BULLS HEAD BOB Aug 2022. JOHNNY NEAL Rocker of Ages. GEORGE Whatshisname of Ringway Music....GEORGE WATTS.

 Hello you Brummies, Lovers of 60's music, 

"There are places I remember".........the opening line to The Beatles "In My Life" rings true in all of our lives so much so that the song is one of the most played at funerals because it's in the category of "our song" but is also a song that reminds us of all of our past occasions and memories if you get my drift.

GEORGE Whatshisname........RINGWAY MUSIC

There are indeed many places I remember and many people too, who had an impact on my life in the Brumbeat context, and one of those was George .......?

Noel Gordon left

I could never remember his surname, but he was one of the co-owners of Ringway Music along with drummer Lionel Rubin and bassist Ken Ingarfield who were both members of the Jerry Allen quartet who featured on ITV's midday programme, Lunch Box with Noelle Gordon who later starred as the owner of the Crossroads Motel.  George was the brass and flute expert in the shop so, not being a guitarist, he wasn't the focus of my musical intentions and, in fact, the first time I saw him I thought him to be a bit 'professor-like', deserving of respect and only to be spoken to from a safe distance!  That perception was quickly dismissed by his charm and mild enthusiasm for my 15 year old paltry efforts at playing rock and pop.  My Mum liked him because he wore a tie!

Many, many years have passed since those halcyon days of the opening of Ringway Music and during those years I have oft pondered what George's surname was and what he did away from the shop as he wasn't with the Jerry Allen Quartet on a permanent basis but was a member of Jerry's Big Band.   So I was knocked out when I received an email last month from one of his daughters, Carrie Watts.....WATTS!! That's his Name!! mystery solved and not only that but Carrie kindly took the time to find a photo of him inside the shop, a shop many of us remember fondly.

GEORGE WATTS

This photo takes me back to my youth and he is just as I remember him, it must have been a hot day because he has his tie on but his sleeves rolled up.

The 3 owners were a tight knit bunch and when they weren't in the shop together they were in each others houses because they all lived in Hinkley and next door to each other!!  Carrie remembers them all being in and out of each others houses like having an extended family.

I never knew what a brilliant musician he was but he played with Johnny Mathis, Vic Damone, Pat Boone, various orchestras, as the flautist for the Ian Campbell folk group and was a part of Shirley Bassey's touring outfit.  That Shirley connection would surely have impressed my Mum even more than the tie wearing!!

The shop was very successful initially but over time and with tough competition from other city traders it started to lose money at which point George and Ken left the partnership and Lionel carried on, on his own, until he found himself losing far too much and the shop closed forever.  I bought my first Gibson guitar from there, spent more than a few hours playing the guitars in there, chatting with Pete Oliver and meeting up with other musician friends.   It was such a nice ambience and I got to sign the ceiling.

George moved out to Spain, still touring with "Our Shirl" and sadly passed away in 2012 at the age of 83.   He was fondly known as "Gentle George" by his jazz buddies and is missed by all who knew him.   I'm sure he must have influenced many of the brass players in the  great City of Birmingham and I hope they enjoy this photo as much as I do.   Thank you Carrie.

ROCKER OF AGES...... JOHNNY NEAL...87 YEARS YOUNG.

I was 3 year old sproglet when Johnny Neal started gigging at the age of 16 in 1951.  He was the first of the Rock and Rollers in Birmingham with his backing band the HOUND DOGS and I have the greatest delight to feature, again, the photo below as one of the best from those days, bar none.

That's pure rock and roll, everyone plugged in to a 12 watt amp and Johnny looking as cool and dapper as Elvis himself with a generous application of Brylcreme and baggy pants.  In those days drummers were only trusted with a snare and hi-hat.   

As reported a few blogs ago he has recently found fame anew in Brazil so this is his 7th decade rockin' out which is no mean achievement....go Johnny go!!   He is known by his close friends as "Noga" and I'm pleased to be one of those who calls him that.  There are a few years between our ages so I call him Old Nog and he calls me Young Bob.  I've still got a lot to learn to attain that longevity he has deservedly earned but I'm trying. He reached the great age of 87 last month which does make him the well deserved holder of the title of "Rocker of Ages".

HAPPY BIRTHDAY NOGA!!

FINALLY

I'm extremely pleased for the England Womens football team, they were a delight to watch and deserved to win.   Ella Toones goal was real class.       Clapclapclapclap.....

Toodle-Ooooooo

 Bob

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Contact:   Bobsbullocks@Gmail.Com