Sandon Audition

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Billy Beck, still in his dressing gown, shuffled into the kitchen, switched the electric kettle on to make himself a cup of tea; he glanced at the clock 11, 30, Monday morning. Billy lived with his mother, who worked in the local bakery, so he had to get up early.
Billy sat down at the kitchen table to drink his cup of tea. His eyes alighted on a foolscap-sized paper, and he recognised his mother's writing. Billy, you remember last week you asked me to ask my friend who works with me at the Bakery to ask her son, John, if the ‘Searchers needed a vocalist. I did not see you all day yesterday. You must read this letter today. You have to be at the Iron Door club in Temple Street at 6-30 tonight, the Searchers are booked to play there tonight. They are rehearsing some new numbers before they start and will discuss’ whatever’ with you.
Billy turned up at the Iron Door club at 6-30, sang a couple of numbers. The Searchers were absolutely delighted with his performance, so much so that they suggested he could perform a couple of numbers with them tonight. Billy readily agreed to this suggestion. He chose two numbers that both fit in well with the Searchers who performed them as part of their itinerary. Billy received enthusiastic appreciation from the audience. The Searchers and Billy were in no hurry to leave after the club closed.
Black Jake approached me ‘I’ve been nominated to ask you whether or not you would be prepared to offer us more money to cover the cost of ‘setting on Billy ‘. I already pay you more than the Beatles. I’ll tell you what, Jake, how about an extra Quid? Black Jake sauntered back to the coffee bar where all his mates were enjoying a cup of coffee and hot dogs which they had made for themselves. Not unusual that they performed this task all the time.
Black Jake reappeared and confirmed that the group accepted my offer. Jake muttered something else has cropped up, McNally is not too pleased with Billy Beck's name in association with the Searchers. He is proposing changing his name to Johnny Sandon. McNally reckons Billy performs in the Sandon Pub by Liverpool’s football ground regularly. Apparently, Black Jake continued, everyone accepted, including Billy, who appeared to be over the moon at the thought of his ‘New Name ‘ SO WHEN YOU PLACE THE ADVERT IN THE Echo it should say appearing tonight ‘ JOHNNY SANDON and the SEARCHERS.

'Johnny Sandon and the Searchers' appeared regularly at the Iron Door, where they built up a strong following during their residence there. Whereas the Cavern was a smelly, dank place, the Iron Door served drinks, had carpets, and was altogether a better place to be. 'The Beatles' were effectively the resident band at the Cavern, but it was at the Iron Door where you could see 'Johnny Sandon and The Searchers' most weekends. Ironically, Johnny's last appearance with 'The Searchers' was actually at the Cavern, on 28th February 1962 before he left to join 'The Remo Four' in February 1962 and before 'The Searchers' had made any recordings. It was a huge error of judgement by Johnny, known for his deep booming Jim Reeves kind of voice, when he decided that his opportunity for greater success lay in joining forces with this other respected Liverpool band. Following two years with 'The Remo Four', during which he signed a management contract with 'The Beatles' manager Brian Epstein and released two singles on the Pye Records label in the U.K., he left for a solo career, while Tommy Quickly became 'The Remo Four's new vocalist.

Sadly, many years later, and wracked with the regrets of missed opportunity, Johnny Sandon committed suicide by hanging himself on the 23rd of December 1996 in Rock Ferry. He was just 55 and an unemployed taxi driver at the time of his death. He had failed as a singer and then failed as a comedian on the club circuit, appearing on ITV talent show 'New Faces' on the 6th of November 1976, which was such a shame as he was a really talented singer who did have a unique voice to offer, with many predicting success for 'Johnny Sandon and the Remo Four'. Sadly, it never happened, and Johnny never made the grade.

[13_temple_street]

[https://youtu.be/DGlqSGoLJnE](https://youtu.be/DGlqSGoLJnE)
Johnny Sandon - Some Kind of Wonderful