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Tony Clout
I started playing guitar in 1957 when I was 12. In 1959 I played at the Old Compton Street 2 I’s cellar club in London’s Soho.
(see www.absoluteradio.co.uk/music/pilgrimages/destination/237/ 2_I_s_Coffee_Bar.html) At this time I discovered the bass guitar through listening to Jet Harris on Cliff Richard’s first album called “Cliff”. Down at the 2 I’s there was a Framus Star Bass and a large Wallace amp that seemed to be in permanent residence, so I often took the opportunity to get in some practice with various bands. It was to be 36 years later when I finally met my hero Jet, that I told him this story; he informed me that I had been playing his bass!! On my 18th birthday in February 1963, I took delivery of my brand new Fender Jazz Bass which I still play today.(I now also own a red 1960 Fender Precision Bass.
In April 1965 I did the first of many BBC Light Programme broadcasts with a group called The Transatlantics.
Our BBC performances continued until well into 1968, guesting on “Easy Beat”(with resident Johnny Howard Band), “The Joe Loss Pop Show”, “Saturday Club” (with Brian Matthew), “The Jimmy Young Show”, Swing Into Summer”(every day of the week), “The Pete Murray Show” and many others including a live show on Monday lunchtimes called “Monday Monday” (with resident band Ray McVay)…I didn’t know it at the time but my meeting with Ray would eventually be significant for both of us. We also did two TV shows: “5 o’clock Club” with The Kinks and “Thank Your Lucky Stars” with presenter Jim Dale
In 1970, I turned professional as a bass player and I made up my mind that I would learn to read music and eventually be an arranger. My first pro job was with the Ross Mitchell Band at a Mecca ballroom in Ilford
East London. Ross, who at one time dominated BBC’s “Come Dancing”,
now travels the world as a well
established ballroom dancing orchestra leader.
In 1975 I was thrilled to be invited to join The Ray McVay Orchestra (that I had worked alongside at the BBC only 10 years before!!) This was the best pro gig around at the time and I was on the road travelling the length and breadth of the UK playing at society and show biz functions in all the smart hotels. In London we played at Grosvenor House, The Hilton, The Dorchester and The Savoy for star-studded occasions such as The Variety Club, The Lords Taverners and The Grand Order of Water Rats. It was at a Water Rats Ball that Ray gave me the opportunity to arrange all the music and MD the band for the cabaret which featured Paul Shane, Sue Pollard and Ruth Madoc from “Hi-de-hi” plus Les Dawson, Leslie Crowther and a whole host of famous faces in a gigantic comedy review. In 1978, I was also privileged to play with Ray’s band at Buckingham Palace for Prince Charles 30th birthday party. It was a completely private party from which the press and television were excluded. I remember clearly the couple that opened the dancing…The Queen Mother and Lord Mountbatten! The entire Royal family was present along with guests Harry Secombe, The Three Degrees and their band(who performed a cabaret spot) and Susan George. We very often performed before royalty at various places throughout the UK including a big charity night with Prince Philip as special guest at Fort Regent Jersey where I was thrilled to work with Morecambe and Wise, Arthur Askey, The Three Degrees, Jim Davidson and Paul Daniels.
In 1983 I left Ray McVay to take up the post of Musical Director at The Circus Tavern in Essex and later, Caesar’s Palace in Bedfordshire. They were top cabaret night clubs attracting stars from all over the world. I worked alongside people like The Four Tops, TheTemptations, The Shadows, Shirley Bassey, Dame Edna Everidge(Barry Humphreys), Bob Monkhouse, Cannon and Ball, Freddie Starr, David Essex, Smith & Jones, Chas & Dave (below), with whom I became good friends, The Everly Brothers, Duane Eddy, Cliff Richard and The great Tommy Cooper. In 1985, I toured the UK and Channel Islands with Michael Barrymore, The Roly Polys and Stutz Bear Cats, performing two shows a night throughout the summer.
From the mid 90’s to the present I have mainly concentrated on writing music having been copyist on London West End shows including “Blood Brothers”, “Only The Lonely”, “Elvis”, “Good Rockin’ Tonite”, “The Sound of Fury” and “Starlight Express” I have been co- arranger on “Thankyou For The Music” and “This Is Elvis” and arranger on “Dancing in the Streets”, “Harry’s Web” and “Summer Holiday”.
I have also been the arranger on many BBC Radio 2 shows starring artistes including Marti Caine, Warren Mitchell, Chas & Dave, Charles Augins, Stephanie Lawrence, John Inman and Bobby Crush with an arrangement of Cabaret for Denise Van Outen on BBC1 tv’s “Johnny & Denise Show”
Arrangements for albums include Chas & Dave’s Street Party, Chas & Dave’s Rock’n’Roll Party, and Stephanie Lawrence’s “Marilyn The Legend”
I arranged all the music for a one-off Mike Read production at The Criterion Theatre in Piccadilly which starred Cliff Richard, Bernard Cribbins, Tim Rice, Leo Sayer, Tony Hadley and Colin Blunstone. I have also sung and played bass at The London Palladium with a Four Freshmen tribute called Fresh Aire, we closed the first half of the Gene Pitney Show.
Looka that!...me and my hero Tommy Cooper, just like that!!
Thangyerverymuch…a-her-her-her!!
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