THE SKYLINERS

 

A promotional photograph of The Skyliners which shows, left to right, Brian Rowe on drums, Tony Barker on guitar, Malcolm Buckton on bass guitar, Brian Dixon on lead guitar and Norrie Roy vocalist and keyboard player. Later the line up included Dave Williamson on saxophone and Malcolm Bradshaw on trumpet.

The Skyliners, from Teesside, appeared at various venues throughout the area including the old Music Hall, in Redcar and the Coatham Hotel - Redcar Jazz club - on Sundays. They also appeared at Middlesbrough Empire and Stockton Palais as well as making appearances on various TV and radio programmes. They also worked with The Alan Price Set, The Animals, Long John Baldry and Rod Stewart, Cream, The Graham Bond Organisation, Johnny Kidd and the Pirates, Shane Fenton - who later went on to become Alvin Stardust - Dave Berry and Mike Berry also acted as a backing group to Englebert Humperdinck.

Two photographs of the Cadillac Quartet which was formed from The Condors, Chet West & The Stomers (for a brief period) then onto The Skyliners - finally Government. This photograph, taken in the downstairs coffee bar of the Coatham Hotel, in Redcar, shows Frank Feeney, Gary Peckover and Brian Dixon. Brian Anderson, the bassists, who is off photo on the second shot, actually made the bass himself. It was hand carved as a copy of the Fender Jazz bass, a really beautiful instrument.

The Skyliners with Hattie Jacques. This was taken at a Charity function at the Coatham Hotel Ballroom in Redcar.  Eric Sykes was also to appear but was ill on the night. The photograph shows Brian Dixon, Tony Barker, Hattie, Gary Peckover, Terry Whealans, the group's manager, with Malcolm Buckton and Norrie Roy in the front.

The Skyliners, at Middlesbrough Empire, where they were booked for two weeks. Brian Dixon, who's in the front row centre, said he's not sure of the name of the singer. The drummer, who came from Darlington, is Alan Richardson, also played in The Stormers. Frank Feeney is lower left with George Barker, lower right, on bass. Bart Bardsley, who was also a member of The Stormers, sang with the band at the Empire for a week.

The Skyliners with Tony Barker, Brian Rowe, Norrie Roy, Brian Dixon and Malcolm Buckton.