HUCKLEBUCKS, THE

Lead Vocals: Richard Howard aka Ricky Lee

Guitar: Mick Hague (2)Barry Holden > Bs (2)John Tuddenham

Guitar: Mick Starling

Bass: Trevor Preston (2)Jimmy Lawes (3)Barry Holden < Gtr (4)Barry Howes

Drums: Ray Blake (2)Johnny Pratt (3)John Kennady

The name of The Hucklebucks was cemented into Norwich music history when they were offered the support slot to The Beatles at the Grosvenor Rooms on 17 May 1963. For Lee the concert has become a blessing and a curse but he still smiles when recalling the night, “It’s great to be remembered for the gig and I’m always happy to talk about it but it has rather over shadowed the fact that we were a good band in our own right.” Many of the group’s members had played in the pre beat days of the region, Lee had originally started with his Heartbeats, and the rhythm section had its roots in the North Walsham band The Escorts. In mid 1962, just prior to the formation of The Hucklebucks, Lee and Blake had been playing with The Checkers, who had folded that summer. The Hucklebucks are first seen playing at The Red Lion PH, Aylsham in August 1962. The band soon established themselves on the local circuit and became known for their dance floor filler The Hucklebuck. In 1966 Blake left the local music scene to get married but returned in 1967 playing saxophone for Blue Street Soul. The Hucklebucks’ line-up varied over its duration, but one interesting change was the swapping of drummer and bassist between themselves and the North Walsham Escorts, with Holden another ex member of The Escorts joining later that year, when The Escorts finished. In 1963 the Hucklebucks appeared on Anglia TV’s Junior Angle Club and a year later interest from local band leader and promoter Chic Applin, saw the later line-up of the band record an acetate at Advision Studios, Ldn. The band regenerated in June 1966 and continued as The New Generation, although they returned to the name The Hucklebucks in January 1968, while they pondered another direction change. Less than a month later they were back on the road as Djangoes Castle. The band first reformed quite by accident at John Kennady’s 50th birthday in 1994, although Ricky could not make the party as his wife had recently passed away.

Discography:

Advision Std, Ldn c64

7Act Somethin’ Else b/w Gone

Selected advertised supports:

31/01/63 Olympia BR, Crmr - Tommy Bruce & The Bruisers

19/04/63 Grosvenor BR, Nch - Sounds Incorporated

03/05/63 Grosvenor BR, Nch - The Clearways

17/05/63 Grosvenor BR, Nch - The Beatles

21/12/63 Gala BR, Nch - Buddy Britten & The Regents

15/02/64 Heacham Public Hall - Me & Them

04/04/64 Gala BR, Nch - Mike Sheridan & The Nightriders

18/04/64 Heacham Public Hall - Tony Rivers & The Castaways

06/06/64 Royal Htl, Lwst - Dave Berry & The Cruisers

28/06/64 Olympia BR, Crmr - The Animals

18/07/64 Heacham Public Hall - Gene Vincent & The Shouts

06/03/65 Gala BR, Nch - Wackers

03/04/65 Floral Hall, Gorleston - Lulu & The Luvvers

09/06/65 Floral Hall, Gorleston - The Nashville Teens

19/10/65 Floral Hall, Gorleston - The Small Faces

30/10/65 Royal Htl, Lwst - The Riot Squad

12/01/66 Tower BR, GY - Dave Berry & The Cruisers

02/07/66 Royal Links, Crmr - The Soul Of Lynton Grae

Mediography:

Seeing Double With Ricky DJ EEN 27/2/98 (P)

Rock on with Ricky’s Hucklebucks EEN 06/03/98 (P)

Introducing The Beatles (about Ray Aldous) WC EEN 07/01/86(P)

 Did they ask for Rock Samon? -

(Recolections of when The Beatles played the Grosvenor) DJ EEN 17/12/93

Beatles Backers

(Appeal for information about The Hucklebucks) EEN DJ      /93

TV:

Anglia TV: Junior Angle Club aired 12/06/63

Recorded live at Stalham Town Hall (uc)

NB: [1] Who was in the band that backed The Beatles? This is Ricky Lee’s answer: Lee/Starling/Hague/Preston/Blake

[2] Did other local bands turn down this gig? We talked to Ray Aldous in 2008 and he could not recall asking any other band to play this gig. He said he had previously booked The Hucklebucks to play a month earlier and had been impressed with the band.

[unchecked]

Black and Howard had broken away from The Checkers in mid 1962 and joined up with ex members of the North Walsham band The Escorts to formed The Hucklebucks. The name being chosen as the band we're well known for there dance floor filler The Hucklebuck.

Original drummer Ray Blake recalls a tale that graces many musicians of that era in that he put a little money aside each week to buy his first kit piece by piece. Ray, now a retired international lorry driver was responsible for helping the Golden Years team contact Tony Sheridan in Germany. "It was my regular trips to Hamburg and his interest in music t him into contact with Horst Fascher, the man who was bodyguard for The Beatles in the early 60’s & they have remained friends. In 1964 Ray left the local music scene to get married but returned in 1967 playing saxsophone for Blue Street Soul. On the    196  the bands connections with The Beatles were cemented for life when Ray Aldous rang the group to see if they were interested in backing them. Lee/Starling/Hague/Preston/Blake. Ricky laughs about the stampede the band caused when they began, “They thought we were The Beatles.”The group’s line-up varied over it’s duration, but one interesting change was the swapping of drummer and bassist between them & the band The Escorts (Nt Walsham) In 1963, later that year Barry Holden also an ex member of The Escorts also joined the band replacing Mick Hague. An interest from local Musician/Promoter Chic Applin in 64 saw the later line-up of the band record an acetate recording at Advision studios in London. 1964 A later version of The Hucklebucks.

The Hucklebucks first folded in 1967, A diluted line-up continued as The New Generation but returned to the Hucklebucks title briefly in January 1968 whilst they pondered a new name. Less than a month later they were back on the road in then later moving on to becoming D’Jangos Castle.

The band first reformed quite by accident at John Kennadys 50th birthday in 1994, all ex members had been invited, Ricky was invited but not really expected to turn out as his wife had sadly recently passed away. In        a     of the later line-up reformed to perform at the golden years concert at the          and featured a trio of guitars as they were joined by Johnny Starling (Micks son) & Jimmy Horn. The band then continued to gig and perform at the Golden Years concerts until rehearsal time bacame          members the band performed for the last time on the 8th of March 1998 at the Hard Days Eastzone sessions at Purple Studio’s. Ricky has formed  . Between the years of 196X and 196X the steady rejuvination of the band made sure the band       and clocked up the best local support slot of an east anglian band.

Supports: The Beatles / Gene Vicent & The Shoots / The Red Caps / Sounds Incorperated / The Animals / John Mayall & his Blues Breakers / Tommy Bruce & The Bruisers / Mike Sheridan & the Nightriders / The Clearways / Buddy Britten & the Regents / The Limelights / The Prestons / The Wackers / The Pickwicks / The Packerbeats / The Sinners / The Small Faces / Lulu & The Luvvers / Tony Jackson & The Searchers / The Go Go Show / The Barron Knights / Soul Of Lynton Grae

Mediography:

The groups are with us NMJ26/03/1965[ ]

Seeing double With Ricky EEN DJ27/02/1998[ ](P)

Rock on with Ricky’s Hucklebucks EEN06/03/1998[ ](P)

Introducing The Beatles (about Ray Aldous) EEN WC07/01/1986[ ](P)

Did they ask for Rock Samon? (Recolections of when The Beatles played the Grosvenor) EENDJ17/12/1993[ ]

Beatles Backers (Appeal for information about The Hucklebucks) EEN DJ      /93

TV:

Junior Angle Club 1963 (Stalham Town Hall)

The Checkers / The Escorts / The Echoes <> The Escorts / The New Generation / Blue Street Soul

Releases
Cover	Title	Studio	Label	YoR
	SOMETHING ELSE b/w GONE		PRIVATE PRESSING	UNDATED