Eamon1943
master brummie
In 1963 Eddie Fewtrell's Cedar Club opened & became an instant place to be seen . Local bands who performed regualrly were Danny King & The Mayfair Set , Mike Sheridan The Nightriders & Roy Wood's band The Move . Actors & actresses from the local theatres & television studios were also regulars.The good food music & ambience attracted a diverse section of society.Screaming Lord Such was scary with his rendition of " Jack the Ripper" Hilarious ! One memorable night Jimi Hendrix & his entourage came in after performing at the Odeon New Street. He was coaxed on stage & performed using the resident bands Fender Stratocruiser & played the hell out of it ! Although he was left handed he managed to play a right handed guitar perfectly. Amazing !
Patsy Manning a well known character around Birmingham also a regular wrote an autobiography called "Crumpet all the way " Patsy brother Allan owned the Midland Wheel on Hagley Road, Patsy was an old friend of the Kray Twins & could tell many a good story of 1950's Birmingham.
I was siting at the bar one night when a guy next to me began asking about Birmingham .He seemed nice enough so I obliged .Later some one pointed him out and said he was Harry H Corbett of Steptoe fame. I hadn't recognised him ,he was from Manchester & didn't sound cockney at all !
Another club favourite was " Rebecca's " also owned by Eddie Fewtrell. . One night after the club had closed we sat round talking & drinking when someone suggested we " do a turn on stage " The Drifters had performed that night we all sat around chatting .When my turn came me & another guy decided to sing "Underneath the Arches "by Flannagan & Allen. I squeezed into Hazel Fewtrell's [Eddie's wife } very expensive mink coat & on we went. Shortly after there was a terrific "tearing sound " as the coat ripped in two from ny excessive movements which didn't go down well with Hazel !
" The night I got hypnotised " . We booked a table at " Rebecca's " for a lads night out Edwin Heath a hypnotist was on & I'd never seen a hypnotist show. Needless to say I & others ended up on the stage hynotised ! When it was my turn he asked who my favourite singer was { I was told later, because I couldn't remember anything ! ] Apparently I sang "Hound Dog" by Elvis Presley & got a million laughs . Overall it was a great night taken in good spirit.
A middle aged couple named Mr & Mrs Reagan helped change the face of Birmingham music in the early sixties.They came from Ireland to find fame & fortune .They first ran The Gary Owen Club in Small Heath then converted an old snooker hall in Kings Heath which they named the Ritz ballroom .the Plaza in Handsworth & finally the Plaza in Old Hill Dudley. Soon they where booking The Beatles The Batchelors Susan Maughan Joe Brown & the Brothers Stevie Wonder Del Shannon just to name a few.1964 was the beginning of Beatle Mania.Their first two big hit's "Love Love Me Do & Please Please Me I saw them perform at the Plaza in Handsworth.. They played at all three clubs & went back to the Reagans house in Edgbaston for a party. Micky Walker a good pal of mine from the Redcaps said I'd missed a great night. I chose to take a young lady back to my flat "for breakfast" It was either the party or the girl ."what would you have done " LOL
Alex's pie stand at the top of Snow Hill was a regualar hang out for the late night clubbers & groups.The Uglys where a well known local group the resident band at The Noel Court Club Edgbaston where I worked after leaving the Parachute Regiment. Micky & David Walker of the Redcaps were great customers doing well as the warm up group for the Beatles. David later joined Fleetwood Mac .The last I heard he was living in America & Micky became Elton Johns body guard. Anyone remember " Smokey Joes " cafe up the Bristol Road an all nighter .We'd meet for breakfast at five o clock in the morning LOL
In 2017 I was invited to Professor Carl Chinns " Peeky Blinders "evening in a Birmingham hotel. After the show we had a drink together & chatted about Birmingham's past .He kindly offered to print a piece re: "The Cedar Club & sixties Brum " [Issue No: 199 October 2017} Thank you again Carl for encouraging me putting pen to paper.
Eamon1943
Patsy Manning a well known character around Birmingham also a regular wrote an autobiography called "Crumpet all the way " Patsy brother Allan owned the Midland Wheel on Hagley Road, Patsy was an old friend of the Kray Twins & could tell many a good story of 1950's Birmingham.
I was siting at the bar one night when a guy next to me began asking about Birmingham .He seemed nice enough so I obliged .Later some one pointed him out and said he was Harry H Corbett of Steptoe fame. I hadn't recognised him ,he was from Manchester & didn't sound cockney at all !
Another club favourite was " Rebecca's " also owned by Eddie Fewtrell. . One night after the club had closed we sat round talking & drinking when someone suggested we " do a turn on stage " The Drifters had performed that night we all sat around chatting .When my turn came me & another guy decided to sing "Underneath the Arches "by Flannagan & Allen. I squeezed into Hazel Fewtrell's [Eddie's wife } very expensive mink coat & on we went. Shortly after there was a terrific "tearing sound " as the coat ripped in two from ny excessive movements which didn't go down well with Hazel !
" The night I got hypnotised " . We booked a table at " Rebecca's " for a lads night out Edwin Heath a hypnotist was on & I'd never seen a hypnotist show. Needless to say I & others ended up on the stage hynotised ! When it was my turn he asked who my favourite singer was { I was told later, because I couldn't remember anything ! ] Apparently I sang "Hound Dog" by Elvis Presley & got a million laughs . Overall it was a great night taken in good spirit.
A middle aged couple named Mr & Mrs Reagan helped change the face of Birmingham music in the early sixties.They came from Ireland to find fame & fortune .They first ran The Gary Owen Club in Small Heath then converted an old snooker hall in Kings Heath which they named the Ritz ballroom .the Plaza in Handsworth & finally the Plaza in Old Hill Dudley. Soon they where booking The Beatles The Batchelors Susan Maughan Joe Brown & the Brothers Stevie Wonder Del Shannon just to name a few.1964 was the beginning of Beatle Mania.Their first two big hit's "Love Love Me Do & Please Please Me I saw them perform at the Plaza in Handsworth.. They played at all three clubs & went back to the Reagans house in Edgbaston for a party. Micky Walker a good pal of mine from the Redcaps said I'd missed a great night. I chose to take a young lady back to my flat "for breakfast" It was either the party or the girl ."what would you have done " LOL
Alex's pie stand at the top of Snow Hill was a regualar hang out for the late night clubbers & groups.The Uglys where a well known local group the resident band at The Noel Court Club Edgbaston where I worked after leaving the Parachute Regiment. Micky & David Walker of the Redcaps were great customers doing well as the warm up group for the Beatles. David later joined Fleetwood Mac .The last I heard he was living in America & Micky became Elton Johns body guard. Anyone remember " Smokey Joes " cafe up the Bristol Road an all nighter .We'd meet for breakfast at five o clock in the morning LOL
In 2017 I was invited to Professor Carl Chinns " Peeky Blinders "evening in a Birmingham hotel. After the show we had a drink together & chatted about Birmingham's past .He kindly offered to print a piece re: "The Cedar Club & sixties Brum " [Issue No: 199 October 2017} Thank you again Carl for encouraging me putting pen to paper.
Eamon1943
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. Oh, and thanks for your service.