Over here ‘Geoff, I detected some urgency in the tone of the man’s voice, I glanced to the corner of the room, a man I recognised was gesturing and pointing to the empty chairs at his table. I had just purchased a pot of tea in the large basement self-service cafeteria of the ‘Kardomah restaurant in Dale Street Liverpool 2, I was working in Iron Door Jazz Club on Temple Street just round the corner from the Kardomah ‘ I had nipped out to purchase the early edition of the Echo. The club had closed from December 8th, 1961 until the 23rdof December 1961 to enable a complete re-design of the ground floor and part of the basement area, the club also acquired a brand new name ‘STORYVILLE JAZZ CLUB was to open on Saturday 23rd December 1961.
I maneuvered to where Tony Davies, the gesturing man, was sitting. Tony works as a school teacher during the day and has a night job. Tony is a member of the famous Spinners Folk Group. You’ll have to excuse me, Tony. I‘m trying to find an advert for tomorrow night’s opening. I pointed to the advert for Tony to read; he was interested and asked to accompany me back to view the refurbishment.
Tony was amazed. The last time Tony attended, the interior was just a shell after the Bailiff's men had butchered the three floors. We repurchased some tables and chairs at the auctions, and all the items in the auction were fetching top money. One woman bid on the coach lamps and paid a fiver each more than they cost new.
Tony uttered not one word while looking around at the refurbishment. Walking down the re-aligned new fire escape stairs, Tony blurted, "Can you fit us in to play here tomorrow, Geoff?" I was flabbergasted and lost for words. I replied, "Yes."
The Spinners performed every week at their club on the city center's first floor of the Triton Pub. Tony suggested that he would announce to Spinners club members who were meeting that very night that Tony (Davis) Mick (Groves) Cliff (Hall) Hughie (Jones) that the Spinners Folk Club were invited to a night session at the newly named ‘STORYVILLE’ Jazz club (old Iron Door Temple Street) The Spinners had come a long way since their conception in 1958 they were known as the Gin Mill Skiffle group. Slowly morphing into the Spinners.
This story is related to the Spinners in 1961 The group was to achieve dizzying experiences They produced over 40 albums, and made numerous concerts and TV appearances. In 1965, after seeing the group perform in Liverpool, BBC producer Trevor Hill invited them to appear in a new BBC One series called Dance and Skylark, aboard an old sailing barque owned by presenter, bosun Stan Hugill. In 1970 they were given their television show on BBC One that ran for seven years. The group decided to call it a day in 1988. We cannot sign off without mentioning John McCormack Count John McCormick, often called "Count," was the bass player and musical director for The Spinners. He played bass for the group occasionally in 1971 and joined them full-time two years later. John McCormick was known for his impeccable timing and was a key figure in the band's performances. He traveled with The Spinners to various locations, including Australia, where they performed to sold-out audiences2
This yarn derived from an idea to write about a Christmas in 1961 I was hoping to find an advert in the Jazz column of the Liverpool Echo placed in 1961. The advert announced all the details of the Jazz Bands and groups appearing, I was astounded that one group was missing The Spinners Folk Group. Only then did it dawn on me the unusual circumstances surrounding their absence from the advert.
DECEMBER 23RD 1961
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Re: DECEMBER 23RD 1961 part Two
At last the day we had all been striving to reach. We aim to revamp the tangled mess inherited by the Iron Door Club in Temple Street Liverpool 2 since the Bailiffs removed any vestige as an attractive entertainment venue. However, Chief Stipendiary Magistrate Arthur Mc Farland had made an order that disqualified the premises as an entertainment venue for Twelve Months.
It became impossible to comply with this order, so I decided to open again, replacing the definition from a club to a Society. Liverpool Jazz Society came into existence. To overcome the stark bombed-out appearance of the unattractive interior, and in desperation, we stumbled on promoting all-night sessions. This was nothing new; other venues had promoted All-Nighters, but not on the scale that we had envisaged.
It was Seven o’clock in the evening I was standing on the steps for a breather to get away from the Hustle and Bustle of organising the Christmas All-night session. Tonight. Temple Street was empty; a Mini Bus appeared from Victoria Street, pulling up outside the club where I was standing the Confederate Jazz Band had arrived and standing to one side to allow the band to take their drums and other equipment to set up on the stage. I was surprised two elegantly bejeweled ladies wearing expensive-looking Fur coats alighted from the van I recognised them as residents from the Jazz events we organised at the Birkdale Palace Hotel where the London-based Confederates performed on December 22nd, 1961( Last night). The two women gaily tripped inside. The band arrived resplendent in their authentic-looking uniforms complete with elaborate silk designs on the sleeves. On enquiring the leader of the band informed me that the uniforms were tailored in America by the same original supplier in the American Independence wars. I did notice one musician wearing bicycle clips his trousers were too big and trailing on the floor. (Possibly a dep) The band reached some dizzy moments during their set, not uncommon with London-based jazz bands.
After the Confederates and Dizzy Burton jazz bands finished their set, a hefty portion of the audience departed. The remainders appeared to be mainly supporters of the Spinners. I paid off the remaining Jazz bands. I persuaded Tony Davis to perform upstairs in the coffee bar area, where it was comfortable and warm, as opposed to the freezing cold conditions on the stage in the basement.
All the seating in the coffee bar was occupied the remaining Spinners members were content to sit on the floor.
The fruit wholesaler who stocked the kitchen deposited two cooked turkeys and pork on the coffee bar counter. Two Spinners club members organised sandwiches etc . Most who attended commented they had a wonderful evening.
It became impossible to comply with this order, so I decided to open again, replacing the definition from a club to a Society. Liverpool Jazz Society came into existence. To overcome the stark bombed-out appearance of the unattractive interior, and in desperation, we stumbled on promoting all-night sessions. This was nothing new; other venues had promoted All-Nighters, but not on the scale that we had envisaged.
It was Seven o’clock in the evening I was standing on the steps for a breather to get away from the Hustle and Bustle of organising the Christmas All-night session. Tonight. Temple Street was empty; a Mini Bus appeared from Victoria Street, pulling up outside the club where I was standing the Confederate Jazz Band had arrived and standing to one side to allow the band to take their drums and other equipment to set up on the stage. I was surprised two elegantly bejeweled ladies wearing expensive-looking Fur coats alighted from the van I recognised them as residents from the Jazz events we organised at the Birkdale Palace Hotel where the London-based Confederates performed on December 22nd, 1961( Last night). The two women gaily tripped inside. The band arrived resplendent in their authentic-looking uniforms complete with elaborate silk designs on the sleeves. On enquiring the leader of the band informed me that the uniforms were tailored in America by the same original supplier in the American Independence wars. I did notice one musician wearing bicycle clips his trousers were too big and trailing on the floor. (Possibly a dep) The band reached some dizzy moments during their set, not uncommon with London-based jazz bands.
After the Confederates and Dizzy Burton jazz bands finished their set, a hefty portion of the audience departed. The remainders appeared to be mainly supporters of the Spinners. I paid off the remaining Jazz bands. I persuaded Tony Davis to perform upstairs in the coffee bar area, where it was comfortable and warm, as opposed to the freezing cold conditions on the stage in the basement.
All the seating in the coffee bar was occupied the remaining Spinners members were content to sit on the floor.
The fruit wholesaler who stocked the kitchen deposited two cooked turkeys and pork on the coffee bar counter. Two Spinners club members organised sandwiches etc . Most who attended commented they had a wonderful evening.