1965 and I still think it's best instrument I have ever owned.

Photo's from my other blog.

2005-12-09T11:10:00.000-08:00

Since these images pertain to the Dolphin, I thought I would shift them over to the appropriate place.

This is Jimmy, Brian and me with crazy foam.
Remember that stuff?
Jimmy also made Brian's belt.
One day Brian came in limping. He had been horseriding on my girlfriend's horse.When he stepped down, the horse stood on his foot and would not move. He limped around for about three weeks. We used to rent horses and go ride on the beach. What an incredible feeling to gallop along through the waves as they splashed up on the sand.
Every afternoon during the summer, the three of us would go and play "pitch and putt". We found a different course every time. There must be hundreds of them between Fleetwood and Lytham. Those were really good times.

The next is me in the main entrance when I was about 18. I think I can remember this photo being taken. There was almost always a photographer there who walked around taking photo's of anyone willing to pay. After people had downed a few drinks he would get busier.
The "dressing room" was a little broom closet, right next to the side entrance.

An empty space

2005-12-08T09:23:00.000-08:00

Here we are in the parking lot. I have no idea who the jag belonged to. I also see a mini off to the left.
A REAL Mini!!!
I wish I had one of those cars now. Back then we had a Ford Anglia.
You don't see any of those around anymore.

This shows Jimmy standing on the spot where the stage once stood. Now it is occupied by new buildings leaving no indications that the Dolphin was ever there. It could be so windy there and the spray would come over the parking lot in huge sheets. I remember Brian Rossi announcing " would the owner of red Mini licence plate
so & so, please move it, Radio Caroline wants to come by".
Of course, we all remember Radio Caroline don't we?

Comedy

2005-12-06T12:04:00.000-08:00

This is one of my favourite performers at the Dolphin, Dezi Arnold, a very funny man. The last time I saw Dezi was at a newsagents in Cleveleys, near Jimmy's house. He will be missed.

On the right is a photograph of Joey Holliday, another great comedian who performed very often. I believe he became a school teacher. Anyone please correct me if I'm wrong.

My post from a couple of days ago shows a drawing of the Dolphin Bar. If you look carefully at the very front, slightly to the left, you will see Jim Parkinson's wife.
She is very recognisable to anyone who knew her.

I also placed a link to The Del Vykings website. They arrived at the Dolphin around 1969-1970. A fabulous band. They have a great photo taken with Brian Rossi and Brian London. The latter was a good friend of Bill Robinson and a frequent visitor to the Dolphin. He was twice a contender for the European heavyweight boxing championship and is the only man I personally know who fought Cassius Clay. If you look, I believe you will see him right behind Ringo on the Sgt. Pepper album. More to follow.....

The Seahorse Bar

2005-12-05T13:45:00.000-08:00

The Seahorse was the small bar down the passage from the Dolphin. An intimate bar away from all the noise and excitement of the cabaret. This is Jimmy and I in the Seahorse. Probably 1965. This was before we officially formed the duo. I still have my Gibson Les Paul Junior which I eventually traded for the Gretsch.

We look mean don't we?
And those were very fancy shirts.
My guitar strap is made of horse brasses.They included King George V. Winston Churchill and John Peel. Very English. I still have it somewhere.
Jimmy did all the bead work on his strap, all the inlays on the neck of his guitar, and also carved the leather. A very talented lad!! Later on, he also made our shirts and waistcoats. Until next time..... Tally ho Ya'll.

Who was on this week?

2005-12-02T22:50:00.000-08:00

This is a showcard, I believe from Christmas 1967 or 1968. You can see Jim Parkinson standing in the doorway of the office, behind the bar. Does anyone recognise other people in this drawing? I'll give more secrets away at another time.

Philip and Jimmy in action. Circa 1966.

2005-12-01T17:32:00.000-08:00

This is the Jimmy Rose Duo in action at the Dolphin Bar, sometime in 1966. If you can see my Gretsch, you'll notice a bunch of little dolls. These were the rage back then. They were called "Gonks". Some I bought, but most were given to me by girls in the audience.

Yesterday I was talking with my friend Pete Skinner in Blackpool. He remembers vividly, those days. Pete still Plays and he is at the Falcon in Hardhorn, Poulton, Near Blackpool, every wednesday night with wife Eileen and son Simon. I had the pleasure of joining them in 2001 for a great folk music night. Keep up the good work Pete.

Premier Posting

2005-12-01T16:25:00.000-08:00

The Dolphin Bar in Cleveleys, Lancashire, England was the place to go and be seen during the sixties and seventies. This is the place where I, among many others, got their first start on the stage. I had been playing other places before, but this was different, the entertainers were mostly professionals and came from out of town.
Big Jim Parkinson was the landlord, then came Bill Robinson. They kept the quality up and there was always a cabaret show, every lunch and every evening, seven days a week.
I remember "Day and Night". They were so funny with their exploding amplifier and skits. June Mack, a fine jazz female vocalist. Comperes Ted Castle and Brian Rossi. Organist Tommy Bates. Oh, and Dezi Arnold, another great comedian. Shirley Day and Sandra Jeans. Of course I have to mention the Jimmy Rose Duo. Jimmy Rose and I teamed up in 1966. Jimmy had already been playing there for several years. We did the summer season in 1966 and again in 1968.
The sound system was fantastic "at the time" consisting of several big Seeburg cabinets. At the back was the tiny Seahorse Bar, and on the top, The fabulous Queens Theatre, which featured rock bands like Dean Hunter and the Trackers, a band from Blackpool. I saw Sonny Boy Williams up there, a fantastic, elderly blues harp player from the southern United States. There was so much going on that you could go every day of the week and not get bored. The song on my album Fishermen of Fleetwood, "The Dolphin Bar" explains, I think, what it was like.
Well now you have an idea what it was like I will from time to time post some of my photo's here. If you have anything to contribute, please do. Thank you.