THE MIDNIGHTERS

 

The Midnighters - one of Teesside's most popular bands during the late 50's and early 60's - with Ray Hudson on bass guitar, Tommy Gibson on rhythm, Barry Thompson on drums, Johnny Rocco the lead vocalist with Granville Blair Leacy on lead guitar. Granville was the envy of many guitarists as he was the first person in the area to own a red Fender Stratocaster - the same as Hank B. Marvin used in The Shadows. The Midnighters was formed by Tommy Gibson who recruited the services of Ray Hudson and then later, Granville Leacy.

Another rare photograph of the band with Barry Thompson, Rod Smaling, Granville Blair Leacy, Ray Hudson and Wilf Graham. A former Midnighters vocalist, Bart Bardsley, says: "The photograph was taken the week after I left the group (1958-59) and it was for a promotion to announce the arrival of Wilf Graham as their new lead singer. "They were just beginning a two week gig at the Empire Continental in Middlesbrough. "I was with the band for eight years and later formed my own group with Frank Feeney. "We stayed together for a few years and finally I settled into a double act known as Bart & Pluto Bennett with Eric Whitehouse, of the Blue Caps. "I stayed in the music scene in the north east up to emigrating to Canada in 1977 where I still live. "I have many fond memories of playing at the Empire Continental and all the famous workmen's clubs in Hartlepool." Barry and Tommy are in Middlesbrough and Bart is in Calgary, Canada.

This is certainly from the archives. A rare photograph of The Midnighters with Bart Bardsley on Burns-Weil bass and Barry Thompson on drums taken at the Gladstone Hotel, Middlesbrough between 1959/60. Tommy, Ray and Granville were also at this venue.

Fender Stratocaster gif © Sevenoaks Art

This page is dedicated to the memory of Ray Hudson, Granville Blair Leacy and Johnny Rocco.

 © Stan Laundon.com